A wildfire in Yosemite National Park is threatening some of the oldest and most massive trees on the planet, woodlands that have stood since before the founding of Rome.
began July 7 and has since burned 3,221 acres in Yosemite National Park, coming perilously close to the grove. There were 649 people fighting the fire, and it was 22% contained, according to the National Park Service.At a community meeting Monday evening, Yosemite Superintendent Cicely Muldoon said the fire was caused by humans.
In one incident on Saturday, a more than 2-foot long tree branch was pulled several hundred feet into the air by the fire, narrowly missing two firefighting aircraft. The National Parks Service has dug fire lines to protect the giant sequoias and is using ground-based sprinkler systems to increase humidity in the area.
"In the fire seasons of 2020 and 2021 alone, a 14-month period, we estimate we lost 19% of all giant sequoia. It's just not sustainable," said Joanna Nelson, director of science and conservation at the Save the Redwoods League. Prior to the focus on fire suppression that began around 1900, these forests typically burned every 10 to 30 years. These small-scale fires cleared brush and needles but were relatively low intensity, allowing the sequoia to remain unharmed.
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