Prescribed Burns Key to Saving Giant Sequoias from Deadly Wildfires

July 26, 2026

Recent extreme wildfires have killed thousands of ancient giant sequoias, but a new study shows that prescribed burns can significantly increase their survival rates. Researchers analyzed about 26,400 trees and found those in treated areas were nearly four times more likely to survive.

Giant sequoias are naturally adapted to handle ordinary fires, but the intensity of recent wildfires has overwhelmed these natural defenses. The study suggests that controlled burns could prevent thousands of deaths if implemented across all groves.

The ecological importance of giant sequoias cannot be overstated; they play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Their preservation is vital for maintaining healthy forest ecosystems, which are under increasing threat from climate change.

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The best way to save giant sequoias may be more fire

Giant sequoias are built to withstand ordinary fires, but recent extreme wildfires killed thousands of trees that had survived for centuries or even millennia. A new analysis of about 26,400 sequoias found that trees in areas treated with prescribed burns were nearly four times more likely to survive. Researchers estimate the controlled fires prevented about 1,900 deaths and could have saved thousands more if used across every grove.