The Big Basin Redwoods State Park headquarters and visitor center was one of the buildings destroyed by a fire that engulfed a 118-year-old California state park. The Big Basin, the oldest state park in California, was severely damaged by a large fire. The flames of the fire, called the CZU Lightning Complex, engulfed the area's famous historic buildings.

Famous redwoods

While the greatest concerns aroused the famous redwoods - not to mention further life in the wild - it was man-made buildings that withstood the onslaught of flames the most. All the infrastructure of the park was destroyed, including the wooden headquarters building. Some other buildings were also reduced to ashes, such as the gatehouse, game preserve and nature museum. It is the headquarters building that will probably be missing the most. This iconic building, built by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Monuments.

The Big Basin Redwoods State Park itself was first opened in 1902. The popular park is "home to the largest continuous growth of ancient coastal redwoods south of San Francisco." It covers more than 18 acres in Santa Cruz County and is full of mammoth redwoods - some of which are 000 feet high with a trunk circumference of about 300 feet and have been growing here since before the Roman Empire.

The trees suffered an intense onslaught

The area was engulfed in fire and the surrounding trees suffered an intense onslaught. Mercury News reports that "dozens of trees near the center of the park burned in the crowns, the tops of which completely burned or broke." The Santa Cruz Sentinel notes, "Several massive trees near the headquarters building were still glowing red from the heat inside their trunks."

Redwoods, the tallest growing trees, can defend themselves against fire quite well. Their bark grows to a thickness of about one foot, which means that the older and larger the tree, the better it is protected. The Smithsonian writes: “It acts as a barrier that prevents fire from accessing the vital core that delivers nutrients. So while some trees are doomed if their fires burn their crowns, redwoods have buds under their bark, from which new leaves sprout after a fire. ”But that doesn't mean they are indestructible. Many redwoods survived, but some burned the trunk and collapsed.

Redwoods can regenerate very quickly

The good news is that these natural skyscrapers can regenerate very well. The Magazine reports that "researchers at San Jose State University monitored the survival rate of redwoods after the lightning fires in 2008 and 2009 and found that nearly 90 percent of redwood burns survived." According to the latest reports, this is also the case with Big Basin Park. .

Fires called the CZU August Lightning complex swept through the 118-year-old Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the oldest in California. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Santa Cruz District Park Attorney Chris Spohrer said in the Sentinel that it is "too early to report the extent of long-term damage to these trees." The Big Basin is considered the American home of redwoods, or "Sequoioideae." Not only was it the first California state park to open in 1902, but it also created the idea of ​​caring for trees for future generations. Redwoods have been growing here for thousands of years.

Referring to the park's website, The Magazine states: "Native American tribes farmed the land in the Big Basin for at least 10 years before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 000th century." Their ancient knowledge of how to feed trees, the authorities are only consulted. Leaving aside the fires, the redwoods faced danger from the lumberjack axes and almost became extinct during the gold rush.

The LNU and SCU Lightning Complex fires are the second largest fire in California history.

This last threat to the California wilderness came from heaven. CNN states: "There have been approximately 12 lightning strikes that have caused 000 fires in the state in the last week alone." It is estimated that 585 people have lost their lives and more than 4 firefighters are constantly fighting the flames. So far, more than one million acres have faced the fire. The LNU and SCU Lightning Complex fires are the third and second largest fires in California's history, respectively. CNN quoted intervention commander Sean Kavanaugh as saying, "If you try to eliminate both of these events at the same time, it speaks for itself. It shows how big things have happened in the state in the last week."

The sad aftermath of a fire in a state park. This is what the historic park management building now looks like. (Photo: Randy Vazquez / MediaNews Group / The Mercury News via Getty Images)

Sentinel quotes Save the Redwoods League President Sam Hodder as saying of the loss of historic buildings in Big Basin State Park: What parks mean to our communities is just heartbreaking. ”

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