Three Rivers wildfire contained to 339 acres

The four-day Dinely wildfire in Three Rivers, northeast of Lake Kaweah in Tulare County, was reported as 100 percent contained Saturday.

It encompassed 339 acres, but all road closures and evacuations were lifted.

Four injuries were reported to fire personnel, all of a minor nature, The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

Flames broke out at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday and the fire grew to 300 acres within two hours.

Some 435 fire personnel battled the flames.

Fire crews now will focus on mop-up and suppression repair.

On Sunday, firefighters from the National Park Service will restart the Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn. It is adjacent to Sequoia National Park headquarters.

After a test burn, that operation had been halted because of the Three Rivers fire. But with expected ideal conditions, including cooler weather, it will resume and likely last through early next week.

In all, the prescribed burn has 12 segments totaling about 40 acres.

“The recent fire in Three Rivers demonstrates the importance of defensible space in the parks and foothill communities,” said Todd Bates, parks fuels management specialist. “A community that has adapted to wildfire is a better protected community.”

Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal, according to the Park Service, through the use of fine fuels that will be consumed quickly.

This story was originally published June 10, 2017 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Three Rivers wildfire contained to 339 acres."