Part of Fresno County under evacuation warning due to KNP Complex Fire

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The KNP Complex Fire has burned about 60,000 acres of the Sequoia National Forest. As of Saturday night, it was 20% contained.

The thick smoke above and near the fire has been posing challenges for firefighters.

“We’re also seeing heavier inversion each day, limiting our use of aviation. Very thick smoke,” said Chad Rice from Operations for Southwest Area Incident Management.

Fire officials held a virtual community meeting Saturday night, hours after adding an evacuation warning to part of southeast Fresno County.

It includes Sequoia Lake, Cedarbrook, Etheda Springs and Pinehurst.

While it is an evacuation warning – as opposed to an order – residents in those areas should expect to see more activity.

They should also prepare to leave if the fire moves farther north.

“In the next several days you may see some resources in and around the Hogback area and Whitaker forest in Fresno County doing structure triage and defense planning in case the fire does push that direction,” said Billy See, Asst. Chief of the Cal Fire Fresno-Kings Unit.

Crews say the fire’s behavior has increased on all fronts.

Drier conditions are adding fuel to the fire, and the steep terrain in many parts creating a difficult situation for firefighters.