LOS ANGELES (AFP) — A man-made wildfire blazing near California's Yosemite National Park has destroyed 13 more homes and thousands remain threatened, officials said Tuesday.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) said 4,000 homes were at risk from the fire, which has now gutted a total of 25 homes and scorched 29,600 acres (12,000 hectares), and caused nine injuries.
The blaze -- which was triggered by people target-shooting on Friday -- is burning in the rugged forest and scrubland of the Sierra Nevada foothills in Mariposa county, around 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Yosemite.
Around 3,500 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the fire, which comes after a month-long firestorm across California that has burned more than one million acres (400,000 hectares) since June 20.
California is frequently hit by scorching wildfires due to its dry climate, Santa Ana winds and recent housing booms which have seen urban communities spread rapidly into rural and densely forested areas.
In October, devastating wildfires were among the worst in California history, leaving eight people dead, destroying 2,000 homes, displacing 640,000 people and causing one billion dollars in damage.
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