About 300 people in California have been evacuated due to the Inn fire near Yosemite National Park, Lisa Cox, public affairs officer for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, told Newsweek by phone Saturday.
The wildfire started Thursday afternoon about 60 miles east from the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The blaze grew to just over 700 acres in two days due to “dry, erratic winds,” according to the latest fire update issued Saturday morning by InciWeb, an information management system that provides information about active incidents, including wildfires and other emergencies.
One structure has been damaged so far, InciWeb shows. So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported on the website.
Roadways in the area have shut down due to the rapidly spreading fire, including US 395, which drives right into Yosemite.
Cox told Newsweek that this is the first fire they’ve had in the area this year.
Why It Matters
The wildfire season has grown longer, from four to about eight months, due to environmental impacts, according to a 2019 report from the USDA Forest Service.
Studies have shown that climate change has resulted not only in a longer wildfire season but also an increase in the frequency of wildfires and acreage burned, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in a report citing data tracked from 1983 to 2022.
Yosemite National Park saw more than 4 million visitors last year and now requires reservations to visit during Memorial Day, according to the National Park Service website.
What To Know
Hundreds of firefighters are currently on the scene working to combat any fire growth, Cox told Newsweek.
Along with ground crews, aircrafts were immediately requested when the fire was spotted around 3:36 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to InciWeb.
Once smoke was spotted, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office went door-to-door evacuating residents ahead of the quick moving fire.
Within six hours of the fire being spotted, more than 538 acres had been scorched, InciWeb said.
Resources from multiple agencies, including the Inyo National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, CAL FIRE, Mammoth Lakes Fire Department, Mono City and Lee Vining Volunteer fire departments have all gone to the scene to help with the firefight.
Hotshot crews and strike teams are also responding to the area.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined as firefighters continue to battle the blaze.
What People Are Saying
Lisa Cox, public affairs officer for the USDA Forest Service, said in a Friday press release: “Evacuations and repopulations will not occur until this northern flank of the fire is secured by firefighters and the predicted winds out of the south no longer threaten this community with potential spot fires.”
Mono County Tourism wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: “US 395 is closed between Lee Vining & Mono City. Expected to stay closed into the weekend. Detours: SR 167, NV 208, US 6, Benton Crossing, US 120 E. Businesses OPEN. Minimal smoke outside fire area. Thank you, first responders.”
What Happens Next?
Cox told Newsweek that the firefight is going well, with about 15 percent containment overnight.
“Looks like it laid down a lot last night,” she added.
It’s unclear when evacuees can return to their homes, but InciWeb says that Highway 395 will be closed until all downed power lines are fixed and the roadway is safe to drive.
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