News Release

KNP Complex Update for September 13, 2021

Smoke rises from the Paradise Fire in Sequoia National Park on September 12, 2021.

Riley Hays

News Release Date: September 13, 2021

Contact: Fire Information Office, 559-565-3704

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. September 13, 2021 – The KNP Complex, comprised of the Paradise Fire and the Colony Fire in Sequoia National Park, continued to grow yesterday. The most recent mapping showed the Paradise Fire at 807 acres and the Colony Fire at 230 acres. Extremely smoky conditions under an inversion layer have prevented further mapping thus far today.
 
The Paradise Fire, burning south of the middle fork of the Kaweah River, has prompted a mandatory evacuation of the Mineral King area, from the Oak Grove Bridge to the end of the road in Mineral King Valley, effective yesterday evening.
It has also prompted an evacuation warning for part of the community of Three Rivers. The evacuation warning covers all points on both sides of Highway 198, east of the intersection of Highway 198 and North Fork Drive. The evacuation warning does not include points located on North Fork or South Fork Drive. To view maps that show these evacuation areas, visit https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/.
 
Those in the mandatory evacuation order area must leave immediately. Those in the evacuation warning area should prepare to leave, should the warning escalate to an order.
 
These lightning-ignited fires are burning in extremely steep, densely-vegetated areas. Ground access is challenging on the Colony Fire and has thus far proved impossible on the Paradise Fire. There are currently 130 people assigned to the KNP Complex, with more resources on the way. A type 2 incident management team from the Northern Rockies Region has been ordered, and is expected to transition into place later this week.
 
For updates on the KNP Complex, follow https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7838/. 

 - 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.