California's iconic General Sherman Tree and many other behemoth trees in Sequoia National Park were still standing Monday morning, authorities said.
The KNP Complex wildfire threatened the park's so-called Giant Forest in recent days, especially Saturday when the blaze exploded, but the trees, which are a popular tourist attraction, escaped flames.
It seemed like a miracle of sorts, but Mark Garrett, a fire information officer for the National Park Service, said there's an explanation for why these trees survived — and that's prescribed burns. More than 400 acres around the General Sherman Tree underwent a prescribed burn as recently as 2019, Garrett said.
Garret said activity on the KNP Complex escalated Saturday when an inversion layer lifted and winds picked up.