- The Washington Times - Friday, August 23, 2013

A massive wildfire raging across California lapped inside Yosemite National Park on Friday, forcing forestry officers to shut a key road used by tourists.

The fire – dubbed the Rim Fire – has already destroyed nearly 106,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Bjorn Frederickson said, in CNN. But more acreage is poised for destruction. The fire is only two percent contained, he said.

And now flames have jumped inside one the nation’s most popular tourist and vacationing destinations. They’re so far contained to a remote wilderness section of the park – but smoke might be a factor for visitors, Mr. Frederickson said, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, Forest Service workers shut down a road into the park, forcing drivers to instead take a detour route that sends them a half-hour out of their way.

Mr. Frederickson said the area of Yosemite that’s currently burning is located about eight miles inside the park, just north of a site near Lake Eleanor called Camp Mather.

 

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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