Osceola National Forest

Big Gum Swamp Wilderness Prescribed Burn

On May 9, 2019 the Osceola National Forest conducted a 257-acre prescribed burn in the Big Gum Swamp Wilderness. That fire continues to burn on the east side of the wilderness, consuming vegetation which was previously too wet to burn completely. These pockets have dried out due to the recent hot weather. Reburn is also occurring.

Heavy smoke may come from this area as unburned fuels continue to burn. Firefighters are patrolling and monitoring the wilderness. The fire has not escaped the prescribed fire boundaries. No new wildfires are burning in the Big Gum Swamp Wilderness.

Hot, dry weather is expected to continue for the next several days and motorists are asked to exercise caution when driving through the forest because of the increased firefighter presence and smoke that could be on the roadways.

For more information about wildfires on the Osceola National Forest, please contact: the fire information line at

(386) 243-0301, OsceolaFireUpdates@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page at @NationalForestinFlorida.

The North School Section Prescribed Fire will begin on Sunday, June 2nd. This prescribed fire is to reduce potential of large wildfires and to regenerate native plant species, such as blueberries. Due to smoke from prescribed fires in the Northeastern Minnesota region, an air quality forecast of Moderate for the Tofte and Ely areas has been issued. Moderate Air Quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. Smoke could collect on road between Ely and the shore of Lake Superior especially at night. When seeing smoke, slow down. See air quality report below for more information.

KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Calif. May 24, 2020 – This morning there was a successful test fire on the Cedar Central Prescribed Burn. After observations, the burn boss and fire management staff, made the decision to continue with the prescribed burn in Kings Canyon National Park. Three to four days of ignitions are planned.

The Cedar Central Prescribed Burn is located east of Moraine Campground, north and south of Highway 180, west of Roads End, and on both sides of the Kings River.

This is the second phase of the Cedar Central Prescribed Burn that was started in June 2019 in which 218-acres of the 463-acre total project were completed. The areas of focus were last treated between 2011 and 2008. Historic fire return interval in this area averages every three to ten years. The purpose of this prescribed burn is to reduce hazardous fuel loading and maintain the natural fire cycle in Cedar Grove.

Smoke impacts are expected to be limited to Cedar Grove, and will lessen as fuels within the prescribed burn area are consumed and ultimately self-extinguish.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks work with the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District to coordinate and regulate smoke contributions to the airshed. For more information about air quality in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, visit go.nps.gov/sekiair or regional information about air quality, visit www.valleyair.org

KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Calif. May 12, 2020 – Fire managers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have scheduled the first prescribed burn of 2020 in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park to occur between now and the end of May. This is the second phase of the Cedar Central Prescribed Burn that was started in June 2019 in which 218-acres of the 463-acre total project were completed.

The Cedar Central Prescribed Burn is located east of Moraine Campground, north and south of Highway 180, and on both sides of the Kings River. Ignitions for the remaining 245-acres are expected to take three to four days.

Firefighters will be following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and agency best management practices to mitigate the hazards and risks associated with COVID-19 during this project. Additionally, the National Park Service is working through established frameworks to consider prescribed burn impacts, including potential smoke impacts on people and communities who may be at risk.

“Cedar Grove is a very remote section of Kings Canyon National Park with little chance of public exposure to smoke this time of year,” said John Ziegler, parks’ fire management officer. “Conducting this project now, through active management, we are reducing our wildfire risk and ensuring the health of our parks for generations.”

If Cedar Grove is open during the ignition period, firefighters will be working along Highway 180. Visitors are asked to drive slowly, use caution at night, and follow directions from firefighters and rangers. Additionally, visitors should expect to see smoldering logs and wispy smoke as fuels in the area continue to burn down after ignitions are over.

Historic fire return interval in this area averages every three to ten years. The purpose of this prescribed burn is to reduce hazardous fuel loading and maintain the natural fire cycle in Cedar Grove. The areas of focus were last treated between 2011 and 2008.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks work closely with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to coordinate and regulate smoke contributions to the airshed. For more information about air quality in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks visit go.nps.gov/sekiair. For regional information about air quality, visit www.valleyair.org.

For updates about the Cedar Central Prescribed Burn, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6353/.

-NPS-

About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ Fire Management Program

For over fifty years, our mission has been to use the full range of options and strategies available to manage fire in the parks. This includes protecting park resources, employees, and the public from unwanted fire; building and maintaining fire resilient ecosystems; reducing the threat to local communities from wildfires emanating from the parks or adjacent lands; and recruiting, training, and retaining a professional fire management workforce.

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