Sequoia National Park in California: Giant sequoia still smokes after forest fires in 2020

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Smoke rises: The aftermath of the forest fires of 2020 can be seen in Sequoia National Park

Photo: Tony Caprio / National Park Service / AP

In California, employees of Sequoia National Park discovered a giant sequoia that is still smoldering and smoking a year after the devastating fires.

Scientists and fire experts examined the damage caused by the fire in Sequoia National Park when they discovered the still smoldering giant sequoia, the park said on Wednesday.

They assumed that the cause of this was the forest fires last year.

The tree is isolated and no danger to its surroundings or park visitors, it said.

The fact that smoke is still developing in some areas shows "how dry the park is," Leif Mathiesen, the national park's fire expert, was quoted as saying.

Given the low snowfall and rain this year, there could be other trees in a similar condition.

Last year, the western United States was particularly hard hit by fires caused by persistent drought caused by climate change.

Dozens of people died, and in California alone an area of ​​around 17,000 square kilometers was burned.

The US authorities fear that a similar situation could repeat itself this year as the drought persists.

ptz / AFP