High Fire Restrictions in Effect

 

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Fire Information Office Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Mike Theune, Fire Information Officer Phone Number: 559-565-3703 E-mail: mike_theune@nps.gov   Reference Number: 8550-2117 Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Ban All Campfires July 1, 2021 SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. June 28, 2021 – Due to extreme fire danger, record setting temperatures, drought, and commitment of firefighting resources both regionally and nationally, the parks are increasing fire restrictions to Stage 3 – their highest level.   Effective at 12:00 p.m. on July 1, 2021, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are enacting a parks-wide campfire and smoking ban. This includes all campgrounds, picnic and day-use areas, and wilderness locations inside the parks. There are no exceptions to this change.   “This ban on all campfires in our front-country and wilderness areas is designed to reduce our risk from unwanted human-caused fires during the hottest and driest part of the year,” said Chief John Ziegler, parks’ fire management officer. He added, “We must all do more than before to be extra safe and cautious this year.”   The increased fire restrictions can be summed up to be: Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are illegal at all elevations and locations. Employee housing and private property throughout the parks are included. Gas, propane, alcohol (with and without a shutoff valve), and tablet/cube stoves are permitted in all areas. No smoking at any elevation except within an enclosed vehicle, a building in which smoking is allowed, or a designated smoking area. These restrictions will remain in effect until conditions in the area have progressed to a point where minimal public hazard remains, as determined by the Parks’ Superintendent.   Also, firefighters and park rangers want to remind the public that fireworks of any kind are strictly illegal in all national parks year-round. Please do not even bring them into the parks during this critical time.  For information on the other fire restriction stage levels, please visit https://go.nps.gov/sekifirerestrictions   - 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. - ### - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks  47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers, CA 93271 FAX: 559 565-3730 | Phone: 559-565-3341 | www.nps.gov/seki

Picnic in the Park

Presented by the Mineral King Preservation Society, the annual Picnic in the Park will be held on Saturday, July 17 at 12:00 Noon across from the Mineral King Ranger Station.

A memorial service for Jim Ingram will be held following the picnic.

Cabin Dumpster Information

From Jana Botkin, whose husband kindly and faithfully takes care of our dumpster!  

As a reminder, we pay Big Bucks every time the dumpster is swapped, so please take care of what you place therein.  No lounge chairs, no BBQ smokers, no pickup bed liners . . . you get the idea.  Please don't use the NPS trash receptacles, and take as much as you can down the hill with you.  

Thank you!
Sharon

----------quote-------------

This is what Michael does for the community. Today we decided that it is time to replace the full dumpster with an empty, because July 4 is soon. Chances are someone will email you, concerned that the locks are now off the dumpster. The combo lock is on the small brown dumpster which can be used if there is no room in this one before it gets swapped.

If anyone wonders, he loves beef jerky, smoked almonds and cabernet. 8-)

He did not approved this email. . . I am just the proud wife of a public servant.

jb

Memorial Service at Mineral King for Jim Ingram

 

2021 Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in Effect June 4

 

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Fire Information Office

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release

For Immediate Release Contact: Mike Theune, Fire Information Officer Phone Number: 559-565-3703 E-mail: mike_theune@nps.gov

Reference Number: 8550-2114

2021 Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in Effect June 4

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. June 3, 2021– Fire restrictions will be in effect starting June 4 at 12:00 p.m. in the lower-elevation areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to reduce the risk of unwanted human-caused wildfires in order to protect people, resources, and facilities during the peak of the fire year. The ecology and vegetation throughout Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks changes dramatically with elevation. From the chaparral of the foothills to the sparse vegetation below jagged peaks, the parks must take a proactive approach to fire management. “While the Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn is still scheduled to start Sunday, June 6, fire restrictions look at long-term trends such as seasonal changes and previous fire history,” said Chief John Ziegler, parks’ fire management officer. He then added, “We must use the full range of options – both offensive and defensive – to ensure that the parks’ resources and assets are protected through these actions.” In places where campfires are allowed, remember to extinguish your campfire completely when done. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. Fire restrictions may also be extended or modified due to changes in fire danger and conditions within the parks. Therefore, directed by the Superintendent of the parks, the following Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will be effective at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 4, 2020. Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited in Potwisha, Buckeye, and South Fork campgrounds. All fires and stoves are allowed in all other campgrounds. Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited below 6,000 feet in wilderness. Year-round elevation/site-specific wilderness fire restrictions also apply. Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited in Hospital Rock and Ash Mountain picnic areas. All fires and stoves are allowed in all other designated picnic areas. Smoking is also prohibited below 6,000 feet, except within an enclosed vehicle, a building in which smoking is allowed, a campground or picnic area where wood and charcoal fires are allowed, or a designated smoking area. Gas, propane, alcohol (with and without a shutoff valve) and tablet/cube stoves are still permitted in all areas. For information on the other fire restriction stage levels, please visit https://go.nps.gov/sekifirerestrictions

- NPS -

Prescribed Burn - Ash Mountain

 

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Fire Information Office

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News Release

For Immediate Release Contact: Mike Theune, Fire Information Officer Phone Number: 559-565-3703 E-mail: mike_theune@nps.gov

Reference Number: 8550-2112

2021 Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn Scheduled June 6 – June 9

Low-intensity fire clears the understory of invasive grasses during the 2019 Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn making the area safer. Photo: NPS / RPaterson SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. June 1, 2021 – After a one-year hiatus, fire managers with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have scheduled the annual Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn in the foothills of Sequoia National Park, near the parks’ headquarters and entrance station along the main road, Generals Highway. Ignitions are planned to begin on June 6, 2021 and continue through June 9, 2021.  Prescribed burning in the parks’ foothills ecosystem reduces concentrations of fine fuels such as exotic grasses that aid in the rapid spread of wildfire; a critical factor that later in the year could limit access for first responders and hamper evacuations.

“The benefits of this prescribed burn are that our parks’ historic buildings and critical infrastructure will be better protected in the event of an unwanted wildfire,” said John Ziegler, parks’ fire management officer. “Please drive with caution when you see us as we complete this critical work.”    The 2021 Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn consists of 12 segments, for a total of approximately 40 acres between the Sequoia National Park entrance station and the Foothills Visitor Center, one mile inside the park. Nearly seven of those acres in the foothills are being treated manually through the grazing of the parks’ stock animals.   Information about this prescribed burn will be post to the parks’ website, social media pages, and Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7505   Visitors may see smoke, active fire, and firefighters during the burn, and are asked to drive slowly and follow all firefighter instructions. Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal and short-lived, as the vegetation in the unit is chiefly fine fuels that will be consumed quickly. Visitors can learn more about air quality and smoke by visiting www.airnow.gov or www.valleyair.org.

- 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.