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A strong and fast-moving wildfire broke out in Mariposa County, California this weekend, burning 6,550 acres and threatening Yosemite National Park.

The Oak Fire started on Friday evening in the town of Midpines in Mariposa County and destroyed 10 structures overnight. The sprawling bush fire is now threatening 2,000 more structures, including some of the world’s oldest giant sequoia trees.

The fire was zero percent contained as of Saturday morning, spreading as much as 10.2 square miles and prompting an immediate evacaution of 6,000 people. 400 firefighters and multiple water-hose helicopters are working to contain the flames.

Oak Fire sparks massive Pyrocumulus cloud

The heat of the fires generated a spectacular and scary Pyrocumulus cloud on Friday evening that could be seen from the Bay Area.

There’s still no word yet on what sparked the fire in what could be an ominous warning signaling the start of a more destructive wildfire season.

Rapid pyrocumulus cloud development has taken place on the #OakFire near Mariposa in the last 15 minutes as the fire continues to spread at a critical rate.

The Yosemite area and surrounding Sierra foothills have just been killed by wildfire over the last decade. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/YrOzPHPJvB
— US StormWatch (@US_Stormwatch) July 22, 2022

#OakFire continuing to show rapid growth and extreme fire behavior, unfortunately in a region with subdivisions nestled in the foothills amid dense vegetation. Fairly significant pyrocumulus cloud already building, with tops to ~25,000 feet. #CAwx #CAfire https://t.co/HGKZEgxRFj pic.twitter.com/X8bw2hoeFc
— Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) July 22, 2022

The Hyperion, located in the Redwood Park of Northern California, is the world’s tallest living tree. The tree stands at a height of 380.3 feet and is approximately 700-800 years old.

To put that in perspective, the tree is nearly 70 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty and 63 feet higher than Big Ben. Even a pine cone from the tree is triple the size.

Hyperion: The world's tallest living tree — via @kowalskijanpl/tw

Forestry researchers Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor discovered the redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) in 2006 — astonishing to think it took that long given the tree’s gigantic stature. However, the exact location is still a well-guarded secret.

The foliage is characteristic of that found in arid environments due to the plumbing challenges of drawing water up the tree.

The Paradox tree located in Redwood Humbolts Park is due to pass the Hyperion tree in height by the year 2031.

Interesting side note: the world’s largest complete fossilized tree (237 feet long) lies in Thailand.