The Garnet Fire has burned nearly 60,000 acres in California’s Sierra National Forest. Over the past few days, the fire has come uncomfortably close to burning trees that have stood for thousands of years. The McKinley Grove of giant sequoias is an area of the national forest where a cluster of around 200 of these behemoths grow, and fire crews are doing their best to contain the wildfire and minimize damage.
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In general, the Garnet Fire is still running rampant and is just 15% contained. An update from Sierra National Forest yesterday said crews have taken advantage of more favorable weather conditions to continue building and strengthening containment lines. Specialist firefighters called “smokejumpers” are now on scene in the giant sequoias’ canopies to protect the trees from further damage.
Giant sequoias are Earth’s largest trees by volume and can grow to be over 300 feet tall. The National Park Service says they can live for 3,400 years—an unfathomable amount of time.
Officials have partially closed part of the national forest to support the wildfire-suppression effort. The blaze started August 24 from a lightning strike.
See photos of the wildfire that’s threatening the giant sequoias in Sierra National Forest here:
Header stock image of giant sequoias in Sequoia National Park from Westend61/Getty Images