The deadly fire of Yosemite grows to 4000 acres, evacuations ordered

With high temperatures and steep terrain that prevents firefighters, a deadly fire along the Merced River near Yosemite National Park quadrupled .

The Ferguson fire in Mariposa County exploded at 4,000 acres overnight while the containment dropped to just 2 percent, fire officials said. Some 500 firefighters were working on the ground with the support of planes.

"It's a very active fire, and as we're in a very hot trend, with temperatures in the three-digit afternoon, the activity," said Alex Olow , a spokesman for the US Forest Service.

The fire, which began Friday in the Merced River Canyon and claimed the life of a firefighter on Saturday, caused a temporary power cut to PG & E. the area and closed one of the main roads in the National Park at the peak of the tourist season.

Braden Varney, 36, Mariposa, bulldozer operator of the Department of Forestry and Protection against California fire is dead A spokesman for Cal Fire said:

Varney worked for Cal Fire for 10 years as a result of his father, also a bulldozer operator, the spokesman said. Cal Fire, Scott McLean, survived by his wife and two children A mourning fund for his family e has been set up at GoFundMe.com.

Gov. Jerry Brown ordered that the Capitol Flags be lowered halfway to pay tribute to Varney, and he was saddened by the death of a man who devoted his life to protecting his fellow Californians.

The county fire, east of Berryessa Lake, reached a 100% containment and 90,288 acres were burned. Although the fire was surrounded, Mr. McLean said the teams would monitor the perimeter for weeks to come.

In Chico, firefighters from the Stoney Fire in Bidwell Park got higher 70% containment. The fire burned 956 acres.

The fire outside Yosemite in the Sierra National Forest closed Highway 140, one of the main roads in the park, between Midpines and El Portal in both directions.

Yosemite Valley is covered with smoke but remains open and accessible by the entrances of highways 120 and 41. Visitors can expect long waits.

Scott Gediman, spokesman for Yosemite, said that the entrance lines of Highway 41 were at least two hours Sunday afternoon. The entrance to Big Oak Flat on Highway 120 has reported no significant delay

The fire is burning outside the park's boundaries, but it is getting closer and sending clouds Of smoke in the park. On Sunday afternoon, firefighters recommended, but did not order, evacuations from Yosemite West, a housing subdivision just outside the park near Glacier Point

. evacuation has been issued for areas between Briceburg and Cedar Lodge. Outside of the smoke, says Gediman, it's a normal summer day in the Yosemite Valley: waterfalls are flowing, lines of cars are crawling across the valley and columns of the Yosemite Valley. "Until now, everything is fine," he said. "The park is open but we advise anyone with respiratory problems to be careful."

Late Friday, PG & E cut power lines in the area, including the lines in the Yosemite Valley, by measuring of security. Karly Hernandez, a spokesperson for PG & E, said Sunday that the utility has brought additional generators to restore electrical service to the Yosemite Valley and all the affected customers, with the exception of 14 on 607. PG & E chose to use generators until it could inspect its lines for damage, she said.