In Sequoia National Park, California, firefighters have wrapped the bases of trees with aluminum blankets to delay the spread of the KNP Complex Fire. The largest tree in the world, known as the General Sherman, is also a victim to these flames.
General Sherman in aluminum blanket. Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/giant-sequoias-wrapped-protective-foil-multiple-wildfires-threaten/story?id=80082457
While lightning strikes seem to be the initial cause of this fire, scientists also believe climate change can also play a role, with an increase in “fire season” which allows these fires to burn faster and hotter. This fire is one of the many which have affected California only this year and other parts of the Western U.S, with tragedies such as the Dixie Fire (recorded as California’s second largest fire.) This National Park was shut down earlier at the start of these fires.
According to the National Park Service, “Crews are preparing the Giant Forest before the fire reaches that area, by removing fuel and applying structure wrap on some of the iconic monarch sequoias that characterize the most famous area of Sequoia National Park…The fire continues to grow in all directions.”
Aluminum blankets are also being used to isolate the entrance sign to Ash Mountain, which is made of sequoia wood.
As of Friday, this fire has burned 11,365 acres of land with zero containment (in accordance with the research of the InciWeb information system), and further data states that 28 fires have ignited over California, with the entire Western U.S being affected 129 since June.