Published September 8, 2014 04:28PM
New Yosemite Wildfire Prompts Evacuations
The Meadow Fire has burned more than 2,500 acres.
'image: NPS / Twitter'
A fast-moving wildfire prompted backcountry evacuations in Yosemite National Park on Sunday as helicopters airlifted 100 hikers from trails near Half Dome and Little Yosemite Valley.
The blaze, dubbed the “Meadow Fire,” began as a lightning strike-fueled spot fire several weeks ago, but expanded quickly and unexpectedly on Sunday afternoon due to hot temperatures and high winds, NPR reports.
A photo posted to the park’s Twitter account Sunday showed pillars of thick smoke rising from Little Yosemite Valley:
Planes and ground crews are on the scene attempting to quell the fire’s spread. As of Monday morning, the wildfire had burned over 2,500 acres.