— Reuters pic MARIPOSA (California), July 19 — The 2,000 residents of a small California town in the foothills flanking Yosemite National Park were ordered to evacuate yesterday as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire that has already destroyed eight structures. Residents of tiny Mariposa, in the Sierra Nevada mountains southwest of Yosemite in central California, were ordered to flee after flames from the so-called Detwiler Fire jumped over Highway 140 and marched toward the community, threatening 1,500 structures. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County on Tuesday, dispatching resources to the area. Firefighters are facing “extreme and aggressive fire behavior” with solid walls of flame and sparks from the main blaze setting spot fires in grasslands, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on wildfires burning in the west (all times local):

A Yosemite National Park official says Highway 140 into Yosemite Valley from Mariposa is closed as a stubborn wildfire rages several dozen miles from the park. A wildfire that drove thousands from their homes near California's Yosemite National Park grew more ferocious Wednesday, roaring through rugged terrain after doubling in size overnight and threatening 1,500 homes. The Detwiler Fire was threatening some 1,500 structures and power lines supplying electricity to Yosemite National Park, according to Cal Fire. Yosemite remained open, but some access roads were closed and the fire caused smoky conditions throughout much of the 1,169 square-mile park, officials said. MARIPOSA, Calif. (Reuters) - A 25,000-acre wildfire in central California, one of three dozen major blazes burning across the West, threatened hundreds of homes and businesses on Wednesday after forcing the evacuation of about 5,000 residents.
Thousands of residents are evacuated from Mariposa and several other communities in Mariposa County, California, following the rapid spread of the Detwiler Fire near Yosemite National Park.