“Threat to Ancient Trees from California Wildfires”
Firefighters in central California are working to contain a wildfire near the Nevada border that poses a danger to a forest housing the oldest trees on the planet. The Silver Fire started on Sunday and has burned 1,589 acres, with 50% containment as of Tuesday morning. Progress was made on Monday in stopping the forward spread of the flames, according to officials from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Evacuation orders remain in place as crews continue efforts to increase containment.
“The fire is still a risk to structures, critical infrastructure, watersheds, endangered species, and cultural resources,” said the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit in a social media update on Tuesday. Just under 15 miles from the wildfire, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is home to trees that are over 4,000 years old, with the Patriarch Tree being the largest bristlecone pine in the world.
The concern now lies with the weather, as increased winds expected in the coming days raise fears of flareups. “There is an ongoing threat to the bristlecones due to the weather conditions,” stated Cal Fire Public Information Officer Chloe Castillo in an interview with USA TODAY on Tuesday.
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine trees, some of which are over 4,000 years old, are a unique natural treasure found in the White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest near Bishop, California. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY highlighting the risk to the world’s oldest trees posed by the California wildfires.
