World's oldest trees threatened by Silver fire in California's Inyo and Mono counties. Blaze is still 0% contained

Summer Lin and Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times on Mar 31, 2025

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LOS ANGELES — The Silver fire in Inyo and Mono counties continued to burn Monday, scorching 1,250 acres, spurring evacuations and threatening some of the oldest living organisms in the world.

The vegetation-fueled blaze was first reported at 2:11 p.m. Sunday at Highway 6 and Silver Canyon Road north of Bishop, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

The fire then jumped the highway and was threatening “multiple structures,” Cal Fire BDU said in a post on X.

Evacuation orders are in effect for the communities of Laws in Inyo County, Chalfant in Mono County and the White Mountain Estates neighborhood, according to Cal Fire. The fire was still 0% contained as of Monday morning.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to the oldest trees in the world, is in the White Mountains, about 20 miles east of Bishop, and is threatened by the fire, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Chloe Castillo. So far, none have been destroyed in the blaze.

Some of these trees are more than 4,000 years old and still growing, dating to the Bronze Age. The forest includes the Methuselah Tree, which may be the oldest living organism on Earth. In an effort to protect the tree, the U.S. Forest Service does not disclose its exact location.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for Laws in Inyo County, Chalfant in Mono County, and the White Mountain Estates neighborhood.

Air and ground resources have been significantly increased to support suppression efforts. However, strong winds — gusting up to 35 mph at Bishop Airport — continue to create challenges, grounding some firefighting aircraft and complicating containment operations. A High Wind Warning is in effect through 9 p.m. PDT, with southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 65 mph expected.

The fire intensified overnight because of the terrain and strong winds, Cal Fire said. Winds were gusting up to 35 mph at the Bishop Airport. The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning through 9 p.m. Monday. Southwest winds were expected to range between 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 65 mph.

The Highway 6 northbound and southbound was temporarily closed from Five Bridges Road to State Route 120 East in Benton but reopened at 6:40 a.m. Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

“Please be aware this is still an active fire zone with first responders and their equipment moving throughout the area,” said the CHP in a post. “Stay safe.”

Officials established an evacuation center at the Bishop Senior Center, at 682 Spruce St., with animal evacuations at TriCounty Fair Grounds, at 475 Sierra St. in Bishop, according to Cal Fire.

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