Firefighters wrapped the base of the world’s largest tree with a fire-resistant blanket As part of an effort to preserve the glorious ancient Redwoods’ famous forest A wildfire is burning in the rugged Sierra Nevada of California.

The largest public sherman tree in the giant forest of Sequoia National Park, Some other Redwoods, the Giant Forest Museum and other buildings were protected against severe fires and closed, fire spokeswoman Rebecca Patterson said.

Aluminum wrap can withstand extreme heat for short periods of time. Federal officials said the material had been used to protect vital structures from sparks for years across Western America. Near Lake Tahoe, some houses covered with protective materials escaped the recent wildfires, while others nearby were destroyed.

That was expected Colony fire, One of the two burns in Sequoia National Park, named for the area where it started, will reach 2,000 Redwoods grove giant forest in a few days, according to firefighters.

However, The fire on Thursday did not grow significantly because a layer of smoke in the morning reduced its spreadFire Department spokeswoman Katie Hooper said.

Thousands of red poppy trees caught fire in a wildfire in the area last year. Some are as tall as skyscrapers and thousands of years old.

General Sherman Tree The world’s largest, with an area of ​​1,487 cubic meters, According to the National Park Service. It is 84 meters high and 31 meters in circumference at ground level.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Superintendent Clay Jordan stressed the importance of protecting large trees from fire. High intensity during presentation for firefighters.

A history Recommended burn use for 50 years The fire was set to remove other types of trees and plants In the parks’ redwood groves, giant trees can survive by reducing the impact if flames reach them.

A “Strong record of recommended fire in that area is reason for hope”Patterson said. “Hopefully, the forest of giants will emerge unscathed from this.”

Giant sequoias are ideal for fire, They help to thrive by releasing seeds from their cones and creating gaps that allow young red trees to grow. But the unusual fire intensity – triggered by climate change – will engulf the trees.

That happened last year Fort fire Studies estimate what will be in between 7.500 And 10.600 Large red trees according to the National Park Service.

The heat waves associated with a historic drought and climate change have made it very difficult for the U.S. West to fight wildfires. Climate change over the past 30 years has made the region extremely hot and dry, and scientists say it will continue to develop. The weather is very intense and wildfires are frequent and devastating.

A National Interim Fire Management Team has accepted orders to fight the 30-square-kilometer paradise fire and the 8-square-kilometer Colony Island closest to the grove. In that area, measures were taken to burn plants and other fuels that could cause fires.

The fire forced the park to evacuate this week. And parts of the city of three rivers outside the main entrance were evacuated.

In the south, the fire at the Thule River Indian Reserve and the giant Sequoia National Monument grew considerably overnight and reached far beyond that. 15 square kilometers, And the team was unable to control him, according to the Sequoia National Forest report.

Wind blowing fire, Started with lightning, it burned part of Peyrone’s Sequoia grove in the national monument, and other groves were threatened.

“Because of the inaccessibility of the terrain, it would be difficult to make an initial assessment of the effects of the fire on the large sequoia trees within the grove and It may take days to complete “The report said.

The Thulare County Sheriff’s Office, Panderoza, Quaking Aspen, Johnsandale and Camp Witchset, Boy Scout Camp, were warned to be ready to evacuate if necessary.

The latest in a long summer wildfire that burned nearly 3,550 square miles (9,195 sq km) in California, burning hundreds of homes.

The crew had limited access to the colony fire and the extreme slope of the landscape around Paradise Island prevented this completely.

(Nova Berger and John Antsock – AB)

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