UPDATE: The Washburn Fire started spreading near the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and has burned 4,261 acres with 23% containment as of Wednesday night.
That includes Forest Routes 5S43, 5S06 , 5S22 and 5S37.The forest service says the closures will help firefighters get resources to and from the fire and also keep the public safe.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but during a community meeting on Monday night, Yosemite's park superintendent said it appears to have been started by humans. Concerns are growing as are the resources being dedicated to fight the fire on the ground and from the air. More than 1,000 firefighting personnel are currently working, having been called in from across California.Some of those crews are dedicated to helping protect the towering Giant Sequoia trees.
A sprinkler system set up within the grove is keeping their trunks moist and officials say that the steady spray of water along with previous prescribed burns has kept the flames at bay so far., which shows the heat generated by the fire, shows it spreading north and east, towards the wilderness areas of the park.
Preparing for fire: The Grizzly Giant is the most renowned giant sequoia in Yosemite National Park. Standing at 209 feet it is the second largest tree in the Yosemite, and one of the most photographed.The Grizzly Giant is in the Mariposa Grove impacted by the Washburn Fire.
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