California wildfires threaten famous giant sequoia trees

By NOAH BERGER and JOHN ANTCZAK
Associated Press

THREE RIVERS, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters have wrapped the base of the world’s largest tree in a fire-resistant blanket as they try to save a famous grove of gigantic old-growth sequoias from wildfires burning in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Fire officials say the fire was expected to reach the grove of 2,000 trees within days. The base of the colossal General Sherman Tree, some other giant sequoias and buildings in the Giant Forest were wrapped Thursday as protection against the possibility of intense flames. Another fire to the south has burned into a grove in Giant Sequoia National Monument, but officials haven’t been able to assess the damage yet.