A wildfire is threatening to spread into the Mariposa the Grove at Yosemite National Park, which is home to more than 500 giant sequoia trees. The grove was founded in 1857, but many of the trees are believed to be far older, and some may have stood for over 2,000 years.
Firefighters are currently tackling the Washburn Fire from both the ground and the air. The National Park Service shared a tweet late on 7 July stating that the fire was currently between five and eight acres in size, but CNN reports that it's now grown to cover 60-70 acres.
The Washburn Fire is burning near the lower portion of the Mariposa Grove. The fire is about five to eight acres. Firefighters are suppressing the fire from the ground and air. The Mariposa Grove is closed until further notice.#WashburnFire #Yosemite pic.twitter.com/a8UmOM9BazJuly 8, 2022
The park has issued an alert warning visitors that both the road leading towards the grove is currently closed, but all other areas are currently open. If you're planning a visit, keep an eye on Yosemite's official website for the latest advice.
