FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Crews are battling a wildfire that has shut down part of Yosemite National Park and now has closed the Highway 41 entrance to the park.
The Washburn Fire is spreading quickly near the lower Mariposa Grove and has burned 466 acres as of 5 p.m. Friday.
A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the community of Wawona and Wawona Campground.
The Highway 41 entrance to the park is now closed, so Wawona evacuees will have to head north to Yosemite Valley.
Update: Mandatory evacuation order for Wawona & Wawona Campground community due to Washburn fire. Please leave the area immediately. Wawona Road (Hwy 41) is open in both directions. See the map at https://t.co/p599c2GrqV
— Caltrans District 10 (@CaltransDist10) July 8, 2022
Shelter is available at Mariposa New Life Church located at 5089 Cole Road.
Park officials say Mariposa Grove and Mariposa Grove Road are closed until further notice.
The fire sent smoke into the sky over Yosemite on Friday, a sight visitors described as eerie. Many continued their vacations, but it was not the typical Yosemite experience.
“You come out here in nature to get away from the hustle and bustle, and there are airplanes flying, there are helicopters,” said Dennis and Shelley Farrington, who were visiting from Arizona.
Authorities say the first call came in just after 2 p.m. Thursday.
Crews went into action with a full initial attack, working through the night.
On Thursday and Friday, hundreds of firefighters on the ground cut lines and planes in the air dropped retardant, all to contain the flames.
National Park Service crews were also out bagging the towering Sequoia trees, hoping to protect them from flames if the fire moved closer.
Park officials warned motorists not to be distracted by the smoke.
“We’ve got wildlife and we’ve got people everywhere — just really watch the speed limits, look for firefighters, look for equipment, look for animals in the road and just be safe,” said Yosemite Fire Communications Specialist Nancy Phillip.
Authorities say the cause of the fire is under investigation.
NOTE: The video above is from an earlier story and will be updated.
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