Photos Show Extensive Wildfire Damage in the Big Basin Redwoods State Park
With news of wildfire damage to the Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Thursday, there was plenty of discussion as to how much destruction was actually done to the park. As CalFire officials and photojournalists were allowed to enter the area, they were able to show the extent of the damage.
On Thursday afternoon, a photo showed that the visitors center in the park had been completely destroyed by the CZU Lightning Complex Fire:
On Friday, State Park officials shared another photo of the park’s headquarters, showing nothing left from the fire:
Along with the parks visitor center and HQ, there were also cabins destroyed in the fire:
One of several (maybe all by now) cabins that burned at American Conservation Experience camp near Big Basin Redwoods State Park pic.twitter.com/YigwplJVBQ
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
So we know the State Park buildings had been destroyed, but what about the redwoods? Photojournalists were allowed to enter the park on Friday and snapped photos of the trees damaged by the fire. Some remained standing, while other perished in the flames. Here are some photos documenting the damage from Ethan Baron:
Small redwoods survived fire on edge of Big Basin park, fate of big trees in park interior is ??? pic.twitter.com/ykuv0bMjPE
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 20, 2020
More redwoods near Big Basin park, appear to have made it but as Mercury News environment reporter @PaulRogersSJMN points out, fire prevention for years means lots of fuel that could threaten even fire-resistant redwoods including ancient ones in park interior pic.twitter.com/U02iSNLLlS
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 20, 2020
Fire climbing up redwood bark near Big Basin park pic.twitter.com/61YQi2xnkW
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
Vast majority of giant redwoods in center of Big Basin Redwoods State Park scorched but still standing pic.twitter.com/iWmnPNiqcO
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
This huge redwood just before Big Basin Redwoods State Park HQ didn’t make it pic.twitter.com/KHQlwyD2AT
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
Some redwoods in Big Basin Redwoods State Park we’re burning in their hearts and seemed doomed to fall pic.twitter.com/pLsIOtaKdT
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
Another burning heart at Big Basin Redwoods State Park pic.twitter.com/Fj0BFXxBz2
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
Big Basin Redwoods State Park devastation pic.twitter.com/2gzGLlS5DY
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
Two fallen redwoods in Big Basin Redwoods State Park pic.twitter.com/MJvzjeMAqn
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
Big Basin Redwoods State Park HQ pic.twitter.com/T4GPWSfWkK
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
My heart is broken to see the majestic old trees burning, but as a Biologist and a member of a fire fighting family I know how much has changed in the science of fire resilience in the Western Forest. This area hasn’t burned in a very long time, the build up of the understory leads to intense fires now. all the Best Big Basin,