The massive wildfire outside Yosemite National Park more than tripled in size on Thursday, reaching 84 square miles, as nearby businesses shut down and tourists fled the area. California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency. The blaze, dubbed the Rim Fire, threatens thousands of homes, hotels and camp buildings. More than 1,000 firefighters are currently fighting the flames, which, as of Friday morning, were only 2 percent contained. (Photos by Zuma Press unless otherwise credited)
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The Rim Fire burns near Yosemite National Park in a photo released by the U.S. Forest Service on Friday. (U.S. Forest Service)
A Kern County Hotshot (an interagency firefighter specially—and rigorously—trained to suppress wildfires) monitors one of many spot fires on Harden Flat Road near campsites in Yosemite National Park.
A firefighter from Colorado attempts to extinguish the Harden Flat Road spot fire.
Colorado firefighters prepare to fight the Yosemite blaze on Highway 120, parts of which have been closed because of the emergency.
A Kern Valley Interagency Hotshot Crew member monitors a spot fire near Yosemite National Park.
Smoke looms over O’Shaughnessy Dam as the Rim Fire reaches Yosemite National Park.
A back fire burns in a grove of trees during the Rim Fire on August 22, 2013 in Groveland, California. (Getty Images)
A firefighter from Cosumnes Fire Department monitors a back fire. (Getty Images)
An air tanker drops fire retardant on a ridge ahead of the advancing Rim Fire. (Getty Images)
The post Mouth of the inferno: Inside the firestorm consuming Yosemite appeared first on Vocativ.
