Credit: NPS
May 27, 2022 - SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. - Fire restrictions are being implemented in the lower-elevation areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to reduce the risk of wildfire to protect people, public lands, resources, and facilities.
Additionally, through these fire restrictions, we are reducing the potential need to request additional fire and medical resources from our county, state, and federal partners. If outside resources are assisting on an incident in the parks, that commitment could limit their response to the wider community for emergencies.
“After last year’s KNP Complex Fire and the extraordinary drought conditions in the state, we need to take the proper measures to protect the public and our wildland firefighters,” said John Ziegler, parks’ fire management officer. “The purpose of fire restrictions is to reduce the risk of unwanted human-caused wildfire in the parks’ high-risk areas at this time of the year.”
Fire restrictions may also be extended or modified due to changes in fire danger and conditions within the parks. Therefore, directed by the Superintendent of the parks, the following Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will be effective at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, May 27 2022.
- Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited in Potwisha, Buckeye, and South Fork campgrounds. All fires and stoves are allowed in all other campgrounds.
- Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited below 6,000 feet in wilderness. Year-round elevation/site-specific wilderness fire restrictions also apply.
- Wood and charcoal fires (including wood-burning stoves) are prohibited in Hospital Rock and Foothills picnic areas. All fires and stoves are allowed in all other designated picnic areas.
- Smoking is also prohibited below 6,000 feet, except within an enclosed vehicle, a building in which smoking is allowed, a campground or picnic area where wood and charcoal fires are allowed, or a designated smoking area.
- Gas, propane, alcohol (with and without a shutoff valve) and tablet/cube stoves are still permitted in all areas.
About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks These two parks, which lie-side-by-side in the southern Sierra Nevada in Central California, serve as a prime example of nature’s size, beauty, and diversity. Over 2 million visitors from across the U.S. and the world visit these parks for the world’s largest trees (by volume), grand mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, the highest point in the lower 48 states, and more. Learn more at www.nps.gov/seki or 559-565-3341.
Source: NPS
