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KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Calif. August 15, 2015 –At the recommendation of the Rough Fire Incident Management Team, the Park is notifying visitors and the public in Cedar Grove that the Rough Fire has necessitated closing Highway 180. The Rough Fire has not crossed the South Fork of the Kings River, however it is approaching the river below Highway 180. At 10:00pm, August 15th, Highway 180 will be closed to eastbound traffic at the intersection of Highway 180 and the Hume Lake turnoff. It will remain closed until it is deemed safe by the appropriate authorities. Visitors choosing to remain in Cedar Grove risk being stranded due to the road closure, but are able to exit at this time. THIS IS NOT AN EVACUATION Currently park rangers are notifying day users and campground occupants in person. This is a precautionary notice and there is minimal risk to the public in Cedar Grove. Additionally, we want to make visitors aware of the possibility of smoke along the roadway and firefighters working. Please don't linger or stop along the way and always use your headlights. Do not exceed the posted speed limit, drive safely, and watch for fire vehicles along the roadway.
We will attempt to accommodate existing campers in affected areas by moving them into other campgrounds. However, we want to remind visitors that camping environments and facilities may differ from their original campground assignment, as each area is slightly different. We want to remind visitors to be aware of how much gas is in the car, and plan for an extra day of food and adequate water when camping, as weather or emergencies can impact even the best-made plans. Always notify loved ones of camping plans and check in with them when you return.
For more information on the Rough Fire, please refer to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4456/, visiting the Sierra National Forest's website https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra/ or their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF
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Last updated: August 16, 2015