I’m forever astounded by the natural diversity in California. It’s been a few years since I’ve visited Kings and Sequoia National Parks, and standing beneath these giants is just as mind-blowing as when I was a kid.
There were two sequoias near General Sherman where the trail led right through them and you were able to touch the bark. It was so unexpectedly soft, fuzzy textured and springy to the touch. Absolutely loved it, will have to come back and camp beneath these giants some day.
I don’t know about whether giant sequioas promote fire, but they are part of the natural fire ecology.
They can’t grow without fire that clears away underbrush, and the heat pops open their seed cones so the seedlings can absorb sunlight in the fire cleared ground.
Natural fires are usually slow smoldering events, not the crazy wildfires of recent years which is due to government mismanagement of the forests that allowed too much underbrush and fuel to build up.
But climate change is also having a big effect by killing trees, which creates more dead wood fuel.
So less arsonists than… fire beneficiaries? By taking up space that’s not going to be growing more flammable trees, I think they actually temper the fires a bit.