California's fire spreads uncontained, forces thousands to evacuate

Thousands have been evacuated as a fierce wildfire in California burns several thousand hectares and forces evacuations as it spreads to Yosemite National Park.

The Oak Fire, which started on Friday, had consumed 15,603 acres (6,314 hectares), more than half the size of Paris, by Sunday evening, and was zero percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

The blaze was moving east up into the sierra, toward the town of Mariposa Pines and in the direction of Yosemite on Sunday, said Justin Macomb, a Cal Fire Operations Section Chief.

"The fire quickly outflanked us. We couldn't even attack it with the resources that we had on hand," Macomb said. "In my career, I haven't seen fire behavior like that."

Firefighters deployed air tankers, bulldozers and hand crews to battle the fast-moving wildfire on Sunday, but according to Cal Fire officials, the fire progressed atypically and overran their best efforts.

"Extreme drought conditions have led to critical fuel moisture levels," the CAL FIRE's report warned.

Described as "explosive" by officials, the blaze has left ashes, gutted vehicles and twisted remains of properties in its wake, as emergency personnel worked to evacuate residents and protect structures in its path.

More than 6,000 people had been evacuated, said Hector Vasquez, a CAL FIRE official.

The blaze has destroyed 10 properties and damaged five others, with thousands more threatened.

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday declared a state of emergency in Mariposa County, citing "conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property."

ME