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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 11 July 2022
Yosemite fire grows as crews protect iconic sequoias

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK,
Calif. (AP) — A wildfire
threatening the largest
grove of giant sequoias
in Yosemite National Park
more than doubled in size
in a day, and firefighters
were working in difficult ter-
rain Sunday to protect the
iconic trees and a small
mountain town.
Campers and residents
near the blaze were evac-
uated but the rest of the
sprawling park in California
remained open, though
heavy smoke obscured
scenic vistas and created
unhealthy air quality.
"Today it's actually the
smokiest that we've seen,"
Nancy Phillipe, a Yosemite
fire information spokesper-
son, said Sunday.
"Up until this morning, the
park has not been in that
unhealthy category, but
that is where we are now."
More than 500 mature se-
quoias were threatened in
the famed Mariposa Grove The Washburn Fire burns in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Friday, July 8, 2022.
but there were no reports Associated Press
of severe damage to any
named trees, including the na, which is surrounded by vice in Hanford. had been wrapped in fire- ural spark for the fire that
3,000-year-old Grizzly Gi- parkland, was under threat, The giant sequoias, native resistant foil for protection, broke out Thursday next to
ant. A sprinkler system set with people ordered to in only about 70 groves but she corrected herself the park's Washburn Trail,
up within the grove kept leave late Friday. spread along the western on Sunday and said that Phillipe said.
the tree trunks moist and In addition to residents, slope of California's Sierra was not the case for this Smoke was reported by
officials were hopeful that about 600 to 700 campers Nevada range, were once fire. However, crews have visitors walking in the grove
the steady spray of water who were staying at the considered impervious to wrapped a historic cabin in that reopened in 2018 af-
along with previous pre- Wawona campground in flames but have become the protective foil, she said. ter a $40 million renovation
scribed burns would be tents, cabins and a histor- increasingly vulnerable as Lightning-sparked wildfires that took three years.
enough to keep flames at ic hotel were ordered to wildfires fueled by a build- over the past two years A fierce windstorm ripped
bay, Phillipe said. leave. Temperatures were up of undergrowth from a have killed up to a fifth of through the grove over a
The cause of the Washburn expected rise and reach century of fire suppression the estimated 75,000 large year ago and toppled 15
Fire was under investiga- the lower 90s in the coming and drought exacerbated sequoias, which are the giant sequoias, along with
tion. It had grown to nearly days, but fire crews working by climate change have biggest trees by volume countless other trees.
2.5 square miles (6.7 square in steep terrain were not become more intense and and a major draw for tour- The downed trees, along
kilometers) by Sunday contending with intense destructive. ists to the national park with massive numbers of
morning, with no contain- winds, said Jeffrey Barlow, Phillipe, the park spokes- that's the size of the state of pines killed by bark beetles,
ment. Beyond the trees, senior meteorologist with person, previously said Rhode Island. provided ample fuel for the
the community of Wawo- the National Weather Ser- some of the massive trunks There was no obvious nat- flames. q

Clotilda descendants mark anniversary of last slave ship

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Descendants the descendants made their way load of enslaved people across the people inside that cargo hold.
of the last African people ab- to the banks of the Mobile River the ocean. "Today is the day that, Very soon, we're going to stop talk-
ducted into slavery and brought near Alabama's coast. A wreath of 162 years ago, 110 enslaved Afri- ing about the ship as much as we
to America's shores gathered over white, yellow and red flowers was cans were brought to this country talk about the people. Because
the weekend on the banks of an carried into the river by a kayaker against their will for the purpose of the stories of the people are what
Alabama river to pay tribute to and released into the waters. satisfying a bet," said Darron Pat- matter," he told al.com.
their ancestors. In 1860, the Clotilda illegally trans- terson, president of the Clotilda The "landing" ceremony was held
The descendants of the 110 people ported 110 people from what is Descendants Association, told near the bridge to the Africatown
aboard the Clotilda, the last known now the west African nation of Be- al.com. The discovery of the rem- community founded by Clotilda
slave ship to bring enslaved African nin to Mobile, Alabama. The voy- nants of the Clotilda sparked re- survivors after the Civil War.
people to the United States, held a age happened decades after the newed interest in its saga. But Pat- "Proud of my heritage. I'd like to
ceremony to mark the anniversary law banning the importation of terson said the focus should be on say even more so proud of the resil-
of the vessel's arrival. slaves had taken effect when a the people it carried. ience and the legacy that they left
Dressed in white and walking slow- wealthy plantation owner made "The ship was pure evil. It was a behind," descendant Ronald Ellis Jr
ly to the beat of an African drum, a bet he he could smuggle a ship- vessel of evil. The real story was told FOX10.q