An aggressive wildfire near Yosemite National Park in Northern California has forced more than 5,000 residents to flee their homes and triggered evacuations of the towns of Mariposa and Coulterville.
Firefighting officials report that at least 45 homes have been destroyed and they expect to find more gutted houses in the coming days, according the Los Angeles Times.
The fire, which began Sunday afternoon, has scorched more than 109 square miles and is less than 10% contained at last report. Portions of California Interstates 140 and 49 are closed, as are other roads in the area of the fire, according to USA Today.
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|Gold Rush-era structures threatened
The Associated Press is reporting that the blaze in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains was still threatening hundreds of homes, hotels and century-old saloons on Thursday, including a wood courthouse founded in 1854 and touted as the oldest active courthouse west of the Rocky Mountains.
More than 3,000 firefighters are battling the blaze.
Yosemite National Park does not appear at risk from the fire, which was moving south, away from the park, according to Cal Fire spokesperson, Jason Motta.
Statewide, about 6,000 firefighters were battling 17 wildfires in California. Gov. Jerry Brown has declared an emergency to enhance resources to battle the fires.
Take a look at some of the latest photos from the destructive California wildfires:
Flames rise behind a vacant house as firefighters work to halt the Detwiler fire near Mariposa, Calif., Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A scorched car rests next to a residence leveled by the Detwiler fire near Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. A surging wildfire raced through California mountains and foothills west of Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, forcing thousands to flee tiny, Gold Rush-era towns. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames rise behind a house as a firefighter works to halt the Detwiler wildfire near Mariposa, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Melted lawn chairs rest outside a residence leveled by the Detwiler fire near Mariposa, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
An air tanker drops retardant while battling a wildfire near Mariposa, Calif., Wednesday, July 19, 2017. The fire has forced thousands of people from homes in and around a half-dozen small communities, officials said. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A trellis rests in front of a Hummingbird Lane residence leveled by the Detwiler fire near Mariposa, Calif. The surging wildfire caused smoky haze over Yosemite park's landmark Half Dome rock face. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames from a backfire burn as CalFire crews battle a wildfire near Mariposa, Calif., Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Record rain and snowfall in the mountains this winter was celebrated for bringing California's five-year drought to its knees, but it has turned into a challenge for firefighters battling flames feeding on dense vegetation, officials said. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Evacuees Don and Jodi Roark, who are unsure if their Bear Valley house is still standing, rest outside a Red Cross center for Detwiler fire evacuees in Oakhurst, Calif., on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Firefighters Daniel Lizardo, right, and Victor Velasquez walk in front of a fire-ravaged home Wednesday, July 12, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Flames from a wildfire consume a residence near Oroville, Calif., on Sunday, July 9, 2017. Evening winds drove the fire through several neighborhoods leveling homes in its path. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames from a wildfire consume an all-terrain vehicle near Oroville, Calif., on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Residents were ordered to evacuate from several roads in the rural area as flames climbed tall trees. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
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Jayleen R. Heft
Jayleen Heft is the digital content editor for PropertyCasualty360.com. Contact her at [email protected].
