Reuters
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NOS News•today, 02:05
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The wildfire at Yosemite National Park in the US state of California continues to spread. More than 4800 hectares of nature reserve is now on fire, making the Oak Fire the largest fire of this season.
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More than 6,000 people have been evacuated from the area, several roads have been closed and the fire threatens some 2,000 buildings, according to firefighters. So far, no deaths or injuries have been reported. The governor of California has declared a state of emergency in the area.
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The fire broke out Friday afternoon and has since grown six times in size. The high temperatures, drought and low humidity contribute to the strong expansion of the conflagration.
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More than 400 firefighters were deployed to fight the fire. They use helicopters, fire-fighting planes and bulldozers, among other things. So far, the fire has not been brought under control.
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Giant trees
The southwestern United States has been battling wildfires for some time now. Nearly two weeks ago, a major fire raged in Yosemite Park itself. The fire then approached the edge of Mariposa Grove, which is home to over 500 redwoods. Many of these giant trees are thousands of years old.
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The fire brigade eventually managed to save the trees.
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