Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
KNP Complex Brings Unhealthy Smoky Air, Fresno County Evacuation Warning
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 3 years ago on
October 1, 2021

Share

Valley residents likely will endure a weekend of unhealthy air caused by the Tulare County wildfires, the Valley Air District said.

“Smoke infiltration from the Windy and KNP Complex fires in Tulare County combined with high pressure and poor dispersion have prompted air quality officials in the San Joaquin Valley to issue an air quality alert,” the district said in a news release.

“Smoke is expected to continue to impact the San Joaquin Valley through Monday, October 4, when a low-pressure system moving over the Valley is forecast to improve dispersion.”

Anyone experiencing poor air quality due to wildfire smoke should move to a filtered, air-conditioned environment with windows closed, air district officials advised.

Evacuation Orders

On Friday, officials issued new evacuation orders for residents in the path of the growing KNP Complex:

  • The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office said that all residents in Big Meadows, Weston Meadows, and Quail Flat in the Giant Sequoia National Monument must leave.
  • The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for Miramonte and Pinehurst area residents in zone K159.
  • And, the National Park Service ordered all residents and employees to exit Grant Grove, Wilsonia, and Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office also downgraded an evacuation order to a warning. The downgrade covers residences along Sierra Drive (Highway 198) from Mineral King Road, north to the entrance to Sequoia National Park, including residences on Sycamore Drive. Only residents and business owners are permitted to return.

People must show proof of residence — driver’s license, utility bill, or address documentation from the U.S. Post Office — to return home.

On Thursday, the sheriff’s office downgraded an evacuation order to a warning for Alpine Village, Camp Nelson, Cedar Slope, Coy Flat, Pierpoint, Quaking Aspen, Ponderosa, and Sequoia Crest.

KNP Complex, Windy Fire Updates

The KNP Complex, which was started by lightning on Sept. 10, had grown to 51,596 acres, as of 3:30 p.m. Friday. The blaze is 20% contained.

Watch: Friday’s KNP Complex Briefing

As of 10 a.m., Friday, nearly 2,500 firefighters were making headway against the Windy Fire burning on the Tule River Indian Reservation and in the Sequoia National Forest, including the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

The blaze covers 89,804 acres and is 40% contained.

Fourteen Residences, 12 outbuildings, and two non-commercial buildings have been destroyed.

KNP Fire Map

The KNP wildfire map on Oct. 1, 2021. (U.S. Forest Service)

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Newsom Signs $50M Plan to Battle Trump Policies, Support Immigrants

DON'T MISS

Fresno Students Entering the Work World Need Your Help to ‘Dress the Part’

DON'T MISS

Hanford Shooting Leaves One Dead, Another in Critical Condition

DON'T MISS

Rabies Detected in Fresno, Reedley. Fresno County Urges Caution Around Wild, Stray Animals

DON'T MISS

Plane Located That Matches the One That Went Missing in Alaska With 10 Aboard; 3 Bodies Found

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He’s Revoking Biden’s Security Clearance in Payback Move

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Missing 75-Year-Old Man

DON'T MISS

Fresno Students Walk Out of Class to Protest Deportations

DON'T MISS

State Department Lays out Plans for $7 Billion-Plus Arms Sale to Israel

DON'T MISS

Donation to Food Bank to Provide 1.3M Meals to Western Fresno County

UP NEXT

Fresno Students Entering the Work World Need Your Help to ‘Dress the Part’

UP NEXT

Hanford Shooting Leaves One Dead, Another in Critical Condition

UP NEXT

Rabies Detected in Fresno, Reedley. Fresno County Urges Caution Around Wild, Stray Animals

UP NEXT

Plane Located That Matches the One That Went Missing in Alaska With 10 Aboard; 3 Bodies Found

UP NEXT

Trump Says He’s Revoking Biden’s Security Clearance in Payback Move

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Missing 75-Year-Old Man

UP NEXT

Fresno Students Walk Out of Class to Protest Deportations

UP NEXT

State Department Lays out Plans for $7 Billion-Plus Arms Sale to Israel

UP NEXT

Donation to Food Bank to Provide 1.3M Meals to Western Fresno County

UP NEXT

Fresno Mission Opens Second Thrift Store Supporting Homeless, Recovering Addicts

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Rabies Detected in Fresno, Reedley. Fresno County Urges Caution Around Wild, Stray Animals

3 hours ago

Plane Located That Matches the One That Went Missing in Alaska With 10 Aboard; 3 Bodies Found

4 hours ago

Trump Says He’s Revoking Biden’s Security Clearance in Payback Move

4 hours ago

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Missing 75-Year-Old Man

4 hours ago

Fresno Students Walk Out of Class to Protest Deportations

4 hours ago

State Department Lays out Plans for $7 Billion-Plus Arms Sale to Israel

4 hours ago

Donation to Food Bank to Provide 1.3M Meals to Western Fresno County

4 hours ago

Fresno Mission Opens Second Thrift Store Supporting Homeless, Recovering Addicts

5 hours ago

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing 2,200 USAID Workers on Paid Leave

5 hours ago

Alaska Legislature Asks Trump to Retain Denali’s Name

6 hours ago

Newsom Signs $50M Plan to Battle Trump Policies, Support Immigrants

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed laws Friday setting aside $50 million to help the state protect its policies from c...

3 hours ago

FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom waits for President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump to step off Air Force One upon their arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
3 hours ago

Newsom Signs $50M Plan to Battle Trump Policies, Support Immigrants

3 hours ago

Fresno Students Entering the Work World Need Your Help to ‘Dress the Part’

Hanford police arrested a suspect in a fatal shooting outside an In-N-Out, believed to be linked to an illegal drug transaction. (Hanford PD)
3 hours ago

Hanford Shooting Leaves One Dead, Another in Critical Condition

3 hours ago

Rabies Detected in Fresno, Reedley. Fresno County Urges Caution Around Wild, Stray Animals

Ice is visible in the Bering Sea Jan. 22, 2020, as seen from a small plane airplane near the western Alaska coast. (AP File)
4 hours ago

Plane Located That Matches the One That Went Missing in Alaska With 10 Aboard; 3 Bodies Found

President Donald Trump smiles as he arrives on Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (AP/Ben Curtis)
4 hours ago

Trump Says He’s Revoking Biden’s Security Clearance in Payback Move

Fresno police are searching for Tommy Savala, 75, who was last seen Thursday morning near Simpson Avenue and North Fresno Street. (Fresno PD)
4 hours ago

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Missing 75-Year-Old Man

McLane and Duncan Polytechnical high school students walked out Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, to protest deportations, marching down Cedar Avenue. (GV Wire/Eric Martinez)
4 hours ago

Fresno Students Walk Out of Class to Protest Deportations

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend