USA State of California Carstens region, Yosemite National Park Situation An out-of-control wildfire was threatening more than 2,000 houses, hotels and camp buildings near Yosemite National Park, leading to the evacuation of remote rural homes and camps, and cutting off a key highway. In three days, the fire has destroyed two residences and five outbuildings, and about 2,500 structures were under threat in the nearby community of Groveland, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jerry Snyder said Tuesday. However, the wildfire that has burned nearly 16 square miles wasn't yet near enough to the town of 3,500 people to bring mandatory evacuations, Snyder said. About 200 senior citizens and a few dozen staffers evacuated from Camp Mather, which is owned and operated by the city of San Francisco as a public getaway for city families and was hosting a special week for the group, city parks officials said. Several camps outside Yosemite have evacuated since the fire started Saturday for unknown reasons in the Stanislaus National Forest. The fire has also forced a few dozen people to leave the tiny community of Buck Meadows.State Route 120 was shut down in both directions for a 4-mile stretch, blocking traffic in and out of Yosemite on its west side, but the park remained open to visitors via state Routes 140 and 4. The fire was burning in remote, steep, difficult-to-reach terrain with no containment lines. About 450 firefighters were working the blaze, along with water-dropping planes.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:09:29 +0000