The evacuation zone has been shifted to the north for the Coffee Pot Fire, burning at the west edge of Sequoia National Park.
As of Tuesday, Sept. 3, the wildfire had burned 11,953 acres (18.6 square miles) and was 17% contained, according to fire managers for the federal lands.
The mandatory evacuation called by the Tulare County sheriff covers 11 sparsely populated square miles west of the park boundary. On Sunday, the order was downgraded to a warning in the fire’s southern sector, and an evacuation zone was added at the north edge, including the community of Oak Grove.
The map above shows the approximate fire perimeter as a black line and the evacuation area in red. For more information on the evacuation, including warning areas, see the Genasys Protect map.
The fire was started by lightning Aug. 10 near Coffeepot Canyon, at the park’s west edge. It grew slowly but steadily in all directions for almost three weeks, a few hundred acres on most days, then began burning more actively. The first evacuation was called on Aug. 28, and from the evening of Aug. 29 to the morning of Sept. 2, the fire went from 6,000 acres to almost 12,000.
Because of the fire, the park closed some roads, trails and campgrounds, including in the Mineral King area, and visitors were warned of heavy smoke. Mineral King is on the other side of the park, but the access road has been closed to public traffic.
A public meeting about the fire is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the Three Rivers Memorial Building, 43490 Sierra Drive in Three Rivers. The meeting can also be viewed live at the national park’s Facebook page or YouTube channel.
Originally Published: