Status: 07/12/2022 04:26 a.m
A fast-growing forest fire is threatening 2,000-year-old giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park. The fire department is preparing for a tough few months.
In California, the fight against a forest fire in Yosemite National Park continues. More than 500 firefighters and helpers were on duty in the popular excursion area on Monday, according to the responsible park authority.
The fire that broke out last week is threatening the Mariposa Grove with its well-known giant sequoias. The so-called “Washburn” fire was only 25 percent under control as of Monday. The flames quickly spread across nearly 1,000 hectares of land. The Mariposa Grove has been closed to visitors. An investigation has been launched into the fire.
Fire departments in the United States fear particularly severe forest fires in 2022. “I’m predicting some very tough four, five, six months,” said Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fennessy.
Sprinkler systems are designed to protect 2,000-year-old sequoias
The emergency teams would take special protective measures for the famous sequoias, the park authority said. The area around the trees is kept moist with the help of sprinkler systems on the ground. In addition, dry undergrowth is removed, which could otherwise easily catch fire.
The forested area of the Sierra Nevada on the southern edge of Yosemite Park is known for its redwood trees, which are more than 60 meters high and are more than 2000 years old. The Mariposa Grove was designated as a special nature reserve in 1864.
Already 2020 destructive fire
The giant sequoias, also called sequoias, are the largest trees in the world. Their relatives, the California redwoods, can grow even taller at over 100 meters, but are not as large in diameter as the giant sequoias.
During their thousands of years of lifespan, sequoias experience wildfires from time to time. The heat of the fire helps open their cones and disperse the seeds. However, longer, hotter and more aggressive fires, which are becoming more frequent as a result of global warming, can damage trees beyond repair. In 2020, around 10,000 sequoias died in a huge fire. That was up to 14 percent of the global population.