An evacuation order was issued early Thursday for the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park due to the activity of the Rough Fire and efforts by firefighters to contain the wildfire.

The order pertained to park visitors, park employees, concessions staff, and residents of Wilsonia in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. The National Park Service was working with the sheriffs’ departments of both Fresno County and Tulare County to provide the evacuation notifications.

With the increase of firefighting personnel and firefighting operations occurring in the Grant Grove area, and the potential for the Rough Fire to move into the area, the park management in cooperation with the Rough Fire Incident Management Team made the decision to close the Grant Grove area and order the evacuation.

The fire, covering more than 110,000 acres, was being fought by nearly 2,200 firefighters. As of Thursday morning they had managed to contain 29 percent of the blaze.

Highway 180 was closed at the park's Big Stump Entrance Station. The Generals Highway (sometimes referred to as Hwy. 198 is closed at the Red Fir gate (which is west of Wuksachi Village). Sequoia National Park remained open and visitors were able to use the Ash Mountain Entrance Station.

Vehicles longer than 22 feet (including trailers) were not advised between Potwisha and Giant Forest Museum.