Tuesday's Infrared Map
Note: Map is 1,200 pixels wide.
Click here for Wednesday's Updates: KNP Complex Wildfires in Sequoia National Park Wednesday, September 29, 2021 Updates
Update: 11:30 A.M.
SOUTHWEST AREA TYPE 1 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 2
Dave Bales – Incident Commander
Acres: 48,344 acres (based on infrared flight)
Containment: 8%
Start Date: September 10, 2021
Cause: Lightning
Jurisdiction: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Resources: 1,822 personnel including: 49 crews, 72 engines, 39 water tenders, 32 dozers and 11 helicopters
Firefighting resources continue to work to increase containment on the KNP Complex. Challenges include drought stressed vegetation, and heavy brush loads on steep slopes. Changes in weather today may allow smoke to lift and allow fire columns to develop. Aircraft is available to support ground resources as weather conditions permit.
Yesterday, resources continued to improve the Mineral King Road on the southern edge and monitored the fire as it backed down toward the road. Today, firefighters along the western flanks will remain engaged with structure protection of Hartland and the surrounding areas and work the fires edge to construct and improve containment lines. Along the southern perimeter crews will continue to improve the Mineral King Road in addition to having resources in Three Rivers, Silver City and Mineral King communities. Crews on the northern flank will continue to build direct line to the east. On the eastern perimeter crews continue to mop up hot spots within the Giant Forest and improve containment lines. They are also looking for opportunities to build fire line north from Lodgepole. Weather should allow aircraft to work in coordination with ground resources to support firefighting efforts.
There have been no new evacuation Warnings or Orders for the KNP Complex in the past 24 hours. All evacuation warnings and orders that that have been issued are still active. Areas currently under an evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under a warning or order at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.
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.
Communities surrounding the park and in the nearby region are being affected by smoke and the resulting poor air quality. Track your local air quality at https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/FresnoCA.
Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all firefighting aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit: http:/knowbeforeyoufly.org.
September 28, 2021 - KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia National Park updates for Tuesday: 48,334 Acres with 8% Containment.
Basic Information
| Current as of | 9/28/2021, 7:46:40 AM |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Friday September 10th, 2021 approx. 07:00 AM |
| Location | Sequoia National Park |
| Incident Commander | David Bales |
| Incident Description | Complex |
| Coordinates | 36.567 latitude, -118.811 longitude |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 1,822 |
| Size | 48,344 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 8% |
| Fuels Involved |
Timber (Litter and Understory) Chaparral (6 feet) Short Grass (1 foot) |
| Significant Events |
Observed Fire Behavior: Uphill Runs Torching Short-range Spotting As the smoke lifted the fire behavior increased to extreme fire behavior along the northern end of the fire. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions |
Utilize indirect tactics including both hand crews and dozers to continue line construction along Cal Fire protection areas and outside the western park boundary to provide for structure protection and minimize impacts to values at risk in Three Rivers, Silver City, Hartland and surrounding communities. Structure protection and mitigation efforts for National Park infrastructure. Continue to monitor high-value infra-structure within the National Park to include the Park Headquarters, Museum, and employee housing. Continued protection and mitigation measures for all sequoia groves within the fire area, including the Giant Forest Sequoia Grove. When attributes of fire behavior are favorable to the landscape, allow fire spread to aid in fuels reduction in and adjacent to the groves. Continue strategic firing as fire approaches primary lines with Fire Use modules, hand crews, and UAS. Utilize strategic firing when needed to help meet the objectives identified for this fire. |
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Fire behavior will taper off with the increase in overnight humidity. Fire behavior will be low to moderate overnight. 24 hours: Cooler temperatures and higher humidity will moderate fire behavior. Expect to see low to active fire behavior. Growth will be limited with mostly backing to the north and south. Some eastern movement can be expected but limited. 48 hours: Clearing skies will allow solar radiation to increase the fire behavior, expect to see active to very active fire behavior. 72 hours: Low humidity along with the clearing skies expect to see an increase in fire behavior. very active to extreme fire behavior is possible. Anticipated after 72 hours: Humidities continue to decrease allowing an increase in fire behavior. Expect to see very active to extreme fire behavior. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns |
Modest northwest winds aloft pushed smoke away from the fire during the day. Cooler temperatures brought elevated humidity levels during the afternoon. A cold from this evening will push more smoke away from the region. Some gusty winds will continue into the day Tuesday for higher elevations. |
Overnight Infrared Flight Notes: Interpreted Size: 48,339 Interpreted Acres - Growth since last flight: 1,348 Acres
Observed perimeter growth on the Southern and Northern side of the perimeter. System Techs: Clear sky from the ground up to our altitude. LWIR was fine.
Click here for: KNP Complex Wildfires in Sequoia National Park Monday, September 27, 2021 Updates
Tuesday's Briefing Map
Briefing Map Shows Divisions, Uncontrolled Fire Edge, Completed Dozer Lines.
Note: Map is 1,200 pixels wide.
