Authorities have sent evacuation orders as a wildfire bears down on a foothill community near Yosemite National Park in Central California.
Fire officials said on Tuesday morning that the blaze in Madera County had destroyed eight structures and was threatening 500 others. It isn't clear how many of those structures are homes, but officials said mandatory evacuation orders had gone out to some 13,000 phone numbers for homes and businesses.
The fire has burned through about 1,200 acres.
Four hotels in the community of Oakhurst about 16 miles away from an entrance to Yosemite were evacuated and Tuesday classes have been canceled for most of the Yosemite Unified School District.
The fire was burning near a propane business with 30,000 gallon tanks on site, but the Modesto Bee reports the tanks were spared and the threat to them was brief.
Updates: Cal Fire and Madera County Sheriff's Office
Evacuations are in effect for the following areas: Mandatory
- Road 620 between Highway 41 and Lone Oak Lane
- Jean Road East, Jean Road West, Scott Road and Taylor Mountain
- All residence and business between Highway 41 North from Road 426 to Road 620
Advisory
- Sky Ranch Road, and the community of Cedar Valley
- Evacuation Shelters:
- Yosemite Lakes Community Church, 43840 Patrick, Coarsegold CA
- Coarsegold Community Center, 35540 Highway 41, Coarsegold CA
Road Closures:
- Highway 41 from Road 426 to Road 620
- Road 222 from Highway 41 to Road 274
School Closures:
- All Schools along Road 427(School Road) Oakhurst
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