California: A wildfire near Yosemite National Park in California took a formidable form on Saturday, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes and move to safer places. This is the worst fire in the forests of California this year. Due to this, electricity had to be cut for more than 2,000 homes and industries.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the fire broke out Friday afternoon in the southwest area of the national park near the town of Midpines in Mariposa County, and by Saturday it has spread to an area of about 48 square kilometers. Sierra National Forest spokesman Daniel Patterson said more than 6,000 people living in a sparsely populated rural area were ordered to leave their homes on Saturday and move to safer places. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County on Saturday due to wildfires.
Patterson said more than 400 firefighters were trying to douse the blaze and that helicopters, other aircraft and bulldozers were also being used. As of Saturday morning, the fire had destroyed 10 residential and commercial buildings, damaged five others, and threatened more than 2,000 buildings, the California Fire Department said. Climate change has increased the incidence of forest fires in California in recent years.
