Wildfire in California’s Yosemite is threatening the largest grove of giant sequoias. Here is all about it
Giant sequoias threatened by wildfire
The Washburn fire in California is threatening the largest grove of giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park. So far, it has burned over 1500 acres of land.
Giant sequoias are some of the biggest trees in the world. The largest tree is 83 meters tall and over 11 meters wide at the base. They live for around 3,000 years, making them among the oldest living things on the planet.
Firefighters are working in the region’s harsh terrain to protect some of the oldest and largest redwood trees in the world. The campers and residents near the fire were evacuated from the region. Moreover, the thick smoke from the fire is worsening in the region’s air quality. Additionally, the smoke is also obscuring the scenic views of Yosemite.
More on the wildfire
The wildfire that started on July 7 is now threatening a minimum of 500 giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove including the famed Grizzly Giant which is believed to be around 3,000 years old. It is the first scenic natural area protected by the federal government for “public use, resort, and recreation”.
The fire and aviation management department of Yosemite is “proactively protecting” the grove. They have set up a sprinkler system for increasing the humidity around the trees.
So far, the Washburn fire has forced nearly 1,600 people to evacuate the area including from the Wawona community. Currently, the cause of the wildfire is under investigation. According to Fire marshals, warm and dry weather is also making it difficult to control the flames.