Firefighters in Central California have been working to protect a grove of giant sequoia trees from a massive wildfire.

The Garnet Fire has been burning in the Sierra National Forest in eastern Fresno County since it was sparked by lightning on Aug. 24. As of Wednesday, it has grown to 56,795 acres with containment holding at 15 percent.

While the area is sparsely populated, fire crews have focused efforts on protecting a number of cultural sites potentially threatened by the Garnet Fire – in particular, the McKinley Grove of giant sequoias.

The Garnet Fire, as seen on Sept. 7. Josh Leutzinger/USFS

McKinley Grove giant sequoias

Similar to the famed groves in nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, home to some of the world's largest trees, McKinley Grove also houses aroun

See Full Page