California fires may have killed hundreds of giant sequoias

Flames burn up a giant tree as part of the Windy Fire in the Trail of 100 Giants grove in Sequoia National Forest (AP)

Northern California’s wildfires may have killed hundreds of giant sequoia trees as the blazes swept through groves in the Sierra Nevada, officials said.

The lightning-sparked KNP Complex fire that erupted on September 9 has burned into 15 giant sequoia groves, according to Christy Brigham, head of resource management and science for Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.