SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A fire that closed down a portion of Yosemite National Park has grown to 166 acres, according to Friday afternoon update.
The Washburn fire was reported Thursday afternoon near the lower Mariposa Grove close to the Washburn Trail. Officials had estimated the fire had grown to 250 acres overnight, but the size was lowered once more precise fire mapping was done Friday morning.
The grove has been evacuated and, along with Mariposa Grove Road, remains closed until further notice, according to the National Park Service.
Late Friday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol said that Highway 41, the southern route to the park, was closed at the entrance station. Park officials said a mandatory evacuation order is in place for Wawona and Wawona campground because of the Washburn fire. Officials asked for residents to leave the area immediately and evacuate north on Wawona Road toward Yosemite Valley.
The fire had been mapped at 46 acres Thursday night, but remained active overnight, according to the update from Yosemite Fire. Additional resources have been ordered into the area, including engines, crews and aircraft. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has also been ordered, which is typical for major fires.
Ground and air resources are expected to continue suppression efforts Friday. The flight tracking site FlightAware is showing a lot of activity in the area including jets and helicopters.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Mariposa Grove is home to some 500 giant sequoia trees, which can grow to more than 250 feet tall. Grizzly Giant, the most well-known tree in the Mariposa Grove, is 209 feet and one of the largest trees in the world. It is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old.
It’s not clear if any sequoias have been burned.
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