Emergency declared as wildfire erupts near Yosemite

Wawona, California: A fast-moving brush fire near Yosemite National Park exploded in size into one of California’s largest wildfires of the year, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people and shutting off power to more than 2000 homes and businesses.

The Oak Fire started on Friday afternoon south-west of the park near the town of Midpines in Mariposa County and by Saturday (US time) had grown to nearly 48 square kilometres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. It erupted as firefighters made progress against an earlier blaze that burned to the edge of a grove of giant sequoias in the southernmost part of Yosemite park.

High winds cause tree canopies to flare up as a wildfire burns east of Midpines in Mariposa County, California on Friday, July 22.Credit: AP

Evacuation orders were put in effect for over 6000 people living across a several-mile span in the sparsely populated, rural area, said Daniel Patterson, a spokesman for the Sierra National Forest.

Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Mariposa County due to the effects of the Oak Fire.

More than 400 firefighters were battling the blaze, along with helicopters, other aircraft and bulldozers, facing tough conditions that included hot weather, low humidity and bone-dry vegetation caused by the worst drought in decades, Patterson said.

“Explosive fire behaviour is challenging firefighters,” Cal Fire said in a statement that described the Oak Fire’s activity as “extreme with frequent runs, spot fires and group torching.”

A home is engulfed in flames as the Oak Fire burns in Mariposa County, California on Saturday.Credit: AP

By Saturday morning, the fire had destroyed 10 residential and commercial structures, damaged five others and was threatening 2000 more structures, Cal Fire said. The blaze prompted numerous road closures, including a shutdown of Highway 140 between Carstens Road and Allred Road – blocking one of the main routes into Yosemite.

California has experienced increasingly larger and deadlier wildfires in recent years as climate change has made the West much warmer and drier over the past 30 years. Scientists have said weather will continue to be more extreme and wildfires more frequent, destructive and unpredictable.

“The fire is moving quickly. This fire was throwing embers out in front of itself for up to 2 miles [3.5 kilometres] yesterday,” Patterson said. “These are exceptional fire conditions.” The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Pacific Gas & Electric said on its website that more than 2600 homes and businesses in the area had lost power as of Friday afternoon and there was no indication when it would be restored. “PG&E is unable to access the affected equipment,” the utility said.

US firefighters stand along Triangle Road watching a wildfire called the Oak Fire burn east of Midpines near Yosemite National Park in California.Credit: AP

A shoeless older man attempting to flee the blaze on Friday crashed his sedan into a ditch in a closed area and was helped by firefighters. He was safely driven from the area and did not appear to suffer any injuries. Several other residents stayed in their homes as the fire burned nearby.

Meanwhile, firefighters have made significant progress against a wildfire that began in Yosemite National Park and burned into the Sierra National Forest.

The Washburn Fire was 79 per cent contained on Friday after burning about 19.4 square kilometres of forest. It was one of the largest fires of the year in California, along with the Lost Lake Fire in Riverside County that was fully contained in June at 23 square kilometres.

The fire broke out July 7 and forced the closure of the southern entrance to Yosemite and evacuation of the community of Wawona as it burned on the edge of Mariposa Grove, home to hundreds of giant sequoias, the world’s largest trees by volume.

Wawona Road is tentatively set to reopen, according to the park website.

Greece’s fire service was fighting four major fires across the country on Sunday, including one where they had to evacuate over 450 people at an island holiday resort.

A fire that broke out on Saturday on the island of Lesbos prompted authorities to call for the evacuation of the Vatera resort on the island’s southern side. The fire came very close to the resort and at least one house was engulfed by the flames.

Greece’s biggest fire was burning in the north-east near the border with Τurkey for the third day running, inside a national forest that is the home to rare species, especially vultures. The Dadia national forest is mostly made up of highly flammable pine trees.

AP