A wildfire threatening the largest grove of giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park more than doubled in size in a day
, and firefighters were working in difficult terrain Sunday to protect the iconic trees and a small mountain town.
More than 500 mature sequoias were threatened in the famed Mariposa Grove but there were no reports of severe damage to any named trees, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant. Beyond the trees, the community of Wawona, which is surrounded by parkland, was under threat, with people ordered to leave late Friday. In addition to residents, about 600 to 700 campers who were staying at the Wawona campground in tents, cabins and a historic hotel were ordered to leave.
Phillipe, the park spokesperson, previously said some of the massive trunks had been wrapped in fire-resistant foil for protection, but she corrected herself on Sunday and said that was not the case for this fire. However, crews have wrapped a historic cabin in the protective foil, she said. A fierce windstorm ripped through the grove over a year ago and toppled 15 giant sequoias, along with countless other trees.