A fast-spreading fire burning near an entrance to Yosemite National Park forced the evacuations of 170 homes and caused officials to cut power to the park, AP reported. The fire grew from about 1.5 square miles (4 square kilometers) to 25 square miles (65 square kilometers) on Saturday, and was threatening about 2,000 homes, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. About 900 firefighters battled the blaze that burned on both sides of a steep, rugged canyon along the Merced River. Most of the evacuated homes are in the town of Midpines, located along Highway 140, the thoroughfare that leads to the west entrance of Yosemite National Park.
