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 SOUTHERN AREA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT BLUE TEAM    Mark Morales – Incident CommanderKNP Complex Update September 16, 2021
  Acres: 9,365 acres (based on infrared flight) Percent Containment: 0%
Start Date: September 10, 2021 Cause: Lightning
Jurisdiction: Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park
Resources: 482 personnel including 4 crews, 11 engines, 2 water tenders, and 1 helicopter
 
The KNP Complex, ignited by lightning on the night of September 9, continues to grow in Sequoia National Park. The complex is comprised of the Paradise Fire and the Colony Fire. The Paradise Fire is currently measured at 7,352 acres, and the Colony Fire is currently measured at 2,013 acres, for a combined total for the KNP Complex of 9,365 acres, with 0% containment. 
 
Effective this morning, the Southern Area Blue Type 1 Incident Management Team is managing the KNP Complex under the leadership of Incident Commander Mark Morales. A community meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2021, at 7 p.m. at the Three Rivers Veterans Memorial Building.
 
Crews are preparing the Giant Forest before the fire reaches that area, by removing fuel and applying structure wrap on some of the iconic monarch sequoias that characterize the most famous area of Sequoia National Park. The fire continues to grow in all directions. In recent days, crews continue structure protection around NPS headquarters and housing areas at Ash Mountain. Air operations is providing support to crews on the ground as well as structure protection for cabins in the Mineral King area. Cal-Fire and Tulare County is providing structure protection efforts in the Three Rivers Community outside the park, including creating fire breaks with dozers.
 
At this time, there has been no change to evacuation orders and warnings. An evacuation order is in place for part of the community of Three Rivers. The area of Three Rivers under mandatory evacuation is the Mineral King Road in its entirety, areas along Sierra King Drive, Crest Lane, Hammond Drive, and Oak Grove Drive, and areas along Highway 198 from the intersection with Mineral King Road to the Sequoia National Park entrance station. 
 
The remainder of the community of Three Rivers is under evacuation warning. The evacuation warning is not an order. It means that residents should prepare for the possibility of evacuation, so that they will be ready to mobilize and leave should the evacuation warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under evacuation warning and order, as well as other evacuation resources, at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. 
 
Sequoia National Park is closed to the public. Kings Canyon National Park remains open, but air quality impacts are likely. Air quality is seriously affected in Three Rivers. Particulate matter readings have been in the “hazardous” range for much of the day. Communities further from the parks are also feeling air quality impacts. Track your local air quality at www.fire.airnow.gov.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Fire Information (NEW): 559-640-7824 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), 2021.KNP@firenet.gov 
InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7838/
Facebook/Twitter:  SequoiaKingsNPS