Smokejumpers arrive at Garnet Fire to protect ancient sequoia trees in Sierra National Forest
Firefighters are trying to protect California's McKinley Grove, which is home to historic giant sequoia trees. The tallest trees in McKinley Grove are more than 230 feet high, and some are thousands of years old.
Time-lapse video of the raging Garnet Fire
As of the latest evening update from CalFire, the Garnet Fire is spread over 53,000 acres.
FRESNO, Calif. – Wildland firefighters known as smokejumpers and crews on the ground are working to prevent further losses of ancient sequoia trees in California as the Garnet Fire continues to burn in the Sierra National Forest.
The wildfire, northeast of Fresno, California, started on Aug. 24, following a lightning strike, and has burned more than 57,000 acres.
Firefighters are trying to protect McKinley Grove, which is home to historic giant sequoia trees. The tallest trees in McKinley Grove are more than 230 feet high, and some are thousands of years old, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
McKinley Grove protection on Sept. 6, 2025 in the Sierra National Forest. (Photo by Sam Wu)
(USFS / FOX Weather)
On Wednesday, California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 Operations Section Chief Don Freguila said the grove has faced low to moderate fire intensity over the last couple of days. He said firefighters continue to limit "mortality" in the grove. The grove is being protected by 24-hour sprinkler coverage, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
"We’re in there with boots on the ground, trying to cool down those roots," Freguila said.
Also on Wednesday, specialist firefighters known as smokejumpers arrived and climbed into the canopies of the Giant Sequoias to protect the trees from further damage, according to the U.S. Forest Service. These wildland firefighters are trained to parachute into hard-to-reach fire areas, or arrive by foot, vehicle or whatever mode of transport is necessary to reach remote places.
![The Garnet fire burns in the Sierra National Forest southeast of Shaver Lake along McKinley Grove Road, which had threatened the McKinley grove of giant sequoias, seen Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.]()
Image 1 of 5The Garnet fire burns in the Sierra National Forest southeast of Shaver Lake along McKinley Grove Road, which had threatened the McKinley grove of giant sequoias, seen Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (Eric Paul Zamora/The Fresno Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) ( )
![The Garnet Fire smolders within the McKinley Grove of giant sequoias in the Sierra National Forest southeast of Shaver Lake Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. A sprinkler system was installed to help protect the trees.]()
Image 2 of 5The Garnet Fire smolders within the McKinley Grove of giant sequoias in the Sierra National Forest southeast of Shaver Lake Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. A sprinkler system was installed to help protect the trees. ( )
![A photo showing ground-based retardant application on the northside of McKinley Grove Road from the Garnet Fire on Sept. 6, 2025.]()
Image 3 of 5A photo showing ground-based retardant application on the northside of McKinley Grove Road from the Garnet Fire on Sept. 6, 2025. (Sam Wu/USFS)
![Scenes from McKinley Grove Road and the Garnet Fire on Sept. 6, 2025.]()
Image 4 of 5Scenes from McKinley Grove Road and the Garnet Fire on Sept. 6, 2025. (Sam Wu/USFS)
![A truck passes the McKinley Grove of goant sequoias as the Garnet Fire burns in the Sierra National Forest southeast of Shaver Lake along McKinley Grove Road Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.]()
Image 5 of 5A truck passes the McKinley Grove of giant sequoias as the Garnet Fire burns in the Sierra National Forest southeast of Shaver Lake along McKinley Grove Road Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. The lightning-caused fire which began Aug. 24 was reported by CALFIRE to be 15% contained at 56,724 acres burned on Tuesday. ( )
Firefighting among these giant trees is also very dangerous.
"Some of these trees are 2,000 or 3,000 years old," Freguila said. "Stuff is falling out of those trees."
Freguila also added that "sequoia are a fire-adapted species, they need fire to reproduce."
According to the National Park Service, sequoia bark can protect trees against fire, but after decades of fires some scars may not continue to heal.
A sequoia cone in the McKinley Grove on Sept. 6, 2025 during the Garnet Fire. (Photo by Sam Wu)
(USFS)
Fire also helps the sequoia cones open up, exposing seeds to the fire-swept soil below.
As of Froday, more than 3,000 firefighters and personnel are working the Garnet Fire, which is 17% contained.