Second fire near Yosemite has already destroyed some 6,300 hectares

Washington, Jul 24 (EFE).- A fire unleashed near Yosemite park in the United States, after the one declared at the beginning of the month, has already affected some 6,300 hectares and remains uncontrolled, the California fire service reported Sunday.

The fire, whose origin is being investigated, was declared Friday and has affected Mariposa County, where shelters have been set up to accommodate the population.

The blaze is located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Yosemite National Park, one of the most popular in the US, which among its attractions includes the El Capitan monolith and the Mariposa forest, where some trees, aged up to 2,000 years, reach heights of almost 80 meters.

“It’s gone from bad to worse,” the county’s interactive map Twitter account said.

The fire has forced road closures and has been fueled by high temperatures, extreme weather conditions and wind.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and asked state agencies to mobilize his staff and resources to contain it.

Less than 16 kilometers east of that fire, the one started on Jul. 7, named Washburn, has already affected some 2,000 hectares and is 79 percent controlled, according to the latest data.

The US Forest Service managed to keep that blaze away from the iconic Yosemite redwoods, but the fire spread eastward until it approached another protected park, the Sierra National Forest.

The reasons for the first fire, which began inside the Yosemite protected area, are still under investigation, although local authorities pointed to a probable human origin in the middle of the month, since there was no lightning that day. EFE

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