A forest fire threatens the famous Yosemite National Park in California

The fire caused a fire last Friday near the western border Entrance to the park A firefighter had died during the fight against the fire . The fire has already destroyed 5,000 hectares of land

A helicopter takes water in the Merced River, which it will dump on the steep and burning slopes near El Portal. (Photo: AP)

Because of the fire, Highway 140 and one of the entrances to Yosemite Park were closed. The national park is known for its old redwood trees. Authorities have called on tourists to postpone visits to the park. About 1500 firefighters are in action against the flames.

Highly Professional Missions

US firefighters are constantly facing fires in the country's dry and hot areas, including California. They are well organized and work as professional firefighters. Helicopters fly for hours every minute, small nimble firefighters support efforts. If the fire can not be controlled in this way, planes the size of a passenger plane are deployed, which can take a huge amount of water and empty fire areas.

Again and again, big planes are used in California. (Photo: Reuters)

Nevertheless, firefighting is also on the ground in progress, trees are precautionary with bulldozers – and in hard-to-reach terrain also by hand – as if to beat fairways. Exactly with such a job, a firefighter was killed in the last days. This work is as dangerous for firefighters as it is for pilots who often have to fly "blindly" through clouds of smoke. For spectators from afar, highly professional missions are extremely impressive

Tourists should avoid the park

The evacuations of the population are in full swing in the border area affected by Yosemite National Park. Due to the dense smoke in the park itself, the authorities appealed to tourists to refrain from visiting.

The park was previously a victim of forest fires. Neglect in the treatment of cigarettes or barbecue fires often leads to fires with unforeseeable consequences.