Fire Crews Battling Two Large Blazes In Yosemite

Yosemite National Park, CA – More than 380 firefighters are continuing to battle a close to 500 acre fire in Yosemite National Park.

Reports indicate the fire was started by an escaped campfire Monday along the Ribbon Creek drainage between El Capitan and Ribbon Creek above the north rim of Yosemite Valley.

The fire is now 45% contained and officials hope to have full control by Monday. Park spokesperson, Adrienne Freeman says Mother Lode residents will soon get some relief from all of the smoke, thanks to concerns from the community.

Freeman says officials have decided to suppress a 500 acre prescribed burn due to the amount of smoke it has been producing.

The fire was originally lit for ecological purposes. A time or day of containment is not being speculated due to the heavy fuel on the forest floor.

Written by Sabrina Sabbagh