A fire that consumed a centuries-old redwood in Samuel P. Taylor State Park was human-caused and probably the result of illegal camping, officials said. Last Thursday just before noon, Marin County firefighters and state park rangers responded to a blaze engulfing the Pioneer Tree, an 800-year-old landmark that was one of the largest old-growth redwoods in Marin. By the afternoon, firefighters had the flames under control, but the tree, a 200-foot giant ringed by smaller redwoods, had toppled. 

The tree was a seedling in the 13th century, when only Coast Miwok people inhabited the area, and it predated Sir Francis Drake’s landing at Point Reyes by around 300 years. Experts say that old-growth redwoods historically burned every 10 to 25 years, including as part of Indigenous cultural burns, and the fire suppression practices of the last century have made forests less healthy and resilient. 

During its long lifespan, the Pioneer Tree burned many times, and its interior had long been hollow and black. A healthy root system kept it standing, but recently, its drought-stricken condition made it vulnerable. 

Marin County Fire chief Jason Weber said there was evidence of camp cooking or heating nearby. “Redwoods are highly tolerant of fire and generally do quite well,” Chief Weber said. “Unfortunately, with persistent drought, our heavier fuels are very stressed and don’t have the moisture to protect themselves.”