Over 10.000 trees must be removed after the California wildfires

 

Over 10.000 trees near giant sequoia groves must be removed after the California wildfires

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have declared that "over 10,000 trees near giant sequoia groves have been 'weakened by drought, disease, age, and fire' and should be removed in the wake of the California wildfires."

Damage to these trees, which are considered "national treasures," and work to remove them means the nearby highway must remain closed to visitors as they have "the potential to hit people, cars, or other buildings or create barriers to emergency response services," according to Permit from national parks.

Affected trees lie along this highway, which connects the Giant Forest, home to the General Sherman Tree, the world's most giant tree by volume, and Grant Grove - where the Grant Tree, which is the second-largest tree on Earth, is located, the statement said.

The statement said there was also an unspecified number of "dangerous trees" in remote areas in addition to those along the highway.

Threat level: The fire has burned about 138 square miles of forest and is 60% contained Saturday night, according to a national parks statement, first released Friday. The Los Angeles Times noted that the cooler weather "helped slow the flames, and the area is expected to see rain on Sunday."

Officials said hundreds of famous trees might have been killed, according to the Washington Post.

Sequoia National Park Forest officials had wrapped the trunks of the giant sequoia tree in aluminum foil insulation for protection before the wildfires arrived.

 According to Andrew Friedman of Axios, studies show that human-caused climate change increases the likelihood and severity of droughts and heatwaves, thus wildfires.