Coffee Pot Fire Explained

The 2024 Coffee Pot Fire is an actively-burning wildfire in Tulare County, California. It began on August 3, and was 93% contained as of September 20. It is the 13th-biggest fire of the 2024 California wildfire season, and is the 6th-largest active wildfire of the season.

Progression

The fire began as a result of a lightning strike on the morning of August 3,^[1] and had little growth until a large tree fell, igniting the fire further.^[2] By August 14 the fire had reached 50acres in size.^[3] The fire began to move into steep terrain the following day, and a fire command post was set up in Three Rivers as fire crews began to dig fire lines.^[4] On August 15, 70 personnel were assigned to the fire, including several helicopters. On August 17 the fire had reached 228acres in size,^{[5] [6]} and by August 19 it had rapidly grown to a size of 869acres while 353 personnel worked to fight it.^{[7] [8]} On August 20 the southern portions of the fire had began to push into the Surprise Grove area,^{[9] [10]} and on August 22 an evacuation warning was issued for areas directly west of the Sequoia National Park.^{[11] [12]} The fire reached 2683acres in size the following day, and crews conducted aerial firefighting operations. On August 24 the number of personnel assigned to the fire increased to 918,^[13] and by August 28 the number had again increased to 1,312.^[14] On August 29 the fire had grown to 5683acres in coverage,^[15] and the fire began to push toward the Kaweah River. Containment on the fire reached 11% for the first time on August 31 as several fire lines were completed.^{[16] [17] [1]}

On September 1, more evacuation warnings were issued encompassing the communities of Cabin Cove, Silver City and Mineral King.^[18] Containment on the fire reached 13% on September 2, and 1,369 crews worked to contain it.^{[19] [20] [21]} By September 8, the fire had covered 13347acres,^{[22] [23]} and on September 9 fire retardant was dropped on the northeastern portions of the fire.^[24] Containment was declared to be at 37% on September 10, and many evacuation warnings sent out due to the fire were lowered.^[25] The fire reached 13715acres on September 11 and breached several control lines that were set up along the Horse Creek area.^[26]

Containment on the fire reached 41% on September 12, and the fire itself had reached a size of 13999acres while a crew of 1,092 personnel worked to contain it.^[27] On September 13, containment had been pushed up to 59% while crews retained fire lines.^{[28] [29]}

Effects

3 firefighters were confirmed to have been injured by the fire.^[30]

See also

• Park Fire
• Borel Fire
• Pedro Fire
• Nixon Fire
• 2024 Washington wildfires

References

1. Web site: 2024-08-30 . New evacuation order and warning issued as Coffee Pot Fire burns in Tulare County . 2024-09-20 . ABC30 Fresno . en.
2. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
3. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
4. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
5. Web site: 2024-08-17 . Coffeepot Wildfire in Sequoia National Park Grows to 228 Acres - No Immediate Threat to Life or Property . 2024-09-20 . Sierra Sun Times . en-gb.
6. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
7. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
8. Web site: Pastis . Steve . Coffee Pot Fire threatens giant sequoia groves, Generals Highway remains open . 2024-09-20 . Visalia Times-Delta . en-US.
9. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
10. Web site: Haddad . Anthony W. . 2024-08-20 . Tulare County's Coffee Pot Fire at 0% Containment. No. 1 Priority Is Protecting Three Rivers. . 2024-09-20 . GV Wire . en-US.
11. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
12. Web site: FIRE . CAL . August 23, 2024 . COFFEE POT FIRE; INCIDENT UPDATE; Date: Friday, August 23, 2024 . September 20, 2024 . National Park Service.
13. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
14. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
15. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
16. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
17. Web site: Coffee Pot Fire: Incident Update on 08/31/2024 at 4:23 PM CAL FIRE . 2024-09-20 . www.fire.ca.gov.
18. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
19. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
20. Web site: Coffee Pot Fire: Incident Update on 09/02/2024 at 7:27 AM CAL FIRE . 2024-09-20 . www.fire.ca.gov.
21. Web site: 2024-09-02 . Coffee Pot Fire map: New evacuations near Sequoia National Park . 2024-09-20 . The Mercury News . en-US.
22. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
23. Web site: Coffee Pot Fire Status Update Reports CAL FIRE . 2024-09-20 . www.fire.ca.gov.
24. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
25. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
26. Web site: September 11, 2024 . COFFEE POT FIRE; INCIDENT UPDATE; Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 . September 20, 2024.
27. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
28. Web site: 2024-09-20 . Single Publication InciWeb . 2024-09-20 . inciweb.wildfire.gov . en.
29. Web site: Journal . Statesman . Coffee Pot - Wildfire and Smoke Map . 2024-09-20 . Statesman Journal . en.
30. Web site: Coffee Pot Fire: Incident Update on 09/16/2024 at 8:16 AM CAL FIRE . 2024-09-20 . www.fire.ca.gov.