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Date: November 14, 2016
Contact: Mike Theune, Fire Information Officer, 559-565-3703
Contact: Rebecca Paterson, Fire Information Officer, 559-565-3129
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. November 14, 2016 –Ignitions are now complete for the Deadwood Prescribed Burn. The total area treated since Thursday afternoon is 185-acres. The remaining 93-acres of the target 278-acres should be consumed as the middle of unit backs down towards the river over the next several days.
Another completed prescribed burn in the Mineral King Valley ensures the safety of residents and visitors frequenting Silver City and Mineral King. It is important to note that it takes more than just one prescribed fire to eliminate unnatural forest conditions. Based on fire history data collected from this area, the natural fire return interval in this area is every 7 – 10 years.
“Being able to come back to an area we worked on in 1999 allows us to set the stage for additional success in Mineral King. This is an amazing area of the park and having these prescribed burns allows us to apply scientific research for ecosystem health.” said Robert Sanders, Sequoia District Fire Management Officer.
The Atwell - Hockett Meadow Trail will remain closed during the burn-down period. The reopening of this trail will be contingent on fire activity and / or hazards which would affect hiking safety.
Smoke from the interior of the unit will remain visible as remaining fuels continue to be consumed and should lessen over time. Smoke can be expected in the Mineral King Valley during daytime hours. This includes impacts to the Cabin Cove and Silver City areas. Three Rivers may experience light to moderate nighttime smoke impacts from this and other fires in the area. Visitors can learn more about air quality and smoke by visiting either www.airnow.gov or www.valleyair.org.
For additional information, updates, and photos from the Deadwood Prescribed Burn, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5086/.
-NPS-
About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ Fire Management Program
For over forty 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.
