Single Publication

Unified Command: CAIIMT15 & CAL FIRE

Fire Size: 11,953

Percent Contained: 17%

Primary Strategic Control Line: 92%

Personnel: 1,472

Cause: Lightning

Start Date: Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 10:05 a.m.

Location: Southeast of Three Rivers, CA

COFFEE POT FIRE PUBLIC MEETING: CAIIMT15 will host a public meeting today, September 3, at 6 p.m. at the Three Rivers Memorial Building: 43490 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers. Those unable to attend can watch the meeting live on the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook page @SequoiaKingsNPS or YouTube channel @sequoiaandkingscanyonnps5018. 

CURRENT SITUATION: Yesterday, firefighters prioritized efforts on the northern flank of the fire. Crews worked to hold fire along the direct control line near the East Fork Kaweah River. Firefighters also used strategic firing operations, direct control lines, water-drops, and retardant, working to contain fire that reached beyond the primary line near Case Mountain Road. On the eastern flank, firefighters used retardant to bolster the control line toward Horse Creek and Mineral King Road. On the southern perimeter, crews began mop-up operations where fire had reached just beyond Scratch Creek, and continued mop-ups along the South Fork Kaweah containment lines. On the western flank of the fire, crews patrolled direct control lines to ensure containment. 

As expected, the fire on the northern flank will continue backing to reach the East Fork Kaweah River today, and firefighters will focus on holding fire at the river’s direct control line. Using low-intensity burning operations, aerial water-drops, and fire retardant, crews will work to slow the rate of fire spread as it moves into the river drainage. Firefighters are also prioritizing operations around fire that reached beyond the control line near Case Mountain Road. Crews will continue to brush and chip along the Mineral King Road indirect contingency line. On the eastern flank, firefighters will strengthen and extend the indirect control lines toward Horse Creek and Mineral King Road. To the south, crews are monitoring for any residual heat near Scratch Creek, and mop-up and repair activities are progressing along the South Fork Kaweah River containment line. Crews on the western flank will continue to patrol for any spot fires and hold the containment line being established there. 

WEATHER: Warm and dry weather continues with partly cloudy skies, haze, and smoke. Low pressure will move through the north of the area and exit to the east. Little change is weather is expected. General winds in the early morning will be light out of the northeast, shifting out of the southwest by mid-morning. Sheltered areas will see upslope winds predominate, with westerly gusts through canyons. An inversion is expected to develop tonight, concentrating haze and smoke into lower elevations, especially on the west side of the fire, with higher elevations mainly above the smoke inversion by late evening, and breaking in the early afternoon. Hotter temperatures are expected through the end of the week.

SMOKE IMPACTS: Smoke conditions will be similar to yesterday. Hammond and Mineral King will see levels rising to UNHEALTHY at times, averaging UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS over the day. Levels in Three Rivers and Springville will average MODERATE. The Giant Forest area will see concentrations reach UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS during the day, averaging moderate overall. Communities in the Owens Valley will see levels reach MODERATE for most of the day with some periods of GOOD in the afternoon. Mammoth and Oakhurst will average GOOD for the day. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov.

EVACUATION NOTICES: The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has issued Evacuation ORDERS due to current fire conditions for Genasys zones TLC-E094-C, TLC-E094-E, TLC-E094-D, and TLC-E094-B. An evacuation ORDER, also known as a mandatory evacuation, means that all residents and visitors should leave now before the fire reaches the community. If you are unable to evacuate and require assistance, please call 9-1-1. In case of sheltering needs or questions regarding sheltering, please contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767. 

The Tulare County Fire Department has also issued Evacuation WARNINGS for zones TLC-E128-B, TLC-E093-A, TLC-E093-B, TLC-E095, TLC-E127-B, and TLC-E128-A. To find your zone, please refer to: protect.genasys.com.

FIRE INFORMATION: A Public Information Officer will be at the Three Rivers Village Market daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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. Recreational access to the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park is closed to the public. This applies to Mineral King campgrounds, trailheads, and area trails. All other areas of the parks are open but are likely to be impacted by varying levels of smoke and poor air quality. 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.