Coffee Pot Fire

Coffee Pot Fire
The southwestern flank of the fire on August 15
Date(s)	August 3, 2024 (2024-08-03) – December 16, 2024 (2024-12-16) (135 days)
Statistics
Perimeter	100% contained
Burned area	14,104 acres (5,708 ha; 22 sq mi; 57 km2)
Impacts
Deaths	0
Non-fatal injuries	3
Structures destroyed	Unknown
Ignition
Cause	Lightning

The 2024 Coffee Pot Fire was a large wildfire in Tulare County, California. It began on August 3, and was contained on December 16. It was the 14th-biggest fire of the 2024 California wildfire season, and the longest lasting fire of the season.

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 50 acres (20 ha) 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.^[2] On August 17 the fire had reached 228 acres (92 ha) in size,^[5][6] and by August 19 it had rapidly grown to a size of 869 acres (352 ha) while 353 personnel worked to fight it.^[7][8]

On August 20 the southern portions of the fire had begun 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 2,683 acres (1,086 ha) in size the following day, and crews conducted aerial firefighting operations.^[12] 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 5,683 acres (2,300 ha) in coverage,^[15] and the fire began to push toward the Kaweah River.^[15] 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 13,347 acres (5,401 ha),^[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 13,715 acres (5,550 ha) 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 13,999 acres (5,665 ha) 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]

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

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