Crown (Wildfire)

The Crown Fire, naturally ignited by lightning in early September and discovered on September 15, 2016, it has burned approximately 51 acres of the John Muir Wilderness in the vicinity of Crown Valley on the Sierra National Forest. The fire is burning within the footprint of the 2008 Tehipite Fire. Fire behavior has been low to moderate as it consumes the dead fuel left behind after the 2008 fire. The Sierra National Forest expects that the fire will grow moderately in size, and visitors to the wilderness may experience periods of dense smoke. Due to the abundant standing dead trees left after the 2008 fire, and the hazard they present to firefighters working in the area, firefighters are using the existing trail system to contain the fire east of Crown Meadow. The Sierra National Forest anticipates closing both Forest Trail Number’s 29E03 and 29E31. Tehipite Valley will remain accessible via trail 29E45. Forest visitors should be cautious if hiking in the vicinity of Johnson…