Single Publication

                                                     Happy Fire 

Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument

Dunlap, CA – November 14, 2024 — The Happy Fire originated on July 16, 2024 from a lightning strike during a thunderstorm in the Sequoia National Forest, Hume Lake Ranger District. The Happy Fire has been actively burning in the Monarch Wilderness area north of the South Fork of the Kings River. 

The Happy Fire has provided the opportunity to reintroduce fire back into this landscape.  The local management team based on the Sequoia National Forest in coordination with the Sierra National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park has been monitoring and managing the benefits this fire is providing since it began on July 16, 2024. 

Forest Officials actively engaged to manage the fire on October 31, 2024 through November 10, 2024 with ignitions north of Hwy 180 along the South Fork of the Kings River, changing the status from a monitored fire to a managed fire. 

Aerial and hand crew ignitions over a recent two-day period contributed to over 4000 acres of treatment accomplished. Ideal fire effects are benefiting natural resources, with the treated acreage now reaching 12,543 acres. 

Fire activity on the Happy Fire is expected to decrease as snowfall is expected over the fire area. Smoke has cleared out with the weather change and the fire is now in monitoring status. The ongoing monitoring of the fire ensures that any potential risks are identified and managed effectively. As the vegetation dries out, smoldering may increase and produce more smoke. The fire will be monitored until rainfall and winter-like conditions put it out. Managed fire can help achieve resource objectives and restore and maintain fire as an essential ecological process.

This will be the final update for the Happy Fire. The Sequoia National Forest Hume Lake Ranger District would like to thank the cooperators and the public for their support during the fire. Without local resources and support from the community, our team would not have been as successful.

For more information on the Happy Fire visit  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/casqf-happy, email SM.FS.SequoiaNF@usda.gov and follow us on the Sequoia National Forest Facebook at SequoiaNF or visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/Sequoia for current information.   

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