FRESNO, Calif. — A giant wildfire raging out of control spread into Yosemite National Park on Friday as authorities urged more evacuations in nearby communities where thousands have fled during the week as flames marched through the western Sierra Nevada.
The fire closed backcountry hiking in the park but was not threatening the popular Yosemite Valley region.
The fire grew from 99 square miles to more than 165 square miles overnight and was 2 percent contained. Smoke blowing into Nevada forced officials in several counties to cancel outdoor school activities and issue health advisories.
“Most of the fire activity is pushing to the east right into Yosemite,” said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire was threatening about 4,500 residences, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Officials issued voluntary evacuation advisories for two new towns Friday — Tuolumne City, population 1,800, and Ponderosa Hills, a community of several hundred — which are about 5 miles from the fire, said spokesman Jerry Snyder.
The blaze has destroyed four homes and 12 outbuildings in several areas, Snyder said. One firefighter sustained a heat-related injury.
Within the park, the blaze was burning on about 17 square miles in a remote area around Lake Eleanor.
“Right now, there are no closures, and no visitor services are being affected in the park,” said Yosemite spokeswoman Kari Cobb.
