Tehipite Fire Grows to 8,303 Acres
Incident: Tehipite Wildland Fire
Released: 9/16/2008
The interagency Tehipite Fire has grown to 8,303 acres as of 0800 on Tuesday, September 16, 2008. Of this, 3,422 acres are within Kings Canyon National Park and 4,881 acres are within the Sierra National Forest. The fire remains active predominately on the north and north- eastern flanks. Increased growth was seen over the weekend with hotter temperatures and drier conditions. Cooler weather conditions predicted for the weekend may result in less fire activity.
The Tehipite Fire is located in Tehipite Valley and the cliffs north of the valley in Kings Canyon National Park and is moving north and east in the John Muir Wilderness of the Sierra National Forest. It is burning in old growth mixed conifer, red fir, lodgepole pine, and live oak between 4,000 - 8,500 feet in elevation in steep cliffs and rugged terrain. This wilderness fire was started by lightning on or around July 14.
There are no immediate threats to life or property. Firefighters on the Sierra National Forest are taking steps to protect the Deer Meadow cabin, the Johnson Meadow cabins, and the Crown Valley Guard Station. Firefighters are stationed near the Johnson Meadow cabins to assist with structure protection, should it become necessary.
Trails within the fire perimeter on the Sierra NF are closed including portions of the following trails in the John Muir Wilderness are closed due to the Tehipite Fire:
- 29E30 (Blue Canyon Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to the national park boundary
- 29E45 (Tehipite Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to the national park boundary
- 29E31 (Coyote Pass Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to end of trail at Mountain Meadow
Within the park, the trail between Simpson Meadow and the park boundary remains closed and the Blue Canyon Trail is closed at the park boundary.
Fire managers constantly consider smoke impacts when managing this fire and realize that the mountain communities near the park and forest may be affected by its smoke. Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidities are helping smoke to disperse largely to the east, providing clearer condition for mountain communities. Fire managers are monitoring smoke emissions in multiple locations and working closely with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
Visit http://www.airquality.org/smokeimpact/ for further information
To view the fire, visit http://sierrafire.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/swfrs display webcam lm.pl camera=buck rock 1.
-- www.nps.gov/seki/fire/fireinfo/current.htm --
