News Release

Ignitions Have Started on the Park Ridge Prescribed Burn

Firefighters monitor the progress of the Park Ridge Prescribed Burn in Kings Canyon National Park.

NPS / SBishop

News Release Date: June 23, 2024

Contact: Fire Information Office, [phone]

Ignition operations have commenced for the Park Ridge Prescribed Burn in the Grant Grove Area of Kings Canyon National Park, scheduled to continue for six days. Smoke may be visible from the Generals Highway and Highway 180. Visitors should anticipate moderate smoke impacts in the Grant Grove and potentially Hume Lake on ignition days, along with intermittent traffic delays. At night, smoke may also be noticeable in lower elevations of the parks and the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest and surrounding foothill areas. 
 
Firefighters have taken a systematic approach to prepare the area for the Park Ridge Prescribed Burn. By implementing the below preparation, firefighters have significantly enhanced their ability to manage the prescribed burn:

• Fuel reduction- thinning vegetation and removing dead wood to help reduce the overall amount of combustible materials. 
• Establishing holding lines - creating a critical boundary around the area to reduce the risk of the fire from moving past their line.
• Identified additional firebreaks – these are natural and human-made barriers strategically used such as roadways.
• Installing perimeter firehose – provides a readily accessible water supply around the burn area.

Despite significant wildfire impacts in surrounding areas from the 2015 Rough Fire and the 2021 KNP Complex Fire, the Grant Grove area has been relatively preserved due to the parks' extensive history of prescribed burns dating back to 1968. This ongoing commitment by the Sequoia and Kings Canyon Fire and Aviation program ensures the safety of both visitors and natural resources.
 
The Park Ridge Prescribed Burn covers 560 acres along the main ridge east of Grant Grove and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, divided into four segments on the western slope of the ridge. Specific details can be found in the Maps tab.
 
For air quality updates tailored to your location or for trip planning, please visit fire.airnow.gov. This website is accessible via smartphone for convenience.
 
Access to the General Grant Tree and its parking area will remain unaffected by the prescribed burn. However, trails leading to Park Ridge and Panoramic Point will be closed during this period.
 
For updates, maps, photos, and other information, visit: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caknp-2024-park-ridge-prescribed-burn