Tulare County’s Coffee Pot wildfire has expanded by 874 acres since Tuesday, bringing the total to 4,552 acres with 0% containment, CalFire officials said Wednesday morning.

The fire now threatens 26 structures, up from 19.

Efforts to control the blaze involve 1,312 personnel, including 44 engines, 10 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 10 bulldozers, and 36 hand crews.

Related Story: New Evacuations Warnings Issued for Tulare County’s Growing Coffee Pot ...

The Current Situation

In the northeast, a low-intensity fire has spread into the Salt Creek Grove of giant sequoias. So far, 65% of the primary control lines have been built, incident managers said. Crews are also working to clear brush along Mineral King Road and have set a low-intensity backing fire to remove vegetation in the Eden Creek Grove of giant sequoias.

Firefighters will continue to enhance indirect control lines on the south and west flanks for a strategic firing operation. The fire on the south flank has approached the indirect control line at the South Fork of the Kaweah River, where it is burning lighter fuels.

To contain the blaze, firefighters are building control lines directly at the fire’s edge near Scratch Creek. The Fire Use Modules are also constructing indirect control lines on the east flank, extending from Horse Creek toward the East Fork of the Kaweah River, with the goal of reaching Mineral King Road.

Related Story: More Than 1,000 Personnel Now Battling Tulare County’s Coffee Pot Fire

Evacuation Warnings

Residents in zones TLC-E128-A and TLC-E127-B, located north of South Fork Drive, south of Skyline Drive, east of Skyline Drive, and west of South Fork Drive, should prepare for potential evacuation. Zones TLC-E094-B and TLC-E128-B are also under this advisory. To check if your home is in an affected area, visit protect.genasys.com.

Weather, Smoke, and Closures

With warm and dry weather causing increased smoke with limited dispersion, smoke impacts remain consistent, according to Sequoia and Kings Canyon national Parks officials. Conditions are expected to improve throughout the day as smoke lifts out of valleys, except in the Mineral King zone, where air quality levels are anticipated to be unhealthy to very unhealthy.

The highest concentrations are between Three Rivers and Hammond, and south of the fire towards Springville. These areas should see conditions improve to moderate as smoke lifts during the day, but will likely return to unhealthy for sensitive groups later this evening and unhealthy overnight.

Near Porterville and Visalia, moderate levels are expected to persist today, with air quality likely worsening to unhealthy for sensitive groups overnight, particularly near the foothills.

Related Story: 2 Firefighters Reported Injured as Coffee Pot Fire Grows Without Containment

Highway 198 and the Generals Highway in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks remain open, as does Mineral King Road. Park Superintendent Clay Jordan advises visitors to exercise caution while driving in these areas to ensure the safety of firefighters.

South Fork Road in Sequoia National Park and trails accessed from it, including the Lady Bug and Garfield Grove Trails, are closed until further notice due to the Coffee Pot Fire. For more information on park closures, visit the park closure information page. The Bureau of Land Management has also closed the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area.

California: The Coffee Pot Fire in the Sequoia National Park continues to chunk away. #cafire #cawx #wildfire
Fire activity has looked fairly healthy the last few days and 18 miles of fireline has been constructed. Crews have started strategic firing Ops near Case Mountain and… pic.twitter.com/37jf05DINp

— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) August 28, 2024

Operational Update on August 28, 2024