The McNally Fire was a wildfire

Wildfire

A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...

 in the Sequoia National Forest

Sequoia National Forest

Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The U.S. National Forest is named for the majestic Giant Sequoia trees which populate 38 distinct groves within the boundaries of the forest....

 which burned 150670 acres (609.7 km²) in July and August 2002.

The fire burned from July 21 to August 29, 2002 through the Sequoia and Inyo National Forest

Inyo National Forest

Inyo National Forest is a federally administered forest in the United States. The forest covers parts of the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, and the White Mountains of California and Nevada. It contains two wilderness areas: the John Muir Wilderness and the Ansel Adams Wilderness...

, as well as 5% of Giant Sequoia National Monument

Giant Sequoia National Monument

The Giant Sequoia National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in the southern Sierra Nevada in eastern central California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service as part of the Sequoia National Forest and includes 38 of the 39 Giant Sequoia groves that are located in the...

. It destroyed 14 structures and cost an estimated $45.7 million to put out. The blaze was started due to the "careless use of fire" near the Roads End Resort in Kern Canyon, and spread east through the canyon and threatened the communities of Johnsondale

Johnsondale, California

Johnsondale is an unincorporated community in Tulare County, California, United States. Johnsondale is northeast of California Hot Springs. A post office opened in Johnsondale in 1939. The community is named after Walter Johnson of the Mount Whitney Lumber Company....

 and Ponderosa

Ponderosa, California

Ponderosa is a census-designated place in Tulare County, California. Ponderosa sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Ponderosa's population was 16.-Geography:...

. It burned to within one mile (1.6 km) of the Packsaddle Grove

Packsaddle Grove

Packsaddle Grove is a medium sized sequoia grove on Giant Sequoia National Monument. This compact grove offers a rare look at a truly old growth forest where California condors have, and may once again live. The main access to this grove is via dirt roads and cross-country hiking. The terrain is...

 of giant sequoias.