In August 1967, this giant sequoia was struck by lightning. The
top 25' of the tree shattered and caught on fire. Although lightning-caused
fires are a natural part of the sequoia forest, the California
Tree is right next to a trail which hundreds of visitors walk
every day. The Park Service decided that the smoke, burning embers
and possible falling branches were a safety hazard, and that the
fire needed to be put out. Park forester Charlie Castro climbed
a fir tree adjacent to the giant sequoia, then traversed a rope
stretched between the two trees and ascended to a place where
he could extinguish the fire with a hose!
