Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park will conduct a carefully managed prescribed fire in a designated section of the Big Stump Sequoia grove, beginning on Monday, June 23rd. This initiative is part of their ongoing efforts to promote healthy forest ecosystems and reduce the risk of larger, uncontrolled wildfires in the area.

If conditions remain favorable, fire management teams will ignite the 126-acre Big Stump East RX, with “RX” standing for prescribed fire, on Monday. The aim is to mimic natural fire processes that help maintain ecological balance. Ignitions will conclude on Tuesday, depending on weather and wind conditions, which are crucial for the success of the burn operation. See the map below which highlights the exact areas affected and outlines the boundaries of this controlled burn.

Neither Delilah Lookout or Park Ridge Lookout will have a visual of the “box” where the RX will burn, but both will see the smoke as it rises. Lookouts on duty will see 1 little smoke, 2 little smokes, 10 little smokes and then… a nice big smoke column indicating good, healthy fire for the forest.

Most of the activity will be hidden from Park Ridge Lookout by the ridge the lookout sits on – also called Park Ridge. The challenge could be smoke. The usual afternoon southwest wind could push the smoke right up to the lookout making staffing the lookout untenable until the smoke clears.

From Delilah, the box, or footprint, of the fire will be hidden by McKenzie Ridge but the smoke will be very visible from the lookout. Lookouts on duty will plot the footprint on the Firefinder so that potential spot fires outside the box can be spotted.

Photo shows a smoke column from a 2002 prescribed fire in the same area as seen from Delilah Lookout.

Visit this link https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-a-prescribed-fire.htm for more information about the uses and benefits of prescribed fire.