Iconic Old Growth Redwood Toppled In Marin Blaze: CA Parks

MARIN COUNTY, CA — An iconic, old growth redwood tree was toppled Thursday in a vegetation blaze at Samuel P. Taylor Park, the California Department of Parks and Recreation said Friday.

The 200-foot Pioneer Tree was one of the park’s few remaining old growth coastal redwoods. It had been hollowed out by previous wildfires, but its root system was nourished by a younger generations of redwoods.

“State Parks is devastated by the loss of this much beloved redwood tree,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero said in a statement.

“I saw the collapsed tree in person and know how much it pains all of us who treasure these ancient giants who have lived thousands of years.”

The fire was reported around 11:25 a.m. Marin County Fire Department contained the fire to approximately a ½ acre with no threat of further spread.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and remains under investigation. The good news is that no evacuations at the park were needed, no campers were impacted, and no one was injured. For the latest updates on this incident visit here.