# SQF Complex

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2020 wildfire in Central California

SQF Complex Fire near Cedar Slope on September 15, 2020 Date August 19, 2020 (2020-08-19) – January 6, 2021 (2021-01-06) Location Tulare County, California, United States Coordinates 36°15′18″N 118°29′49″W / 36.255°N 118.497°W / 36.255; -118.497 Statistics Total fires 2 Total area 174,178 acres (70,487 ha) Impacts Deaths 0 Injuries 17 Evacuated >3,000 Cost $122.3 million Ignition Cause Lightning Map A map of the extent of the SQF Complex Location within California

The **SQF Complex fire**—also called the **SQF Lightning Complex**—was a [wildfire](/source/Wildfire) complex that burned in [Tulare County](/source/Tulare_County%2C_California) in [Central California](/source/Central_California) in 2020. Comprising the Castle and Shotgun fires, it affected [Sequoia National Forest](/source/Sequoia_National_Forest) and adjacent areas. Both fires began on August 19, 2020, and burned a combined total of 175,019 acres (70,828 hectares) before the complex as a whole was declared 100 percent contained on January 6, 2021. In the course of the fires, 232 structures were destroyed. There were no fatalities.

The Castle and Shotgun fires were both begun by lightning, part of a ['siege' of hundreds of wildfires](/source/August_2020_California_lightning_wildfires) caused by [dry thunderstorms](/source/Dry_thunderstorm) across California in mid-August 2020. The lightning siege contributed to California's [largest wildfire season](/source/2020_California_wildfires), by burned acreage, ever recorded. The Castle Fire is notable for its devastating effects on native [sequoia](/source/Sequoiadendron_giganteum) (*Sequoiadendron giganteum*) groves in the southern [Sierra Nevada](/source/Sierra_Nevada). It is estimated to have caused the death of 10–14 percent of the native large sequoia population there. While the SQF Complex consisted of the two fires together, the Castle Fire was responsible for nearly all of the burned acreage.[2]

## Progression

### August

Both fires began in the morning hours of August 19.[3]: 80 The Castle Fire was discovered that same day in the [Golden Trout Wilderness](/source/Golden_Trout_Wilderness) by a spotter plane.[4] On August 20, six [handcrews](/source/Handcrew) totaling 120 personnel were dispatched to the fire. The Shotgun Fire was discovered on August 21 at the confluence of Pistol and Shotgun creeks by aircraft fighting the Castle Fire. On August 23, the Castle Fire crossed the [Little Kern River](/source/Little_Kern_River), its burned area increasing from 400 acres (160 ha) to roughly 4,000 acres (1,600 ha).[5]

For several weeks, the Castle Fire was not considered a major threat to Sequoia National Park or its giant sequoias.[2]

### September

On September 12, low relative humidity levels and strong southeast winds combined to drive the fire to more than 74,000 acres (30,000 ha), and it crossed the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Tule River on the morning of September 13.[3]: 80 The 60-mile-per-hour (97 km/h) winds pushed the fire through the 530-acre (210 ha) privately owned [Alder Creek Grove](/source/Alder_Creek_Grove) of giant sequoias, killing an estimated 80 or more trees.[2]

The number of resources on the fire peaked in late September, with more than 160 fire engines assigned and more than 40 bulldozers.[3]: 81

### October onwards

The SQF Complex was declared 100 percent contained on January 6, 2021.[6][7] The total cost of the fire suppression effort reached $122.3 million.[8]

A giant sequoia was found still smoldering in Board Camp Grove in May of 2022,[9] and another tree was observed by a helicopter smoldering in the Belknap Complex in July of 2022.[10]

## Effects

### Damage

The small community of [Cedar Slope](/source/Cedar_Slope) was largely destroyed by the fire with 57 of its 65 cabins completely burned.[11] In the nearby communities of Alpine Village and [Sequoia Crest](/source/Sequoia_Crest), 37 and 49 cabins were lost in the fire respectively. No structure damage was reported in nearby [Camp Nelson](/source/Camp_Nelson%2C_California) or [Ponderosa](/source/Ponderosa%2C_California).[12] The area remains at risk for mud flows and flash floods due to the charred soil being unable to absorb water.[13]

### Closures and evacuations

As a result of the fire, parts of [Route 190](/source/California_State_Route_190) and [Route 198](/source/California_State_Route_198) were closed, [Sequoia National Park](/source/Sequoia_National_Park) was closed for two weeks [14] and parts of [Three Rivers](/source/Three_Rivers%2C_California) were under mandatory evacuation orders. By mid-September, more than 3,000 people had been forced to evacuate their homes.[15]

### Giant sequoias

The Castle fire swept through portions of 22 named giant sequoia groves of the roughly 75 groves scattered along the Sierra Nevada. Some of the most heavily impacted groves included [Freeman Creek Grove](/source/Freeman_Creek_Grove) and the three groves of the [Belknap Complex](/source/Belknap_Complex): McIntyre Grove, Wheel Meadow Grove, and the Carr Wilson/Bear Creek Grove.[16] Initially, researchers estimated that hundreds of giant sequoias had been killed, but the toll was only revised upward. A 2021 report led by National Park Service scientists concluded that over 7,500–10,600 mature trees, 10–14 percent of the species' population, had likely been lost in the fire.[16][17] Near [Sequoia Crest](/source/Sequoia_Crest), one-third of the Alder Creek Grove of Giant Sequoia is reported as severely damaged.[18] The large Stagg Tree in Alder Creek Grove was not impacted. Other areas experienced "light fire" which is expected to be ecologically beneficial in the long run. The Homers Nose Grove was also reported as "badly burned".[2] In virtually every grove affected, extensive Giant Sequoia regeneration thrived especially in places where the fire was severely hot and had killed the most trees.[19]

## See also

- [Rough Fire](/source/Rough_Fire) – 2015 wildfire in Fresno County that killed giant sequoia trees

- [Railroad Fire](/source/Railroad_Fire) – 2017 wildfire in Mariposa and Madera counties that killed giant sequoia trees

- [Pier Fire](/source/Pier_Fire) – 2017 wildfire in Tulare County that killed giant sequoia trees

- [KNP Complex Fire](/source/KNP_Complex_Fire) – 2021 wildfire in Tulare County that killed giant sequoia trees

- [Windy Fire](/source/Windy_Fire) – 2021 wildfire in Tulare County that killed giant sequoia trees

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["SQF Complex"](https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7048/). InciWeb. October 12, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_2-3) Boxall, Bettina (November 16, 2020). ["Hundreds of towering giant sequoias killed by the Castle fire — a stunning loss"](https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-11-16/sierra-nevada-giant-sequoias-killed-castle-fire). *Los Angeles Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231027220645/https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-11-16/sierra-nevada-giant-sequoias-killed-castle-fire) from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_3-2) Morris III, George; Dennis, Carrie (2021). [2020 FIRE SIEGE](https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/cal-fire-2020-fire-siege.pdf?rev=1b7ef7b1dc154bbb802837b4ed926ed3&hash=6B24123C6C744A0DA95D5FE37DC70FD5) (PDF) (Report). [California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection](/source/California_Department_of_Forestry_and_Fire_Protection) (Cal Fire). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230905060114/https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/cal-fire-2020-fire-siege.pdf?rev=1b7ef7b1dc154bbb802837b4ed926ed3&hash=6B24123C6C744A0DA95D5FE37DC70FD5) (PDF) from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Yeager, Joshua (September 22, 2020). ["SQF Complex Fire: Containment nearly doubles to 33%; 1.5 million gallons of retardant dropped"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230128232159/https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2020/09/22/sqf-complex-fire-containment-nearly-doubles-33/5867902002/). *[Visalia Times-Delta](/source/Visalia_Times-Delta)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2020/09/22/sqf-complex-fire-containment-nearly-doubles-33/5867902002/) on January 28, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Yeager, Joshua (August 23, 2020). ["Castle Fire erupts near Giant Sequoia National Monument, grows to 4,000 acres overnight"](https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2020/08/22/castle-fire-erupts-near-giant-sequoia-national-monument-california-wildfires/3421107001/). *[Visalia Times-Delta](/source/Visalia_Times-Delta)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230604201347/https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2020/08/22/castle-fire-erupts-near-giant-sequoia-national-monument-california-wildfires/3421107001/) from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["SQF Complex reaches containment, fire area remains closed - InciWeb the Incident Information System"](https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7048/58932/). *inciweb.nwcg.gov*. January 6, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Yeager, Joshua (January 7, 2021). ["Five months and 174,000 acres later, SQF Complex achieves 100% containment"](https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2021/01/07/sqf-complex-100-contained/6573673002/). *[Visalia Times-Delta](/source/Visalia_Times-Delta)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221207201911/https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2021/01/07/sqf-complex-100-contained/6573673002/) from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201229021815/https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalLargeIncidentYTDReport.pdf) (PDF). *gacc.nifc.gov*. Geographic Area Coordination Centers. December 21, 2020. Archived from [the original](https://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/predictive/intelligence/NationalLargeIncidentYTDReport.pdf) (PDF) on December 29, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Johnson, Lauren M. (May 6, 2021). ["A giant Sequoia tree in California is still smoldering from last year's Castle Fire"](https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/06/weather/sequoia-tree-still-smoldering-california-castle-fire-trnd/index.html). *[CNN](/source/CNN)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230525030215/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/06/weather/sequoia-tree-still-smoldering-california-castle-fire-trnd/index.html) from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Giant sequoia trees continue to smolder from past wildfires"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220828160957/https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1045759). *Sequoia National Forest*. July 25, 2022. Archived from [the original](https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1045759) on August 28, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["ArcGIS Web Application"](https://tularecounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f452093b7c6c439e8844093804c0c347). *tularecounty.maps.arcgis.com*. Retrieved January 5, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Yeager, Joshua (September 19, 2020). ["SQF Complex: Tulare County releases fire damage map, hotline for people needing resources"](https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2020/09/19/sqf-complex-fire-damage-map-hotline/5841309002/). *Visalia Times Delta*. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-InciWeb_13-0)** ["SQF Complex Fire"](https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7048/). *InciWeb*. September 13, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Johnson, Brian (October 1, 2020). ["Sequoia National Park reopens to visitors"](https://abc30.com/sequoia-national-park-sqf-complex-fire-forest-kings-canyon/6695522/). *ABC30 Fresno*. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Woomer, Eric; Yeager, Joshua; Ward, James; Yang, Vongni (September 15, 2020). ["SQF Fire: 104 structures destroyed, more than 3,000 civilians evacuated"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230202105002/https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2020/09/14/balch-parks-future-unknown-castle-fire-runs-through-park-sequoia-national-park-to-close/5800436002/). *[Visalia Times-Delta](/source/Visalia_Times-Delta)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2020/09/14/balch-parks-future-unknown-castle-fire-runs-through-park-sequoia-national-park-to-close/5800436002/) on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_16-1) Alexander, Kurtis (June 2, 2021). ["Super-hot California wildfire wiped out 10% of world's sequoia trees. Can they survive climate change?"](https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/10-of-world-s-giant-sequoias-killed-in-16220971.php). *[San Francisco Chronicle](/source/San_Francisco_Chronicle)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230419115338/https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/10-of-world-s-giant-sequoias-killed-in-16220971.php) from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Study: California fire killed 10% of world's giant sequoias"](https://apnews.com/article/california-fire-killed-10-percent-redwood-trees-63c80e8d28e32596637f3ecc29cfe3c8). *Associated Press*. June 2, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230711225352/https://apnews.com/article/california-fire-killed-10-percent-redwood-trees-63c80e8d28e32596637f3ecc29cfe3c8) from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Update on 2020 wildfire in the giant sequoia range"](https://www.savetheredwoods.org/blog/update-on-2020-wildfire-in-the-giant-sequoia-range/). Save the Redwoods League. November 6, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Sue Cag, Kim Dicso (September 20, 2023). ["Natural Sequoia Seedlings Thriving After Recent Fires"](https://www.ilovetrees.net/sequoia-seedlings-after-fire/). Retrieved November 23, 2023.

v t e California wildfires Pre-2007 Santiago Canyon (1889) Berkeley (1923) Matilija (1932) Griffith Park (1933) Rattlesnake (1953) Harlow (1961) Bel Air (1961) Loop (1966) Laguna (1970) Clampitt (1970) Marble Cone (1977) Agoura-Malibu (1978) Panorama (1980) 49er (1988) Painted Cave (1990) Tunnel (1991) Fountain (1992) Cleveland (1992) Kinneloa (1993) Laguna (1993) Mount Vision (1995) Pendola (1999) Jones (1999) Storrie (2000) Poe (2001) Wolf (2002) Copper (2002) Biscuit (2002) McNally (2002) Curve (2002) Williams (2002) Old (2003) Simi (2003) Cedar (2003) Power (2004) Rumsey (2004) Topanga (2005) Sawtooth Complex (2006) Day (2006) Esperanza (2006) 2007 Island Angora Zaca Moonlight October 2007 wildfires Buckweed Harris Witch Santiago Rice Corral 2008 Summit Indians Basin Complex Klamath Theater Complex Gap Telegraph Sesnon Tea Sayre Freeway Complex 2009 Jesusita La Brea Lockheed Station Guiberson 2010 Bull West Crown 2011 Lion Comanche Complex 2012 Reading Chips Barry Point Rush Ponderosa 2013 Summit Springs Powerhouse Mountain Silver Rim Clover 2014 Colby Etiwanda May 2014 San Diego County wildfires Tomahawk Poinsettia Cocos Shirley Butts Bully Happy Camp Complex Meadow King Boles 2015 Round Lake North Wragg Rocky Mad River Complex Humboldt Complex Frog Rough Jerusalem Cuesta Butte Valley Tassajara 2016 Sherpa Border San Gabriel Complex Erskine Trailhead Sand Soberanes Cold Pilot Chimney Clayton Blue Cut Rey Bogart Canyon Loma 2017 Gate Holcomb Schaeffer Salmon August Complex Manzanita Winters Alamo Wall Whittier Garza Detwiler Empire Parker 2 Young Pier Railroad Ponderosa Mud Slinkard Helena La Tuna Palmer Mission October 2017 Northern California wildfires Atlas Tubbs Canyon 2 December 2017 Southern California wildfires Thomas Creek Rye Skirball Lilac 2018 Lions Lane Pawnee Waverly County Klamathon Valley Georges Ferguson Natchez Carr Cranston Mendocino Complex Whaleback Donnell Holy Hirz Delta Camp Woolsey 2019 Sand West Butte Tucker Mountain Tenaja Walker Taboose Lime Red Bank South Lone Sandalwood Saddleridge Nustar Kincade Tick Getty Easy Maria 2020 Quail Grant Crews Soledad Mineral 2020 Lassen County wildfires Gold Loyalton Red Salmon Complex Apple August 2020 lightning wildfires Lake Dome River CZU Lightning Complex SCU Lightning Complex August Complex LNU Lightning Complex North Complex SQF Complex Dolan Creek El Dorado Bobcat Slater/Devil Oak Glass Zogg Silverado Mountain View Bond 2021 Palisades Willow Lava Tennant Salt Beckwourth Complex Tamarack Dixie McFarland Monument River Complex McCash Antelope River Caldor French KNP Complex Windy Fawn 2022 Colorado Electra Washburn Oak McKinney Red Route Border 32 Mill Fairview Mosquito SRF Lightning Complex 2023 Rabbit Deep Pika York 2024 Corral Lake Post Point Thompson SQF Lightning Complex Borel Basin Park Nixon Pedro Boise Coffee Pot Line Bridge Airport Horseshoe Mountain Franklin 2025 January 2025 Southern California wildfires Palisades Eaton Madre Orleans Complex Gifford Canyon Pickett Little TCU September Pack 2026 Sandy Fire Santa Rosa Island Fire Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [SQF Complex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQF_Complex) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQF_Complex?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.