Single Publication

Unified Command: CAIIMT15 & CAL FIRE

Fire Size: 10,164 acres

Percent Contained: 13%

Personnel: 1,518

Cause: Lightning  

Start Date: Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 10:05 AM

Location: Southeast of Three Rivers, CA 

CALIFORNIA INTERAGENCY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 15 ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE COFFEE POT FIRE AT 7:00 AM TODAY. 

MINERAL KING FIRE IMPACTS: The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation WARNING for zone TLC-E095, the area along Mineral King Road that includes the communities of Cabin Cove, Silver City, and Mineral King. This WARNING has been issued due to potential impacts to Mineral King Road. Road impacts can consist of delays, closures, and pilot vehicle operations occurring any time due to fire conditions. Should fire impact the roadway, a road closure up to 48 hours or more could lead to an ORDER or a possible shelter in place ORDER. Please plan accordingly if you have medical concerns or needs. Note: this WARNING is due to Mineral King roadway impact conditions; the fire is NOT currently an immediate threat to communities.  

Recreational access to the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park remains CLOSED to the public. This applies to Mineral King campgrounds, trailheads, and area trails. All other areas of the parks will remain open through the holiday weekend but are likely to be impacted by varying levels of smoke and poor air quality. For detailed zone and area descriptions, visit: protect.genasys.com. 

CURRENT SITUATION: As weather became hotter and drier yesterday, crews worked to hold the gains made throughout the week. Firefighters prioritized the northern flank using aircraft water-drops to slow fire progression, as it backed down toward the East Fork Kaweah River. Near Case Mountain, strategic firing operations using low-intensity back burning were conducted to slow the rate of fire spread. Crews monitored fire backing through the Nutmeg Grove of giant Sequoias. On the eastern flank, Fire Use Modules continued working to construct indirect control lines to join Horse Creek and Mineral King Road. To the south, hand crews constructed direct control lines to contain the fire that spread just over Scratch Creek, and firefighters achieved near complete containment along the South Fork Kaweah River. On the western flank, firefighters worked to hold direct control lines and contain fire spotting near Salt Creek Road.  

Today, crews are continuing to prioritize the northern flank of the fire. North and east of Case Mountain, firefighters will use low-intensity firing operations and water-drops from aircraft to slow the rate of overall spread as the fire backs toward the East Fork Kaweah River. Crews will work to improve roads near Cinnamon Gap and will continue to construct indirect control lines along Mineral King Road. To the east, the Fire Use Modules are constructing indirect control lines moving north toward Horse Creek and Mineral King Road. Strategic firing operations with low intensity burning will be used in the Eden Creek Grove of giant sequoias. In the southeast, crews are holding control lines along Cedar Ridge, and are monitoring the spot fire that was controlled just beyond Scratch Creek. To the south, mop up activities are beginning along the South Fork Kaweah River containment line. 

EVACUATION NOTICES: A NEW Evacuation ORDER has been issued for zone TLC-E094-D. A NEW Evacuation WARNING has been issued for zone TLC-E095. Evacuation ORDERS remain in effect for zone TLC-E094-B and TLC-E128-B. Evacuation WARNINGS remain in effect for zones TLC-E128-A and TLC-E127-B. For current evacuations and to find your zone, go to: http://protect.genasys.com/ 

WEATHER: High pressure remains over the area bringing warm and dry weather with sunny skies. Haze and smoke will be concentrated, especially at night and the early morning, bringing locally poor visibility. Temperatures will change little. Winds will be diurnal and terrain-driven today and into tonight. General winds will be out of the northeast in the early morning, out of the southwest by mid-morning, and gusting over ridges in the afternoon. Sheltered areas will see upslope winds predominate. Weather tomorrow will be slightly cooler with marginally higher humidity. 

SMOKE IMPACTS: The biggest smoke impacts will be between Three Rivers and Ash Mountain, with levels likely reaching VERY UNHEALTHY this morning before recovering this afternoon. Levels in Springville will follow a similar trend but will likely top out at UNHEALTHY. The East Fork Kaweah River drainage is expected to reach VERY UNHEALTHY levels in the afternoon, improving slightly in the evening and dropping to MODERATE overnight. Pinehurst and The Giant Forest Village will likely see UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS to UNHEALTHY levels during the afternoon. Smoke from the fire will likely impact areas to the north, bringing levels up to MODERATE along the Sierra foothills, through Grant Grove and into Mammoth. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov. 

FIRE INFORMATION: Fire information will not be posted on Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook or Instagram pages today and tomorrow. Fire information will be available on inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caknp-coffee-pot-fire and videos will continue to be posted on the park’s YouTube channel at @sequoiaandkingscanyonnps5018. A Public Information Officer will be at the Three Rivers Village Market daily from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM to provide fire information and answer questions.  

BLM AND PARK CLOSURES: The portion of South Fork Drive within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and trails accessed from the road, including the Ladybug and Garfield Grove Trails, are closed. Park closure information is available online at nps.gov/seki. The Bureau of Land Management has also issued a closure of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area at blm.gov/press-release.  

PUBLIC NOTICE: Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.