Sept. 15 – The KNP Complex Fire is continuing to spread in the southern Sierras threatening ancient giant Sequoias within the Sequoia National Park.
The park remains closed as park employees were ordered to evacuate their housing on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux extended and expanded a mandatory evacuation order into the following areas of Three Rivers:
- All of Mineral King Road, from the intersection with Highway 198 to the end of the road
- Areas along Sierra King Drive, Crest Lane, Hammond Drive, and Oak Grove Drive
- Areas along Highway 198 from the intersection with Mineral King Road to the Sequoia National Park entrance station
His agency also issued an evacuation warning for the remainder of Three Rivers east of Edison Drive and east of Mineral King Road.
Currently, the KNP Complex – comprised of the Paradise Fire and the Colony Fire – ballooned on Tuesday, with it cracking 7,039 acres affected.
The Paradise Fire is outstripping the Colony Fire, comprising 5,914 acres of the total complex acreage.
The combined complex remains at 0 percent containment with 300 firefighting personnel on the ground.
Sept. 13 – A set of wildfires in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Sequoia National Park and Forest have prompted a wave of evacuation orders from fire and Sheriff’s officials.
The fires – KNP Complex and Windy – were all ignited by lightning strikes amid a Thursday night summer storm in the mountain range.
The KNP Complex Fire prompted officials to close key areas of the park Sunday night, including the Lodgepole Campground, Wuksachi Lodge, and the Giant Forest/Lodgepole area.
They also barred further access to thee General Sherman Tree until further notice and closed the road connecting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, directing visitors to evacuate via Highway 180.
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux also ordered mandatory evacuation for Silvery City and Cabin Cove along Mineral King Road
Currently, the KNP Complex sits at a combined 1,037 acres consumed, with zero percent containment, Forest Service
Meanwhile, the Windy Fire, which has spread to 650 acres in the Sequoias with 232 firefighting personnel on the ground to begin containment.
