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Air Units Drop Water on Fire Burning in Sequoia National Park

Firefighters continued their efforts to contain the KNP Complex Fire burning in California’s Sequoia National Park, which officials said had grown to 11,365 acres by Saturday morning, September 18.

More than 480 crew members were assigned to the fire, which was caused by lightning, the National Park Service said.

This footage, taken Wednesday by Alekz Londos, shows a firefighting helicopter collecting water and dropping it over burning areas of forest.

The park is home to thousands of giant sequoias, which can live for hundreds or thousands of years, surviving various fires and storms. However, experts say the trees are now at greater risk of death due to climate change and increases in the intensity of fires, NPR reported.

On Thursday, the base of the largest known tree on earth, General Sherman, which is estimated to be more than 2,300 years old, was preventatively wrapped in fire-resistant aluminum foil. Credit: Alekz Londos via Storyful