AP
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NOS News•today, 03:45
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The area burning in Yosemite National Park has more than doubled in size over the weekend.
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On Sunday, the fire had set fire to some 260 hectares of forest on the south side of the park. Friday this was still area of 100 hectares.
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No redwoods have been lost so far, a spokesman for the park told Reuters news agency. Some of those giant trees are more than 3000 years old. They can reach 85 meters in height with a circumference of 8 meters.
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Firefighters have taken measures to protect them, such as removing undergrowth and installing sprinklers to dampen the area around the trees.
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Smoke and soot
About 1,600 people have been evacuated, the spokesman said. Authorities warn that air quality has reached unhealthy levels in large parts of the park. Due to the fire, there is a lot of smoke and soot, even in parts of the park that are still accessible.
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As far as is known, no injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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