Wildfire near Yosemite National Park is spreading in a vast area

Wildfire near Yosemite National Park is spreading in a vast area. 

Firefighters were working in challenging terrain on Sunday to safeguard the famous trees and a tiny mountain village from a wildfire threatening the biggest grove of giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park.

According to media Sacramento, it increased by around 400 acres overnight and is currently thought to be 1,591 acres as of Sunday am.

While the remainder of the vast park in California remained open despite thick smoke obscuring stunning views and causing hazardous air quality, campers and people close to the fire were evacuated.

According to Nancy Phillipe, a Yosemite fire information spokesman, “today it’s the smokiest that we’ve seen.” “The park was not in that harmful category until this morning, but that is where we are today.”

More than 500 mature sequoias were in danger in the renowned Mariposa Grove. 

However, no recognized trees, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant, were reported to have suffered major damage.

According to Phillipe, the grove’s sprinkler system kept the tree trunks damp, and authorities hoped that the combination of past planned fires and the continuous stream of water would be sufficient to stave off flames.

The Washburn Fire’s origin was still being looked into. By Sunday morning, it had expanded to about 2.5 square miles (6.7 square kilometers), with no control.

Beyond the trees, the Wawona neighborhood, encircled by parks, was in danger; residents were told to flee late Friday. 

In addition to inhabitants, some 600 to 700 campers who were residing in tents, cottages, and a historic hotel at the Wawona park were also asked to leave.

According to Jeffrey Barlow, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford, temperatures were likely to climb in the following days and reach the lower 90s, firefighters operating in high terrain were not expected to face strong winds.