KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Calif. May 26, 2020 - Fire staff completed ignitions on the last segment of the Cedar Central Prescribed Burn unit yesterday evening, for a total of 245 acres treated since Sunday. With ignitions complete, firefighters will continue to patrol the area as vegetation inside the unit self-extinguishes.
The Cedar Central Prescribed Burn is located east of Moraine Campground, north and south of Highway 180, west of Roads End, and on both sides of the Kings River.
When Cedar Grove opens to the public, visitors driving or hiking near the area may see smoke and/or areas of active flame. For safety, trail closures in the prescribed burn and on some trails leading to it will remain closed until conditions in the area have progressed to a stage where minimal public hazard remains, as determined by the Burn Boss or the parks’ Fire Management Officer.
“We are grateful for the public’s understanding of the trail and area closures on this prescribed burn," said Jeremy Loyd, burn boss trainee. “Hazards such as fire weakened trees, snags, and pockets of heat may not be readily apparent from a distance. We want everyone to return home safe."
Smoke impacts are expected to be limited to Cedar Grove, and will lessen as fuels within the prescribed burn area are consumed and ultimately go out. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks work with the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District to coordinate and regulate smoke contributions to the airshed. For more information about air quality in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks visit go.nps.gov/sekiair. For regional information about air quality visit www.valleyair.org.
For updates on this prescribed burn and trail closures, please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6353/
-NPS-
About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ Fire Management Program
For over fifty years, our mission has been to use the full range of options and strategies available to manage fire in the parks. This includes protecting park resources, employees, and the public from unwanted fire; building and maintaining fire resilient ecosystems; reducing the threat to local communities from wildfires emanating from the parks or adjacent lands; and recruiting, training, and retaining a professional fire management workforce.
Tags: prescribed burn prescribed fire fire cedar grove
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
