News Release

Ignitions Started on Sequoia Creek Prescribed Burn

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Date: September 25, 2017
Contact: Mike Theune, NPS Fire Info, 559-565-3703
Contact: Alicia Embrey, USFS Public Affairs, 559-784-1500 x 1112

Kings Canyon National Park & Sequoia National Forest, Calif. September 25, 2017 – Ignitions began today on the Sequoia Creek Prescribed Burn, a collaborative project between Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Forest. Following a successful test burn at approximately 11:45 AM, fire crews are continuing ignitions by hand throughout the first segment of the burn unit. The burn unit is located north of Highway 180, between the Big Stump Entrance to Kings Canyon National Park and Wilsonia Village. Ignitions are expected to take between 3 and 4 days.

The total planned acreage for the project is 264-acres with 55 acres in Sequoia National Forest and 209 acres in Kings Canyon National Park. A portion of the South Boundary Trail and the Hitchcock Meadow Trail, as well as Big Stump Picnic Area, are currently closed, and will remain closed during the burn down period. The timetable for reopening these areas will be contingent upon evaluation by fire management staff in the coming weeks. Other trails in Grant Grove remain open.

“This represents the first prescribed burn that we’ve developed jointly with our neighbor, Sequoia National Forest,” says John Ziegler, Fire Management Officer for Kings Canyon National Park and Burn Boss for this prescribed burn. “This is a great opportunity to pool our knowledge and resources to take the best possible care of this complex landscape, which we are committed to protecting.”

Visitors to Kings Canyon National Parks and Sequoia National Forest can expect to see smoke, flames, and firefighters on the north side of Highway 180 westbound of the Big Stump Entrance Station and through to Grant Grove Village. Depending on smoke conditions, delays or short closures may occur. Please drive carefully, observe signage, and be prepared to stop.

Smoke impacts can be expected in the Grant Grove and Wilsonia areas during the day and in the Sequoia Lake area and the Highway 245 corridor at night. A network of smoke monitors have been deployed throughout the area for this prescribed burn. The public can learn more about air quality and smoke by visiting www.airnow.gov or www.valleyair.org. 

For more information on this prescribed fire, please visit Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5621/or call 559-565-3704. This site provides information about the prescribed burn, maps, and photos.



Last updated: September 30, 2017

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