Fire threatening Yosemite's famed grove of giant sequoia trees is still growing
CNN
A growing wildfire that threatens a famed giant sequoia tree grove in California's Yosemite National Park has doubled in size over the past two days and pushed officials to issue evacuation orders for a nearby community.
(CNN) — A growing wildfire that threatens a famed giant sequoia tree grove in California's Yosemite National Park has doubled in size over the past two days and pushed officials to issue evacuation orders for a nearby community.
The Washburn Fire began July 7 and had swelled to 1,190 acres as of Saturday night as it burns near the lower portion of Mariposa Grove, park officials said. A total of 360 fire personnel are working to contain the fire from the ground and air, and park officials said the grove will remain closed until further notice.
"The fire is burning in difficult terrain with continuous heavy fuels in and around the fire," fire officials said on InciWeb, a site for coordinating fire response. "Significant tree mortality from 2013-2015 has left significant dead standing and dead fallen fuels. This also presents significant safety hazards to firefighters."