CA-KNP- Tehipite - Managed Wildfire - 11,085 acres

Fire Activity Continues to Decrease on The Tehipite
Incident: Tehipite Wildland Fire

Released: 10/6/2008Tehipite Fire perimeter / location map

The interagency Tehipite Fire is now 11,085 acres with 4,112 acres within Kings Canyon National Park and 6,973 acres within the Sierra National Forest. Its rate of growth has decreased.

Much of the perimeter of the fire has moved into rocks, green meadows, and sparse vegetation that deter fire spread. Fire activity observed is mostly a creeping ground fire on the north and west flanks that is clearing forest vegetation accumulated over the past 100 years.

Firefighters have also noticed that the rate of growth has noticeably decreased over the last several days with yesterday showing minimal growth with the cooler temperature, higher relative humidity, and light precipitation over the fire area.

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 west 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 - 9,000 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 have taken actions to protect the Johnson Meadow cabins and the Crown Valley Guard Station in the Sierra National Forest. Fire has moved through the Deer Meadow area and the cabin was successfully protected.

Trails within the fire perimeter on the Sierra National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park are closed as a safety measure due to the Tehipite Fire:

Sierra NF trail 29E30 (Blue Canyon Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to the national park boundary. The Blue Canyon Trail closure continues in Kings Canyon National Park until the trail terminus.
Sierra NF trail 29E45 (Tehipite Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to the national park boundary. This closure continues in Kings Canyon National Park from the boundary to Simpson Meadow.
29E31 (Coyote Pass Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to end of trail at Mountain Meadow

Deer hunting season has opened in the Sierra National Forest. Deer hunters traveling in to Crown Valley should be aware of fire in the area.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	Monday July 14th, 2008 aprox 12:00 AM
Location	Tehipite Valley in Kings Canyon National Park
Incident Commander	Rosso/mccandliss

Current Situation

Total Personnel	Not available
Size	11,085 acres
Estimated Containment Date	Saturday November 15th, 2008 aprox 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved	Mixed conifer, red fir, lodgepole pine, and live oak.
Fire Behavior	There has been minimal growth of this fire in the last week with the cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity, and light precipitation that has fallen over the fire area. The Tehipite fire is expected to burn itself out.
Significant Events	Not available

Outlook

Planed Actions	Not available
Growth Potential	Low
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Remarks	Trails within the fire perimeter on the Sierra National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park are closed as a safety measure due to the Tehipite Fire: • Sierra NF trail 29E30 (Blue Canyon Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to the national park boundary. The Blue Canyon Trail closure continues in Kings Canyon National Park until the trail terminus. • Sierra NF trail 29E45 (Tehipite Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to the national park boundary. This closure continues in Kings Canyon National Park from the boundary to Simpson Meadow. • 29E31 (Coyote Pass Trail) from the intersection with 29E06 (Crown Valley Trail) to end of trail at Mountain Meadow Firefighters on the Sierra National Forest are taking steps to protect the Johnson Meadow cabins and the Crown Valley Guard Station. Fire has moved through the Deer Meadow area and the cabin was successfully protected.