Two Big Trees Giants Scarred In Small Blaze

A few careless seconds can lose thousands of years of history.

That´s what Calaveras Big Trees State Park Ranger Vince Sereno said after a careless park visitor set two of the park´s treasured trees on fire last week.

The Living Sentinel Tree is doing well despite having its bark burned about 12 feet up, Sereno said. Luckily, sequoias are designed to withstand fire, he said. “Their bark can be up to two feet thick, so it didn´t hurt the tree that we can tell,” Sereno said.

The Fallen Sentinel Tree´s root ball was charred as the fire burned underneath it from the amount of plant debris on the ground. Campers reported the fire to park staff around 7 a.m., last Tuesday. Park resource staff members responded with the park´s water tender and put out the flames.

A 30-by-60-foot spot was burned.

California Department of Forestry arson investigators ruled out arson, but they determined the fire was “man caused.”

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