While devastating wildfires killed thousands of giant sequoia trees in 2020 and 2021, thousands more would have died without prescribed burns over the previous decade. Researchers at UC Davis reported in a new study that the giant sequoias treated with prescribed burns had a much higher chance of survival than untreated trees. The study found that prescribed burns conducted within the previous decade reduced the odds of death by around 77%. The prescribed burns ultimately saved around 1,900 sequoias, and 3,900 more trees could have been saved had every tree been treated. “If the goal is protecting giant sequoias, prescribed fire is an essential tool available to managers.”