July 25th, fire started only covering 1,000 acres. Muir Lodge is
MARIPOSA, Calif. (AP) — Little relief from hot weather is expected this week as crews fight to contain a wildfire near an entrance to Yosemite National Park that has destroyed 12 homes and forced the evacuation of nearly 200 others.
The blaze had charred more than 26,000 acres — over a square mile — since Friday as wooded slopes ignited. Besides the homes destroyed, the fire had also engulfed 27 other buildings.
Officials ordered the evacuations of 195 homes under immediate threat, but some residents defied orders and stayed to protect their property. About 2,000 homes faced at least some danger from the fast-spreading flames, said Wayne Barringer, a state fire spokesman on the scene.
Most of the evacuated homes are in the town of Midpines, about 12 miles from the park.
The fire was 10 percent contained Sunday evening.
Associated Press writer Jason Dearen contributed to this report from San Francisco.
A view of the fire yesterday in Griffith Park | (AP Photo/John Antczak)
