Coffee Pot Fire
{{Short description|2024 wildfire in California}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox wildfire
|partof = the 2024 California wildfires
|date = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2024|08|03}} – |{{End date|2024|12|16}}|({{age in days|2024|08|3|2024|12|16|show unit=full}})}}
|area={{convert|14104|acre|ha sqmi km2|0}}
|fatalities=0
|injuries=3
|percent_contained=100%
|cause=Lightning
|year=2024
|season_name=2024 California wildfires
|season_year=2024 California wildfires
|is_season=2024 California wildfires|season=2024 California wildfires
|structures=Unknown
|title=Coffee Pot Fire
|image=File:Coffee Pot Fire Smoke Plume.jpeg
|caption=The southwestern flank of the fire on August 15}}
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.
Progression
File:Helicopter_Drops_Retardant_on_Coffee_Pot_Fire.jpg
The fire began as a result of a lightning strike on the morning of August 3,{{Cite web |date=2024-08-30 |title=New evacuation order and warning issued as Coffee Pot Fire burns in Tulare County |url=https://abc30.com/post/new-evacuation-order-warning-issued-coffee-pot-fire-burns-tulare-county/15249137/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=ABC30 Fresno |language=en}} and had little growth until a large tree fell, igniting the fire further.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffeepot-fire-news-release08-16-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} By August 14 the fire had reached {{Convert|50|acre|ha}} in size.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffeepot-fire-update-08-14-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffeepot-fire-update-08-15-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} On August 15, 70 personnel were assigned to the fire, including several helicopters. On August 17 the fire had reached {{Convert|228|acre|ha}} in size,{{Cite web |date=2024-08-17 |title=Coffeepot Wildfire in Sequoia National Park Grows to 228 Acres - No Immediate Threat to Life or Property |url=https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/59459-coffeepot-wildfire-in-sequoia-national-park-grows-to-228-acres-no-immediate-threat-to-life-or-property |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Sierra Sun Times |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffepot-fire-update08-17-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} and by August 19 it had rapidly grown to a size of {{Convert|869|acre|ha}} while 353 personnel worked to fight it.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-08-19-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pastis |first=Steve |title=Coffee Pot Fire threatens giant sequoia groves, Generals Highway remains open |url=https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/2024/08/20/coffee-pot-fire-giant-sequoias-sequoia-national-park/74880571007/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Visalia Times-Delta |language=en-US}}
File:Coffee_Pot_Fire_Smoke_Plume_September_11.jpeg
On August 20 the southern portions of the fire had begun to push into the Surprise Grove area,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-08-20-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Haddad |first=Anthony W. |date=2024-08-20 |title=Tulare County's Coffee Pot Fire at 0% Containment. No. 1 Priority Is Protecting Three Rivers. |url=https://gvwire.com/2024/08/19/tulare-countys-coffee-pot-fire-at-0-containment-no-1-priority-is-protecting-three-rivers/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=GV Wire |language=en-US}} and on August 22 an evacuation warning was issued for areas directly west of the Sequoia National Park.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-08-22-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=FIRE |first=CAL |date=August 23, 2024 |title=COFFEE POT FIRE; INCIDENT UPDATE; Date: Friday, August 23, 2024 |url=https://inciweb-prod-media-bucket.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2024-08/Coffee%20Pot%20Update_%2008_23_24.pdf?VersionId=Cmrlbn9q8SCoUWZBJwe3Ry.DT.7WYT8T |access-date=September 20, 2024 |website=National Park Service}} The fire reached {{Convert|2683|acre|ha}} 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,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-08-24-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} and by August 28 the number had again increased to 1,312.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-08-28-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} On August 29 the fire had grown to {{Convert|5683|acre|ha}} in coverage,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-08-29-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-08-31-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Coffee Pot Fire: Incident Update on 08/31/2024 at 4:23 PM {{!}} CAL FIRE |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/8/3/coffee-pot-fire/updates/346486bf-b9a8-455c-b77d-5b86636c4015 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.fire.ca.gov}}
On September 1, more evacuation warnings were issued encompassing the communities of Cabin Cove, Silver City and Mineral King.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-09-01-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} Containment on the fire reached 13% on September 2, and 1,369 crews worked to contain it.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-update-09-02-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Coffee Pot Fire: Incident Update on 09/02/2024 at 7:27 AM {{!}} CAL FIRE |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/8/3/coffee-pot-fire/updates/b2f93fcf-6af9-4719-89e7-3be02695a482 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.fire.ca.gov}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=Coffee Pot Fire map: New evacuations near Sequoia National Park |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/09/02/coffee-pot-fire-map-evacuations-update/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}} By September 8, the fire had covered {{Convert|13347|acre|ha}},{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-daily-update-09-08-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Coffee Pot Fire Status Update Reports {{!}} CAL FIRE |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/8/3/coffee-pot-fire/updates |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.fire.ca.gov}} and on September 9 fire retardant was dropped on the northeastern portions of the fire.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-daily-update-09-09-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} Containment was declared to be at 37% on September 10, and many evacuation warnings sent out due to the fire were lowered.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-daily-update-09-10-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} The fire reached {{Convert|13715|acre|ha}} on September 11 and breached several control lines that were set up along the Horse Creek area.{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2024 |title=COFFEE POT FIRE; INCIDENT UPDATE; Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 |url=https://inciweb-prod-media-bucket.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2024-09/Coffee_Pot_Update_%2009_11_24.pdf?VersionId=BNMwxftLxqpcQK5lNbitI036.yCZL1gk |access-date=September 20, 2024}}
Containment on the fire reached 41% on September 12, and the fire itself had reached a size of {{Convert|13999|acre|ha}} while a crew of 1,092 personnel worked to contain it.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-daily-update-09-12-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}} On September 13, containment had been pushed up to 59% while crews retained fire lines.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Single Publication {{!}} InciWeb |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/caknp-coffee-pot-fire/coffee-pot-fire-daily-update-09-13-2024 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=inciweb.wildfire.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=Statesman |title=Coffee Pot - Wildfire and Smoke Map |url=https://data.statesmanjournal.com/fires/coffeepot/e6fafb70-7c97-442e-aae7-5e583a213df4/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Statesman Journal |language=en}}
Effects
3 firefighters were confirmed to have been injured by the fire.{{Cite web |title=Coffee Pot Fire: Incident Update on 09/16/2024 at 8:16 AM {{!}} CAL FIRE |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/8/3/coffee-pot-fire/updates/cc993db3-fe9d-460b-a98d-1e3673fd40b5 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.fire.ca.gov}}