SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

U.S. officials say several wildfires have destroyed many thousands of giant sequoia trees in California in a two-year period.

U.S. officials say several wildfires have destroyed many thousands of giant sequoia trees in California in a two-year period.

Lightning-sparked wildfires killed thousands of giant sequoias this year, adding to a staggering two-year death toll that accounts for up to nearly a fifth of Earth's largest trees, officials said Friday. Fires in Sequoia National Park and the surrounding national forest that also bears the trees' name tore through more than a third of groves in California and torched an estimated 2,261 to 3,637 sequoias, which are the largest trees by volume. Intense fires that burned hot enough and high enough to kill so many giant sequoias — trees once considered nearly fire-proof — puts an exclamation point on the impact of climate change.

A powerful atmospheric river storm that swept through California set rainfall records and helped douse wildfires.

General Sherman is still standing, but it’s not out of the figurative woods just yet, as it still towers in one of the county’s most famous stretch of woods.

One of the most damaging blazes is believed to have been started by a woman who reportedly tried to boil water in hopes of removing bear urine.

Officials are advising those in the Bay Area and the San Joaquin Valley to limit their time outside as wildfire smoke and ash fills the air.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of starting a Northern California wildfire that spread rapidly, burning homes and prompting evacuation orders in a rural community.

Last week, fires began burning out of control in steep canyons near Sequoia National Park, which contains some of the world's largest trees.

Dr. Gavin Schmidt, NASA's acting adviser on climate, spoke with AccuWeather's Melissa Constanzer, detailing the ways climate change is impacting the Earth and what can still be done.

A tree that’s larger than the Statue of Liberty from its base to the torch is trying to be shielded away from wildfires in California.

Two lightning-sparked wildfires in California merged and made a run to the edge of a grove of ancient sequoias, driving away firefighters as they try to protect the world’s largest tree.

The KNP Complex fire is closing in on the Giant Forest sequoia grove in Sequoia National Park, California.

With flames advancing toward the signature grove of ancient massive trees in Sequoia National Park, firefighters Thursday fought fire with fire.

California wildfires have burned into at least four groves of gigantic ancient sequoias in national parks and forests.

Facing flash flood warnings once again due to severe storms in the Northeast, some families are still trying to pick up the pieces that Tropical Rainstorm Ida left behind.

With flames advancing toward the signature grove of ancient massive trees in Sequoia National Park, firefighters Thursday fought fire with fire.

The park's historic wooden entrance sign dating to 1935 was covered in fire-resistant wrapping, and hoses were in place at the headquarters area.

Firefighters have wrapped the base of the world’s largest tree in a fire-resistant blanket as they try to save a famous grove of gigantic old-growth sequoias from wildfires burning in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

Fire crews moved to ramp up the battle Wednesday against two expanding forest fires threatening Sequoia National Park’s giant sequoia trees and infrastructure.

Sequoia National Park has been shut down and its namesake gigantic trees could be in danger as forest fires burn in steep terrain across California’s Sierra Nevada.

The 56-year-old San Jose resident fell from Mount Russell

A draft study says at least a tenth of the world’s mature giant sequoias were destroyed by a single California wildfire that tore through the southern Sierra Nevada last year.

The 56-year-old man lost his balance and one of his hiking companions, a 45-year-old woman, grabbed him and both fell off the summit ridge.

A woman also fell after trying to grab the man, the National Park Service said. She survived.

The 56-year-old man lost his balance and one of his hiking companions, a 45-year-old woman, grabbed him and both fell off the summit ridge.

A 56-year-old California man fell 500 feet to his death on a Memorial Day hike in Sequoia National Park.

A Mount Whitney hiker who went missing as a late-season storm swept through the Sierra Nevada last week was found alive during the weekend.

That shows how dry the area still is, said one official. With drought conditions dire across the West, AccuWeather predicts another above-average wildfire season this year.

That shows how dry the area still is, said one official. With drought conditions dire across the West, AccuWeather predicts another above-average wildfire season this year.

A giant sequoia has been found smoldering and smoking in a part of Sequoia National Park that burned in one of California’s huge wildfires last year.

Wikimedia CommonsTHREE RIVERS, Calif. - "S O S" spelled out with rocks saved a woman missing in a national park for days, according to a release from the National Park Service. Mary Joanna Gomez, 56, was found alive and safe in Sequoia National Park after her disappearance sparked a major search operation, the release said. On October 23, her day off, she visited Kings Canyon National Park, and the next day she texted her daughter pictures of the scenery, the release said. A search began, with the National Park Service placing her in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park on Saturday morning, according to the release. Search teams, search dogs and aircraft all took part in the effort.