World’s largest tree wrapped in foil amid California wildfire worries
11,000-acre KNP Complex fires burning near famed General Sherman Tree
World's largest tree wrapped in foil amid California wildfire worries
Park officials shared an image of a large fire-resistant foil blanket wrapped around the more than 36-foot base of the 2,200-year-old tree.
THREE RIVERS, Calif. -- A protective blanket has been wrapped around the base of the world’s largest tree in California as firefighters battle a massive wildfire burning nearby.
The KNP Complex fires have been burning near in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks since Sept. 9. A lightning strike ignited the blazes which have grown to 11,365 acres.
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The parks are home to some of the oldest and largest trees in the world. Among them the 275-foot-tall General Sherman Tree, which is the largest tree in the world when measured by volume.
On Thursday, park officials shared a sobering image of a large fire-resistant foil blanket wrapped around the more than 36-foot base of the 2,200-year-old tree.
Officials said the General Sherman Tree is among several sequoias and buildings that firefighters are trying to protect.
"Some fire activity picked up late afternoon as smoke cleared, humidity levels dropped and temperature increased," park officials wrote in a Facebook post. "Crews continue to apply protection wrapping (foil) to iconic sequoia trees and historic structures."
According to the National Park Service, there are three fires burning across the two national parks. Sequoia National Park has been closed to the public.