Firefighters are working in steep, rugged terrain at an elevation of about 6,500 feet to carve containment lines around the fire, but Schweizer said this morning that the fire is only about 20% contained. Hot, dry conditions in the park on Monday helped the fire spread quickly in the mixed-conifer forest in the Kaweah River drainage near Hidden Spring.

Extra firefighters were called in to augment the park's own fire resources and are expected to join the fight this afternoon, Schweizer said. Helicopters and airplanes are helping the effort by dropping water and fire-retardant chemicals on the flames in operations clearly visible by park visitors.

Schweizer said smoke from the Hidden fire has been clearly visible from Three Rivers and Lemon Cove.

To the north, in neighboring Kings Canyon National Park, the Tehipite fire which has been burning for about two months is now estimated at about 8,300 acres. It is continuing to spread slowly into the John Muir Wilderness of the nearby Sierra National Forest.

Click the map below to zoom in, and click the fire icons for details: View Larger Map