Incidents All News

CURRENT SITUATION: The Coffee Pot Fire continues to gradually spread and advance in all directions. During the last few days, low to moderate fire behavior has allowed fire crews and bulldozers to make significant progress in constructing indirect control lines along the west and south flanks. Water-dropping planes and helicopters have supported these efforts by reducing the fire's intensity, particularly on the western flank. Fire activity is expected to slow leading into the weekend as temperatures cool and humidity increases.

CURRENT SITUATION: As expected, the Coffee Pot Fire continues to gradually spread on the landscape, advancing about two-tenths of a mile per day. Yesterday, the southeast flank of the fire burned slowly along the forest floor in Surprise Grove leaving the tree tops undamaged. Fire crews and heavy equipment continued constructing indirect control lines along the west and south flanks. Firefighters also continued prepping the various sequoia groves in the area of Case Mountain to help minimize the fire’s impact on those values.

CURRENT SITUATION: Fire activity picked up yesterday as flames continued to move through the understory of heavy brush and ground fuels, including some downhill rollouts and short uphill runs. The south flank of the fire has reached Surprise Grove and begun burning through the giant sequoias. Along the west flank, flames are nearing the Coffee Pot Unit of giant sequoias. Resource advisors remain onsite to assist with efforts to protect these iconic groves.

Fire Infromation: (559) 492-9988, Unit Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PMLocation: West of Homers Nose on Salt Creek RidgeSize: 869 acres, 0% contained, Personnel: 353, Cause: Lightning

Fire Information: (559) 565-3341 Unit Hours: 09:00 AM to 5:00 PM Location: West of Homers Nose on Salt Creek Ridge Size: 621 acres, 0% contained, Personnel: 135, Cause: Lightning

Today the Coffeepot Fire grew to 452 acres. Crews continue to work on handline and scouting the landscape. Water drops with aircraft continue. Today Complex Incident Management Team 5 arrived and participated in an in-brief with NPS and other local agencies. This team will take over management of the fire tomorrow morning under Unified Command with NPS and Cal Fire.Reminder that we have scheduled a public meeting for tomorrow evening. 

Size: 228 AcresContainment: 0%Fire Cause: LightningToday the Coffeepot Fire grew to 228 acres. This growth is expected, even as full suppression efforts continue. Should fire conditions change in a way that warrants evacuation advisories, please know that we will get that message out immediately. We are working closely with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office and the Office of Emergency Services should this need arise in the days or weeks ahead, but this is not foreseen at this time.

On August 3 a lightning-caused fire was located in the southwest corner of Sequoia National Park that was sized at 0.1 acre. It was quickly contained by fire crews, but after nearly a week of no activity, a burning tree fell and rolled over the containment line, and the fire began to grow, reaching five acres by Monday, August 12.

Size: 94 AcresContainment: 0%Fire Cause: Lightning

Size: 50 AcresContainment: 0%Fire Cause: Lightning