which trees? which grove? where?

[mort]

From the AP:
Two burned trees fell in Giant Forest, which is home to about 2,000 sequoias, including the General Sherman Tree, which is considered the world’s largest by volume. However, the most notable trees survived and Brigham said the grove appeared to be mostly intact.

Firefighters have taken extraordinary measures to protect the sequoias by wrapping fire-resistant material around the bases of some giants, raking and clearing vegetation around them, installing sprinklers and dousing some with water or fire retardant gel.

However, the full extent of the damage won’t be known for months, Brigham said. Firefighters still are occupied protecting trees, homes and lives or can’t safely reach steep, remote groves that lack roads or even trails, she said.

The KNP Complex fire was only 11% contained Thursday after burning 134 square miles of forest. Cooler weather has helped slow the flames and the area could see some slight rain today, forecasters said.

To the south, the Windy Fire had burned at least 74 sequoias, Garrett Dickman told the Los Angeles Times. The wildfire botanist has recorded damage as part of a sequoia task force preparing and assessing trees in the fire zone.

In one grove, Dickman counted 29 sequoias that were “just incinerated,” he told CNN.

“There were four of those that had burned so hot that they’d fallen over,” he said.

[dave54]

Fortunately, the Forest Service has already planned for such an event.

Each grove is genetically unique. Because of geographic separation, there has been little cross-pollination among the various groves. The Forest Service has collected seeds from every grove and keeps them in long-term storage at their Placerville Nursery. So in case of disaster and an entire grove is destroyed, the genetics of that grove are not permanently lost. The seeds from that grove can be planted in the nursery and the seedlings transferred back to the original grove site.
Also, planted Giant Sequoias from each grove are maintained at their Chico Seed Orchard. They are kept pruned back into a shrub form so they are not producing cones, but can be tendered back into seed production if needed.

[gary c.]

It's great that they are doing so much to preserve the heritage and existence of the giant sequoias. But when it come to 1,000 to 2,000 year old giants they are just irreplaceable.

[Shawn]

From the web:

"U.S. Forest Service - Sequoia National Forest
0S10ol61orh ·
Work to determine damage from Windy Fire ongoing
The lightning-caused Windy Fire, now 97,554 acres, damaged or destroyed many treasured features in the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument. It burned into eleven giant sequoia groves, eight within the Forest, two on the Tule River Indian Reservation, and one shared across both agency boundaries.
Per Resource Advisor Garrett Dickman, initial observations determined the Starvation Creek Grove experienced a high-severity fire that, despite firefighter efforts, burned all but four mature giant sequoias within the grove boundary. Thanks to recent wildfires and fuels reduction efforts, fire severity in the Black Mountain, Red Hill, and Cunningham Groves was less. Several groves: Peyrone, South Peyrone, Packsaddle, and Deer Creek still need to be evaluated once fire hazards have been abated. It may take months to complete a full evaluation of impacts on our giant sequoia groves. With winter coming, this task will likely begin in the spring.
The Long Meadow Grove, including the iconic Trail of 100 Giants, was targeted early with measures to prepare the trees before and actions taken after fire spread through it. For years, forest officials have been undertaking fuels reduction treatments, thinning small-diameter trees, hazard trees, and pile burning at the Trail of 100 Giants. This pre-treatment and extensive mop-up around sequoia trees kept the area adjacent to the trail mostly unscathed. A significant loss, despite efforts to save it, was the boardwalk. It was undergoing repairs after a fallen giant sequoia tree landed on it in 2019.
Other Forest Service improvements destroyed by the Windy Fire include the Mule Peak Lookout and structures surrounding it, including the shed near the parking area. Three historic cabins, Frog Meadow Guard Station, Powder Horn, and Speas Dirty Camp Cabins were lost. Outbuildings, storage sheds, and some wooden bridges were also burned, despite efforts to save them. The status of other improvements remains unknown; numerous fire hazards are preventing access due to safety concerns. It may be next spring or summer before a complete list is compiled of Forest Service infrastructure lost from the Windy Fire.
“Like many wildfires, the Windy Fire threatened people and communities and their protection was our highest priority,” stated Forest Supervisor Teresa Benson. “Our Forest and the public have lost homes, historic landmarks, and several natural treasures over the past few years due to wildfire. We ask for your patience while we fully assess damage to lands managed by the Sequoia National Forest. Additional information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.”
Public Affairs Specialist: Denise Alonzo
(559) 539-2607 ext. 2212
denise.alonzo@usda.gov"