Nearly 2,000 firefighters are struggling to gain the upper hand over the KNP wildfire complex in Sequoia National Park. While it appears the Giant Forest has evaded the flames thanks to long-term fire management strategies in the park, crews were working to protect the Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park from the fire.

Much of Kings Canyon National Park in California has been closed due to the close proximity of the KNP Complex of fires burning north through Sequoia National Park.

Giant sequoias are no stranger to fire, but if they are to withstand large conflagrations such as those burning in California this year, fire has to be a regular visitor to the groves of these big trees.

Highly combustible forests and rugged terrain in both Sequoia and Lassen Volcanic national parks in California gave firefighters on the ground little option but to watch as flames jumped across the two parks. While Lassen Volcanic has been closed to the public since early August, parts of Sequoia closed this week as a complex of fires was galloping across the landscape and forcing area evacuations.