Sequoia Forest / LoRa Photography

2016© LoRa Photography

The Giant sequoia species has five major requirements for continued survival : sunlight, soil, water, air, and fire. Fire creates opening in the forest canopy through which sunlight reaches the forest floor. These trees are fertilized by the ashes, rich in mineral salts that dissolve in water and are easily absorbed by plants roots. Fire sterilizes the soil, killing insects, fungi, and other disease organisms. Heat from fire cause sequoia cones to dry out and scatter seeds. Unlike their cousins of coastal California, sequoias begin life only from seeds.