Satellite imagery shows how close the flames of California's ongoing KNP Complex Fire were to General Sherman over the weekend, the largest and one of the oldest trees in the world. 
The giant sequoia sits close to the current eastern perimeter of the 23,700+-acre wildfire, which began on September 10.
Firefighters have taken extra steps to protect the approx 2,200-year-old tree by wrapping its base with a massive fireproof aluminum blanket—a practice common in much of the state's fire-prone areas.
Giant sequoias have adapted to fire and heat over millennia, and such blazes can actually be beneficial for the trees and their ecosystem, as the fires cause trees to release seeds that allow for new growth.
However, recent wildfire seasons have gotten more frequent and more intense, threatening the trees.
Fire services estimate the KNP Complex Fire could be contained by October 10, according to InciWeb, an online wildfire monitoring system.
Fire services estimate the KNP Complex Fire could be contained by October 10, according to InciWeb, an online wildfire monitoring system.
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