Five years ago, a tragic and depressing environmental story unfolded when thousands of giant sequoia trees, an iconic California species that tower 300 feet high and can live for 3,000 years, were killed during multiple large wildfires that roared across the southern Sierra Nevada.
A sign with Smokey the Bear warns of a very high fire danger for the day as smoke rises from the Trout Fire burning July 19, 2024, in the Domeland Wilderness of Sequoia National Forest, near Inyokern, Calif.
The blackened toothpick-like remains of totally burnt Giant Sequoia trees are seen in the Redwood Mountain Grove in Kings Canyon National Park on the western slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountains, on Aug. 24, 2023.
Sequoia National Forest OC Cobra Crew firefighters work to remove duff (decomposing forest floor vegetation) in an effort to decrease wildfire risk around giant sequoias on Aug. 24, 2022, in Sequoia National Forest, Calif.
A sign with Smokey the Bear warns of a very high fire danger for the day as smoke rises from the Trout Fire burning July 19, 2024, in the Domeland Wilderness of Sequoia National Forest, near Inyokern, Calif.
The blackened toothpick-like remains of totally burnt Giant Sequoia trees are seen in the Redwood Mountain Grove in Kings Canyon National Park on the western slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountains, on Aug. 24, 2023.
Sequoia National Forest OC Cobra Crew firefighters work to remove duff (decomposing forest floor vegetation) in an effort to decrease wildfire risk around giant sequoias on Aug. 24, 2022, in Sequoia National Forest, Calif.
