Sequoia Forest Fire Managed As 'Ecological Burn'
SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. (AP) -- Fire crews are managing a wildfire in Sequoia National Forest as an ecological burn as the blaze burns in a remote area of the forest.
National Forest spokeswoman Denise Alonzo says the fire, which has consumed 16,350 acres, is being allowed to slowly expand as it consumes woodland debris on the floor of the forest.
The fire is burning in a rugged backcountry area, where there are no roads or designated campgrounds.
Alonzo says the blaze is 15 percent contained. There is no estimate when fire crews will have the blaze surrounded. The fire was ignited by lightning since July 8.
In a separate incident, a fire lookout tower in the national forest was destroyed in a fire Thursday.
The cause of the fire in the Needles Fire Lookout Tower is under investigation, but officials say the structure fire is not related to the wildfire.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
