Single Publication

Unified Command: CIIMT5 & CAL FIRE  

Fire Size: 4,552 acres 

Percent Contained: 0%  

Personnel: 1,312 

Cause: Lightning 

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

Location: Southeast of Three Rivers, CA 

EVACUATION WARNING: An Evacuation WARNING has been issued for the area’s TLC-E128-A and TLC-E127-B, north of South Fork Drive, south of Skyline Drive, east of Skyline Drive, and west of South Fork Drive. Zones TLC-E094-B and TLC-E128-B will remain in a WARNING. To find out if you live in an evacuation warning zone, visit protect.genasys.com.  An Evacuation Warning means you should prepare to evacuate the area should the fire approach your home. Please stay clear and out of the areas affected by the fire. If there is an emergency, please dial 911. For more information on evacuations, alert notifications, and zone information, please visit tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. 

FIRE INFORMATION: 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.  

CURRENT SITUATION: The Coffee Pot Fire increased by 874 acres, backing slowly toward the South Fork of the Kaweah River at the Scratch Creek junction. In the northeast, low intensity fire backed into the Salt Creek Grove of giant sequoias. Sixty-five percent of primary control lines have been constructed. Crews also continued clearing brush along Mineral King Road and conducted a low-intensity backing fire to remove vegetation in the Eden Creek Grove of giant sequoias. Three, 10-person Fire Use Modules constructed indirect control lines on the eastern flank, reaching Homers Nose at the fire’s edge.  

Today, firefighters will continue improving indirect control lines on the south and west flanks for a strategic firing operation. On the south flank, the fire has moved towards the indirect control line at the South Fork of the Kaweah River and is burning lighter fuels. To contain the fire, firefighters are constructing control lines directly at the fire’s edge near Scratch Creek. The Fire Use Modules are building indirect control lines on the east flank along Horse Creek toward the East Fork of the Kaweah River, with the objective of constructing line to Mineral King Road. 

WEATHER: High pressure building in the area will bring continued warming and drying today. Skies will be sunny with haze and smoke. Winds will be diurnal and terrain-driven today and tonight. They will be out of the northeast in the early morning, with southwest winds developing mid-morning and gusts over ridges in the afternoon. The weather tomorrow is expected to continue warming and drying.

SMOKE IMPACTS: Smoke impacts are expected to be similar to yesterday, with warm, dry and relatively calm weather producing more smoke with weak dispersion. Conditions should improve mid-day for most areas, as smoke lifts out of valleys, with the exception of the Mineral King zone which will see air quality levels at UNHEALTHY to VERY UNHEALTHY during the afternoon and evening. As of this morning, the highest concentrations are between Three Rivers and Hammond, and south of the fire towards Springville. These zones can expect to see conditions improve to MODERATE, as smoke lifts out of the valley during the day, returning to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS later this evening and UNHEALTHY overnight. We are expecting to see MODERATE levels continue in the valley near Porterville and Visalia today, likely increasing to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS overnight, especially closer to the foothills. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov.

HIGHWAY AND ROAD IMPACTS: Highway 198, Mineral King Road, and Generals Highway in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are open. Due to heavy equipment and personnel working on Mineral King Road, expect 30-minute delays or longer. Please plan accordingly. Additional law enforcement will be patrolling the area through the holiday weekend. Visitors should exercise extreme caution, stay alert, and drive slowly to keep themselves and fire crews safe.

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 Ladyug 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.