California Firefighters Protect Ancient Sequoias as Garnet Fire Spreads

Firefighters are urgently working to protect ancient giant sequoia groves in California's Sierra National Forest as the Garnet Fire spreads through the region, having burned nearly 55,000 acres. The fire reached McKinley Grove, home to about 165-170 sequoias some estimated to be 2,000 years old, but no full tree crown fires have been reported; embers ignited some branches, prompting specialized firefighters to climb the trees and extinguish spot fires. Efforts to safeguard the grove include a 24-hour sprinkler system increasing humidity and clearing surrounding fuels, alongside aggressive firefighting tactics along the fire's perimeter. Meanwhile, in Portugal's Seia municipality, heavy firefighting resources and rainfall have helped bring a wildfire under control after it caused damage to non-residential structures, with strong winds initially complicating containment. Hundreds of firefighters and multiple aircraft have been deployed to battle the Seia wildfire, which remains active on multiple fronts but has so far spared villages and primary residences. Both regions demonstrate the challenges of combating wildfires amid difficult weather conditions and the importance of coordinated emergency responses to protect communities and natural landmarks.