California firefighters are using aluminum foil to wrap around the base of the General Sherman tree, the largest tree in the world by volume, in an effort to mitigate the impact of wildfires.
Aluminum foil wrapped around the base of the General Sherman tree. Photo: American Forest
The Paradise and Colony fires, collectively known as the KNP Complex fire, have been raging in Sequoia National Park in California since September 10, and firefighters have yet to gain control of the situation. As of September 17, the fire, sparked by a thunderstorm, has spread across 4,599 hectares of parkland and has approached the “Giant Forest,” home to many of the largest trees in the world.
This forest is home to the largest tree in the world by volume, General Sherman. The 2,200-year-old giant sequoia stands 83 meters tall and has a diameter of over 11 meters, according to the National Park Service.
The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is adapted to wildfires and even utilizes the heat from fires to crack open its cones and release seeds, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. However, climate change and drought are fueling increasingly intense fires that exceed the giant sequoia’s resilience. Last year, the Castle Fire destroyed thousands of giant sequoias.
On September 16, firefighters wrapped the base of the General Sherman tree and several other giant sequoias to protect them from embers and radiant heat. “This area is significant to many people, so we are making special efforts to protect the forest,” emphasized Rebecca Paterson, spokesperson for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In addition to wrapping with aluminum foil, firefighters are also using controlled burns to clear vegetation around the area, reducing potential fuel sources.
