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Horse Creek Fire In Sequoia National Park

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By NPT Staff - July 22nd, 2018
Retardant drops on Horse Creek Fire in Sequoia National Park/NPS

After water drops did little good, retardant drops were called in for the Horse Creek Fire in Sequoia National Park/NPS

A wildfire deep in the backcountry of Sequoia National Park was being aggressively fought Sunday due to the extremely dry conditions in the Sierra, with air tankers being called in to dump retardant on the flames.

Though the Horse Creek Fire was only about 30 acres in size, firefighters on Saturday used water drops in a bid to douse the flames, but they had little effect in containing the blaze, according to a park release. Chemical retardant drops later Saturday seemed to have been successful in restraining the fire's growth, however.

Firefighters were taking full suppression action on this fire despite its location in official wilderness. Due to the extremely steep terrain, dense forest and brush, large amount of tree mortality, and lack of trail access, the lightning-caused fire posed challenges for ground operations, a park release said.

The fire was highly visible for several miles on the south side of the Mineral King Road. The Mineral King Valley has been seeing an increased amount of smoke, especially overnight. Due to this and the increased amount of fire personnel traffic on the Mineral King Road:

  • Effective Monday, July 23, wilderness permit holders will not be able to start any trips until further notice. Walk-up permits will not be issued. Visitors currently on wilderness trips will be allowed to exit as planned.
  • The Atwell-Hockett Trail and the Tar Gap Trail remain closed.
  • Mineral King Campgrounds remain open but could close with little notice based on changes in fire behavior, smoke, and air quality.
  • Only day-hiking is permitted on open trails.

As of Sunday, neither the Mineral King Road nor any structures were directly threatened by the fire, and the road was open. However, visitors were strongly encouraged to consider recreation options other than Mineral King in order to minimize traffic on the road.

Horse Creek Fire locator map, Sequoia National Park/NPS

Horse Creek Fire locator map, Sequoia National Park/NPS

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