News Release

Parks Postpone Lost Grove Prescribed Burn and Plan Smaller Project in Cedar Grove

Date: October 13, 2017
Contact: Mike Theune, 559-565-3703
Contact: Rebecca Paterson, 559-565-3129

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. October 13, 2017 – Park officials have decided to postpone the Lost Grove Prescribed Burn, which was scheduled to begin on Sunday October 15, and instead will complete a final segment on the Cedar East Prescribed Burn, which was begun in Cedar Grove in April 2017. Ignitions on this segment of the Cedar East Prescribed Burn are expected to begin on Tuesday, October 17, if conditions are favorable.

The remaining segment of the Cedar East Prescribed Burn, at 192 acres, is a significantly smaller project than the Lost Grove Prescribed Burn, at 669 acres. Park officials attribute this change in plans to the availability of both park and statewide firefighting resources, many of which are currently needed for emergency response efforts across the country. Additionally, this smaller unit is expected to be completed with fewer days of ignitions, and the projected smoke dispersal patterns are expected to have little to no impact on surrounding communities.

“We’re still in the thick of a long and challenging wildfire season, and we want to make sure that we’re making the best choices for the parks and the community while still working towards our objectives for prescribed burning,” says Todd Bates, Fuels Management Specialist. “Prescribed burning helps to protect the parks and the surrounding communities from the danger of catastrophic wildfire. We’re glad that we have options that allow us to respond to the needs of the greater community and still move forward with this important work.”

Two to three days of ignitions are planned for this segment of the Cedar East Prescribed Burn. The segment is located east of the Road’s End Permit Station, and primarily south of the Kings River. Throughout the burn, the south side of the Kanawyer Loop will be closed. Trail escorts will be performed through along the north side for visitors wishing to access or return from wilderness areas via Road’s End.

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. For regional information about air quality visit www.valleyair.org.

For updates about the Cedar East Prescribed Burn visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5162/.

-NPS-