Yosemite wildfire threatens sequoias

Hundreds of people Monday evacuated tourist towns in the southern part of Yosemite National Park as the Washburn Fire spread. The fire covers about 4.3 miles in Yosemite National Park and is threatening Mariposa Grove, a forest of 500 sequoia trees that are thousands of years old. Firefighters have it about 22 percent contained, and there has been no damage to famous, named trees such as the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. 

Is it expected to spread? This week is supposed to get hotter and dryer. The National Park Service said in a statement that there have been many prescribed burns in the area, which will likely help prevent damage to the trees.  Helicopters have been dumping buckets of water from the air. A sprinkler system has also been set up within a highly threatened grove. 

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift on President Joe Biden’s promise of a raise for federal firefighters.