The largest wildfire in California so far this year has burned precious Joshua trees, a prominent cultural symbol once vital for indigenous people to weave into baskets and sandals and still an important part of the Mojave Desert ecosystem.
and was 34% contained as of Thursday, Calfire said.The fire has damaged a diverse ecosystem and killed an unknown number of Joshua trees, which also gained international fame from the U2 album "The Joshua Tree" released in 1987.
The fire has scorched the Mojave National Preserve but has not entered the better-known Joshua Tree National Park, which is about 60 miles away and receives about 3 million visitors a year. The Mojave National Preserve receives less than a third that many visitors. "There is obviously tremendous damage to the landscape. ... It's sort of a torched moonscape appearance," said Mike Gauthier, superintendent of the Mojave National Preserve. "Some of them will completely be ravaged. Joshua Tree isn't the most durable species, so it'll die."The trees are protected by the state of California and have captured public imagination, in part because of their sharply pointed leaves and hairy bark.
Known scientifically as Yucca brevifolia, they are a member of the Agave family, according to the National Park Service. "A lot of people connect with them when they see them. They have a very special habitat, so I think it's special when folks get to interact with them," said Sasha Travaglio, a spokesperson for Joshua Tree National Park.
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