A significant blaze is currently raging through the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County, resulting in the destruction of part of a large grove of giant sequoias.
The Garnet fire has now consumed over 54,000 acres and made a destructive sweep through the McKinley grove, as confirmed by Jay Tracy, a spokesperson for the fire.
Reports indicate that the fire may have advanced through the grove sometime between Sunday night and early Monday morning.
Weather conditions, including an inversion layer, played a role in escalating the fire, with Tracy noting how the phenomenon acted like a lid on the blaze, which subsequently began ‘throwing some spots’—or tossing embers—that ignited fires in the treetops.
Early aerial assessments revealed flames visible in the crowns of the gigantic sequoias, prompting concern from officials.
Adrienne Freeman, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service, stated that while some trees are on fire, the damage could have been far worse.
She mentioned that the situation had been mischaracterized by some as a running-crown fire—a highly destructive type of blaze—but noted that the fire appeared to be primarily ground-level.
Nevertheless, Freeman emphasized that new embers could still land in the grove, posing an ongoing threat.
“I’m not breathing a big sigh of relief yet, just because the possibility of embers is not gone,” she said.
In footage recorded within the grove, a firefighter narrated the scene against a backdrop of smoke-filled skies, indicating that while the fire intensity was manageable at that moment, several trees were already ablaze.
A significantly protective measure—consisting of a sprinkler system—has been deployed to douse the massive trunks of sequoias with water as a preventive effort against the fire.
Giant sequoias are found only in California, chiefly on the western slopes of southern Sierra, making this grove particularly vital.
According to Ben Blom of the Save the Redwoods League, the McKinley grove, comprised of approximately 200 massive trees, was among the most fire-vulnerable areas based on an unreleased report.
Merely a decade ago, this grove had been shielded from wildfires, with minimal fuel reduction work carried out over its 100-acre span.
Despite their remarkable resilience due to thick bark and adaptive features that enable them to withhold low-intensity fires, recent ferocious fire incidents exacerbated by climate change have resulted in significant mortality among mature giant sequoias.
An alarming estimate indicates that 20% of the world’s mature giant sequoias have perished over the last ten years as a direct consequence of severe wildfires, according to the Save the Redwoods League.
“Every grove and every monarch [mature tree] within those groves is really critical to save and protect,” remarked Blom.
Prior to the explosion of the Garnet fire, fire personnel had proactively implemented protective strategies including laying down sprinkler lines and wrapping the trunks of some of the giant trees in a fire-resistant material similar to tin foil.
This approach mirrors efforts made in 2021 to safeguard General Sherman, the Earth’s largest tree by volume, from the KNP Complex fire that ravaged portions of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.
With cooler temperatures and increased humidity, firefighters had initially felt a sense of hope late last week, but a dramatic escalation occurred on Sunday as the fire surged fiercely on the northwestern front, producing towering columns of smoke visible from miles away.
Tracy noted the fire expanded by approximately 2,500 acres overnight, bringing the total area affected to around 12,600 acres the preceding day.
Firefighters are currently encountering several complicating factors in their battle against the blaze.
Tracy reported that this area has not experienced fire for the preceding 80 years, resulting in an estimated 400 tons of decaying material per acre that is susceptible to ignition.
The presence of snags—standing dead and dying trees—also poses a significant hazard, risking injury to firefighting personnel.
Due to these dangers, crews were withdrawn from the area surrounding the McKinley grove on Sunday night to avoid potentially fatal accidents.
Adding to the situation, the terrain is steep and rugged, complicating firefighting efforts.
Despite these challenges, Tracy affirmed that “everybody is really, really working their tails off to put this fire out just as soon as they can.”
As it stands, the fire is currently 14% contained.
image source from：latimes
