Favorable Fire Behavior Seen on Tehipite Fire
Incident: Tehipite Wildland Fire
Released: 8/27/2008
A flight over the Tehipite Fire on Monday to observe fire spread and behavior has mapped the fire at 1,192 acres.
The fire behavior includes creeping and smoldering with occasional pockets of torching-fire behavior typical in the mid-elevations of the Sierra Nevada. The fire grew 135 acres in the course of one week.
The Tehipite Fire is located in Tehipite Valley and the cliffs north and west of the valley in Kings Canyon National Park. It is burning in old growth mixed conifer, red fir, and live oak between 4,000 - 7,500 feet in elevation in steep bluffs and cliffs. This wilderness fire started by lightning on or around July 14.
The fire is being monitored by two firefighters near the fire, by fire look-outs at Buck Rock, by viewing the Buck Rock web cam, and by periodic helicopter flights. Steep, inaccessible terrain presents safety concerns for firefighters.
At times, visitors and residents may see limited smoke from this fire.
There are no immediate threats to life or property. As a safety measure:
- The trail between Simpson Meadow and the park boundary remains closed
- The Blue Canyon Trail is closed at the park boundary
Park firefighters continue to coordinate with their counterparts on the Sierra National Forest as the fire may cross the park boundary.
Lightning fires have been part of the Sierra Nevada for thousands of years. Many plant and animals have adapted over the years and benefit from a natural fire cycle.
Visit http://sierrafire.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/swfrs display webcam lm.pl camera=buck rock 1 to view the fire.
