Highway 140 to Yosemite Opens as Crews Gain Control of Wildfire
A key artery into Yosemite National Park that was closed last week due to a wildfire has reopened. The so-called Motor Fire, named after a RV that caught fire last week, caused the closure of Highway 140, which opened at 6:00 a.m.
Since Thursday the conflagration, now 60% contained, has charred over 5,000 acres outside the park boundaries. It prompted a number of evacuations, affecting about 300 park workers that live in the Racheria Flat area of El Portal, but those orders were lifted today. "[Crews] have lines around the fire so they don't expect it to get any bigger," said park spokesperson Kari Cobb.
Park officials are urging drivers on Highway 140 to still use caution as debris may still be on the roadway. Helicopters will also still be working the area and could be distracting.
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The photo used on this post is by Flickr user jarnocan. It was used under a Creative Commons License.