11:47 a.m. PDT Oct. 8, 2021
![KNP Complex of fires map, north side](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/KNP-Complex-map-north-side-at-935-p.m.-Oct.-6-2021.jpg)
Four firefighters were injured by a falling tree Thursday afternoon on the KNP Complex of fires in Southern California. The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks announced Thursday night that the tree struck the firefighters who were then brought to a helispot and flown to area hospitals. The injuries were serious, the Park Service said, but the personnel were all in “stable condition.” Friday morning the agency said all four had been released from the hospitals. One is an employee with CAL FIRE and three are with the California Conservation Corps.
![KNP Complex of fires map, south side](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/KNP-Complex-map-at-935-p.m.-Oct.-6-2021.jpg)
Tuesday, October 5, the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks wrote on Facebook that hundreds of giant sequoias may have been killed in the KNP Complex of fires:
Regarding the trees, there are some groves in the park that we suspect burned at high enough intensity to result in sequoia mortality, possibly for significant numbers of trees (hundreds). However, we are currently focused on prioritization and treatment of groves that are threatened and outside the current fire footprint, as well as mopping up trees that need it. It is not safe right now, nor is it our current priority to fully assess groves that have burned. These groves will be fully assessed from the ground by resource managers when it is possible, but that will be after the fire is basically out cold and conditions allow them to get in there – likely in 2022.
On Friday morning, October 8, that October 5 statement was edited, removing the estimate of trees that may have been killed, and softening the language about assessment of giant sequoia mortality not being a priority.
We suspect that some groves in the park burned at high enough intensity to cause tree mortality. We don’t know yet the extent of the fire behavior or tree mortality. We will gain what knowledge we can with aerial reconnaissance, as smoke conditions allow. These groves will be fully assessed from the ground by resource managers when it is possible, but that will be after the fire is basically out cold and conditions allow them to get in there – likely 2022.
Dozens of media outlets reported on the “hundreds” number before it was removed.
The huge 85,952-acre fire has been divided into two zones and will be managed by two Type 1 Incident Management Teams. California Interagency Incident Management Team 2 (CIIMT2) assumed command of the North Zone Thursday at 6 pm. while the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 remains in command of the South Zone.
![KNP Complex of fires map, south side](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/KNP-Complex-map-south-side-at-935-p.m.-Oct.-6-2021.jpg)
Friday morning several weather stations in the general vicinity of the KNP Complex recorded less than 0.05 inch of precipitation by 10:15 a.m. PDT. More is in the forecast during the day on Friday possibly amounting to a wetting rain of a quarter of an inch or more over the northern portions of the fire. Lesser amounts of 0.10 to 0.15 inch are likely to the south in the Mineral King and Case Mountain areas. This is not expected to be enough to put out the fire, but it is likely to slow it down for at least several days. The forecast for Saturday and Sunday is for high temperatures in the 40s and 50s depending on the elevation, with very high humidities lowering into the 30s by Sunday. There is another chance for rain on Monday along with humidity in the 50s and 60s. Tuesday and Wednesday will be sunny with humidities of 25 to 40 percent. The wind will be generally moderate throughout this period.
All this adds up to reduced growth through Tuesday, providing opportunities for firefighters to construct direct firelines.
On the north zone Friday the primary focus will be the area where the fire crossed the Generals Highway south of Grant Grove. Thursday night a tactical firing operation from Park Ridge to Redwood Canyon secured that portion of the line. An indirect line is being constructed around Stony Creek Lodge to the Generals Highway. Increased humidity and shading of fuels by clouds will decrease fire behavior Friday and provide more opportunities to build direct line.
On the south zone, heavy equipment and crews are implementing structure protection actions around Case Mountain Grove, Silver City, and Mineral King. Fire spread south of Mineral King Road is being reduced with line construction and hose lays in place.
Evacuation ORDERS and WARNINGS are still in place.
![Fire crosses Generals Highway on the KNP Complex of Fires](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Fire-crosses-Generals-Highway.-Posted-Oct.-6-2021.-InciWeb.jpg)