A lightning-sparked fire thought to be of no concern has flared up in Sequoia National Park in California and covered more than 200 acres Saturday.
The Coffeepot Fire was spotted August 3 in the southwest corner of the park, and firefighters quickly contained it, according to a park release. However, after nearly a week of no activity, "a burning tree fell and rolled over the containment line, and the fire began to grow, reaching five acres by Monday, August 12. Since then, the fire has continued to grow, as expected, slowly down steep terrain," the release added.
As of Saturday morning the fire, about nine miles southeast of Three Rivers, California, reportedly covered 228 acres, and 70 firefighters were battling it on the ground and from the air. It had burned out of the park and onto adjacent Bureau of Land Management lands.
Comments
The Coffeepot Fire is now @ 700+ acres and at the meeting tonight in Three Rivers fire officials expect it to grow to around 5,000 acres and it won't be put out until rain falls.
The smoke is wafting over in Sequoia NP, if you have backpacking plans, might want to rethink them.