News Release

KNP Complex North and South Zones Update October 14, 2021

Date: October 14, 2021
Contact: KNP Complex Information, PUBLIC: [phone] (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
Contact: MEDIA: [phone]

Acres: 87,786 acres
Containment: 45%
Start Date: September 10, 2021
Cause: Lightning
Jurisdiction: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; Sequoia National Forest 
Resources: 1,588 personnel including: 26 crews, 92 engines, 38 water tenders, 9 dozers and 14 helicopters 

Along the western flank of the KNP Complex today, crews will patrol and mop up along strong containment lines. No challenges are anticipated. In these areas, suppression repair will also commence. Suppression repair consists of actions designed to mitigate adverse effects to resources as a result of fire suppression activities. Resource advisors from public land management agencies with ownership within the KNP Complex have cooperatively developed site-specific repair recommendations and will monitor repair activities along roads, constructed fire lines, safety zones, drop points, and water sources. Restoring areas to pre-fire conditions is not immediately possible because vegetation recovery is necessary, but preparing the land for recovery is critical to ensuring long-term health of the land.   

Along the eastern and southern flanks, the fire is expected to produce more smoke which will settle in the valleys and canyons. From Montecito Lodge to Stony Creek, containment line construction will progress. Aerial operations will mostly be focused on the area of the fire upslope from the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. Unmanned aircraft systems and drones will be utilized in areas too unsafe for crews to enter. Structure protection groups will be patrolling and monitoring the full perimeter of the fire, focusing on ensuring that previously identified values at risk are still intact and safe, and that suppression equipment is properly winterized. 

Fire containment, returning residents back to their homes and communities, opening critical infrastructure, and restoration/repair of natural resources all remain incident objectives even through transition among management teams and firefighting resources. Although fire activity has slowed, safety of firefighters and the public is the top priority. Residents and visitors are reminded to remain vigilant to changing conditions, increased emergency response activity, and changing weather patterns which may impact weakened trees and create additional overhead hazards or ground instability. 

Weather: Weather conditions will remain warm and dry through the end of the week. No appreciable changes other than a few clouds are anticipated through the end of the week. 

Safety: Please be aware of and respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area.  

Evacuations: Evacuation ORDERS and WARNINGS are in place. For the most up-to-date information, visit: https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4b2ac27b5c8943ed92c0e77aa94daca0. Learn to prepare for an evacuation by visiting https://www.readyforwildfire.org/. 

Closures: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed west of the Pacific Crest Trail and south of the ridgeline which lies north of Ionian Basin. In addition, the BLM Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area and major portions of the Sequoia National Forest are also closed. View closures at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7838/.

Smoke Impacts: Current air quality updates can be found at https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/FresnoCA. 
 

FIRE INFORMATION  

(PLEASE NOTE PHONE NUMBER CHANGES) 
PUBLIC: [phone] (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) 
MEDIA: [phone]
EMAIL: e-mail us 
INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7838/ 
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sequoiakingsnps/ and https://www.facebook.com/sequoiaNF/ 
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SequoiaKingsnps and https://twitter.com/sequoiaforest 
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/Sequoiakingsnps 
YOUTUBE:  https://bit.ly/2021KNPComplex