Yosemite fire grows as crews protect iconic sequoias

It's considered the most renowned giant sequoia in Yosemite National Park: the grizzly giant, and it's now being threatened by fire, along with an iconic grove of trees nearby.

Standing at a solid 209 feet tall, it's the second-largest tree there and one of the most photographed, but it's in danger right now along with other giant sequoias, as the Washburn fire continues to burn.

Firefighters are working from the air and the ground to fight back the flames and protect the forest.

A Firefighter from Yosemite Fire and Aviation says how they've set up a sprinkler system set up around the grizzly giant in hopes of trying to prevent the fire. They say they want to make sure the tree is protected. Increasing the relative humidity will decrease the fire behavior around this tree.

The fire started Thursday and communities and campgrounds in the area have been evacuated since then.

More than one thousand six hundred acres have already been scorched with high temperatures and humidity working against firefighters.