SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. October 4, 2016 – The parks are scheduling their first prescribed burn of fall 2016, north of Dorst Campground, near the northern border of Sequoia National Park. This represents a change of plans for the parks, due to cooling trends and increased relative humidity bringing the area into appropriate parameters for prescribed burning, as shown by recent fuel moisture samples taken at the site.

The 187-acre burn unit has no recorded fire history, and thus is not aligned with the natural fire cycle. The purpose of the prescribed burn is to reduce fuel loads, promote forest and watershed health, drought resilience, and natural resistance to the spread of dangerous wildfires. The parks anticipate approximately three days of ignitions.

The burn unit is located adjacent to Dorst Campground, which is currently closed for the remainder of the year, and south and west of the Generals Highway. Smoke is likely to be present on the Generals Highway, and may cause delays or short-term closures if visibility becomes impaired. Visitors should expect to see firefighters, smoke, and fire activity in this area and are asked to drive carefully. Hiking trails in the area will be closed for the duration of the burn. Depending on dispersion, the town of Three Rivers may experience smoke impacts at night during ignitions.

The parks will issue an additional news release when ignitions dates are confirmed. This prescribed burn does not prevent the parks from doing any of the other previously announced prescribed burns.

For information on this prescribed burn and other fires within the parks’ boundaries, visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/797/.

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. October 10, 2016 – Following a successful test burn this morning, and a determination by the burn boss and fire management staff, the Dorst Prescribed Burn has started in Sequoia National Park. Ignitions will continue for two to three days. This 187-acre prescribed burn will reintroduce fire into an area where it was unnaturally excluded for decades, restoring the area to a more natural density of fuels and vegetation. The burn unit is located adjacent to Dorst Campground, which is currently closed for the remainder of the year, and south and west of the Generals Highway.

The trail between Lost Grove and Dorst Campground and the Muir Grove Trail are now closed and will remain closed during the burn-down period after ignitions are completed. The reopening of these trails will be contingent on evaluation by fire management personnel and will be announced in subsequent news releases.

Visitors are asked to use extra caution when traveling along the Generals Highway between Little Baldy Trailhead and the northern boundary of Sequoia National Park. They should expect to see firefighters, smoke, and fire activity in this area and are asked to drive carefully. Smoke is likely to be present on the Generals Highway, and may cause delays or short-term closures if visibility becomes impaired. Depending on dispersion, the town of Three Rivers may experience smoke impacts at night during ignitions. For 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 information on this prescribed burn, visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5057/