A crew was sent to Mariposa Grove to wrap some of the massive logs in fireproof sheeting to protect them as the fire burned out of control, said Nancy Phillipe, a Yosemite fire information spokeswoman. More than 500 mature sequoias were threatened, but there were no reports of serious damage to any named trees, such as the 3,000-year-old Giant Grizzly. The cause of the fire is under investigation and the rest of the park remained open as nearly 300 firefighters tried to control the flames with the help of two helicopters dropping water and an air carrier dropping flame retardant, Phillipe said. Giant sequoias, native to only about 70 forests spread along the western slope of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, were once considered impervious to flames, but have become increasingly vulnerable as fires are fueled by the accumulation of undergrowth from a century of fire suppression and drought exacerbated by climate change has become more intense and destructive. Fires sparked by lightning in the past two years have killed up to a fifth of the estimated 75,000 grand sequoias, the largest trees in volume. There was no apparent natural spark for the fire that broke out Thursday along the park’s Washburn Trail, Phillipe said. Smoke was reported by visitors walking through the grove, which reopened in 2018 after a $40 million renovation that took three years. The grove, located inside the park’s south entrance, was evacuated and no one was injured. The fire more than tripled overnight in size to 166 acres (67 hectares) by Friday, Phillipe said. Fire officials had previously estimated that 250 acres (101 hectares) had burned, but that was revised after a more careful assessment. The nearby village of Wawona, where about 600 to 700 people were staying in campsites, cabins and a historic hotel, was under an evacuation notice. A community meeting was planned and visitors and residents were encouraged to be ready to leave. “Our priorities are definitely the giant redwoods and the community of Wawona,” Phillipe said. A fierce windstorm tore through the grove a year and a half ago and felled 15 giant sequoias, along with countless other trees. Downed trees, along with huge numbers of pine trees killed by beetles, provided plenty of fuel for the flames, but winds Friday were calm and the fire did not spread quickly. The park has used prescribed burns to clear brush around the redwoods, which helps protect them if the flames spread farther into the grove. “When unwanted fires hit these areas, it tends to slow the rate of spread and helps us get some control,” Phillipe said. In the Sierra foothills, 80 miles (128 kilometers) northwest of the Yosemite fire, some evacuation orders came in as containment increased to 65 percent on the Electra Fire that had burned 7 square miles (18 square kilometers). The fire broke out near Jackson on Monday and temporarily forced about 100 people celebrating the Fourth of July holiday along a river to seek shelter at the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. facility.
title: “The Yosemite Fire Is The Latest Threat To The Giant Sequoia Trees " ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-31” author: “Mark Farrell”
A crew was sent to Mariposa Grove to wrap some of the massive logs in fireproof sheeting to protect them as the fire burned out of control, said Nancy Phillipe, a Yosemite fire information spokeswoman. More than 500 mature sequoias were threatened, but there were no reports of serious damage to any named trees, such as the 3,000-year-old Giant Grizzly. The cause of the fire is under investigation and the rest of the park remained open as nearly 300 firefighters tried to control the flames with the help of two helicopters dropping water and an air carrier dropping flame retardant, Phillipe said. Giant sequoias, native to only about 70 forests spread along the western slope of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, were once considered impervious to flames, but have become increasingly vulnerable as fires are fueled by the accumulation of undergrowth from a century of fire suppression and drought exacerbated by climate change has become more intense and destructive. Fires sparked by lightning in the past two years have killed up to a fifth of the estimated 75,000 grand sequoias, the largest trees in volume. There was no apparent natural spark for the fire that broke out Thursday along the park’s Washburn Trail, Phillipe said. Smoke was reported by visitors walking through the grove, which reopened in 2018 after a $40 million renovation that took three years. The grove, located inside the park’s south entrance, was evacuated and no one was injured. The fire had grown to 466 acres (188 hectares) by Friday night, authorities said. Evacuation orders were issued Friday for the grove along with the nearby community of Wawona — which is surrounded by the park — and the Wawona Campground, where about 600 to 700 people were staying in campsites, cabins and a historic hotel. A fierce windstorm tore through the grove a year and a half ago and felled 15 giant sequoias, along with countless other trees. Downed trees, along with huge numbers of pine trees killed by beetles, provided plenty of fuel for the flames, but winds Friday were calm and the fire did not spread quickly. The park has used prescribed burns to clear brush around the redwoods, which helps protect them if the flames spread farther into the grove. “When unwanted fires hit these areas, it tends to slow the rate of spread and helps us get some control,” Phillipe said. In the Sierra foothills, 80 miles (128 kilometers) northwest of the Yosemite fire, some evacuation orders came in as containment increased to 70 percent on the Electra Fire that had burned 7 square miles (18 square kilometers). The fire broke out near Jackson on Monday and temporarily forced about 100 people celebrating the Fourth of July holiday along a river to seek shelter at a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. facility.
