The Latest: Devastating California wildfire is slowing


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on a Central California wildfire that destroyed 60 homes (all times local):

1:50 p.m.

A wildfire that destroyed 60 homes near Yosemite National Park in California has slowed down. But it's far from being contained.

The blaze that forced thousands to flee their homes in the Sierra Nevada foothills is 30 percent contained Saturday.

Fire officials say about 1,500 rural homes remain in its path. But the flames are said to be crawling instead of devouring tens of thousands of acres a day.

The nearly week-old fire has consumed about 120 square miles (311 square kilometers) of grass, brush and timber and cast a pall of smoke over the famed park.

Some people who lost their homes are being allowed to return to the ruins.

People also are returning to the historic gold-mining town of Mariposa, which had been ordered evacuated. The evacuation was lifted on Friday.

The fire is one of more than a dozen that have scorched California in recent weeks. In Santa Barbara County, a fire that destroyed 16 homes since July 8 is 87 percent contained.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most recent U.S. stories

Related topics

U.S.
The Associated Press
    KSL.com Beyond Series

    KSL Weather Forecast

    KSL Weather Forecast
    Play button