Following a successful test burn this morning, ignitions have officially begun on the Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn. This follows an unsuccessful test burn yesterday. There are no planned road closures associated with the Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn, but short delays may occur. Visitors may see smoke, active fire, and firefighters. Please drive slowly and follow all firefighter instructions. Smoke impacts are expected to be brief, as the fine vegetation in the burn areas will be consumed quickly.
Announcements
Firefighters plan to begin ignitions on the 2023 Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn in the foothills of Sequoia National Park on Wednesday, June 7. Three to five days of ignitions are planned. This project consists of 35 acres of broadcast prescribed burning and an additional 4 acres of non-fire fuels reduction (using weed whips, chainsaws, etc.). Visitors to the parks may see active fire, smoke, firefighters, and firefighting equipment along the roadways. Little smoke impact in Three Rivers is expected.
The Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park, home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world (by volume), will reopen to the public on Friday, June 2. Access to the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas will only be possible from Kings Canyon National Park, via the Big Stump entrance station on Highway 180. It is not possible to reach this area or giant sequoias from the Sequoia National Park entrance station on Highway 198 in Three Rivers.
Pick up a Sequoia Shuttle kit with Sequoia Shuttle tickets from your local Tulare County Library Three Rivers Branch, while supplies last.
Our friends at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have provided an update on what is closed and what is not. Of note, Caltrans was planning to reopen Route 245 today at noon, so the park has provided an updated map from Sequoia to Kings Canyon for giant sequoia access.
Temporary access to Oak Grove Bridge should be restored by the end of next week; however, much of the county portion of the road is expected to remain closed to the public for an additional three weeks while minor repairs are completed. It is expected that Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks personnel will have access to the Sequoia National Park portion of the road by the end of next week. The Park portion of the road will remain closed until further notice.
The Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency is asking Tulare County residents to be vigilant and take precautions against mosquito bites,as mosquito samples positive for West Nile Virus have been detected within the county, posing a risk to the public.
Bridges that are critical for backpackers on the John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Rae Lakes Loop are damaged, and it is not possible to safely ford the river at these locations. Time frames for repair have yet to be established.
This bipartisan LAKES bill would improve outdoor recreation facilities in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-managed areas, provide new opportunities for public-private investments, and give local districts more flexibility to reinvest their resources.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park has a tentative schedule for this season’s prescribed burns, including the Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn in June and the Deer Creek Prescribed Burn near the Mineral King Road in October.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks personnel continue to make progress with snow clearing, damage repairs, and all the various tasks associated with recovering from a historic winter season. Memorial Day weekend is the usual kick-off to summer in the parks, but unfortunately this year, access to the world’s largest tree (by volume)and the surrounding Giant Forest and Lodgepole area won’t be open in time. Crystal Cave and Cedar Grove are expected to be inaccessible for the 2023 summer season. No vehicular public access to Mineral King is anticipated before August, and it is likely to be later.
As deputies continue to search for the man who went missing in the Kaweah River last week, Sheriff Boudreaux wants to remind everyone that our local waterways are closed to inexperienced rafters and kayakers. Exceptions WILL be made for certain businesses and those with experience and proper equipment.