Hot Weather Hindering Efforts Against Blaze Near Yosemite

Updated Wednesday July 18, 9:10 a.m.

(AP) — Hot and dry weather on Tuesday hindered efforts to slow the growth of a forest fire near Yosemite National Park that killed a California firefighter last weekend, leading some tourists to cut short their visits although all park trails remained open.

The blaze is 27 square miles as of Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It's just 5 percent contained.

More than 1,800 firefighters are battling the blaze in Mariposa County that started Friday. The growing flames shut down a key route into the park at the peak of tourist season. It also led to mandatory evacuations in nearby communities.

An inversion layer trapped smoke in the area, limiting air attacks and leading officials to issue a hazardous air alert, saying people with health conditions should stay indoors.

"Use common sense. If it looks smoky outside it's probably not a good time to go for a run. And it's probably not a good time for your children to play outdoors," Mariposa County officials said.

Alyssa Sandoval of Pollock Pines, California, planned to leave the park Tuesday but left a day early after spending a couple hours in a smoke-filled valley.

"The smoke was horrible, it was horrible. My mother got sick, my husband's eyes were stinging, burning," she said. "I've never seen the valley like that. It was smoked out. You didn't even know you were in Yosemite."

Park spokesman Scott Gediman said all amenities and trails remained opened Tuesday and park rangers tending the entrances and the visitor center were informing tourists of the poor air quality. Information was also posted on the park's social media accounts.

"Our primary goal is get the information out to them so they can decide how best to go about their visit," Gediman said.

Tourists plan their visit to Yosemite months or even years in advance and so far there have been few cancellations, he said.

"There certainly is less people than you would see on a typical July day but there is still a lot of people taking photos and enjoying themselves," he said.

Images posted to social media showed billowing smoke completely obscuring Half Dome, an iconic rock formation. Park webcams showed other landmarks, such the El Capitan rock formation, at times concealed by thick plumes of smoke.

Graduate student Paul Schlesinger, 28, said the smoke-choked air and raining ash forced him and a group of friends to change their plans to hike up to Glacier Point, which normally offers sweeping views.

But after driving for 90 minutes from Fresno and waiting in a 5-mile long line of cars to enter the park on Sunday, they decided to instead hike in Mariposa Grove.

"We didn't think it was worth exposing our lungs to that air when you couldn't see anything but also wanted to take advantage of our day there," he said.

A high pressure system was trapping the smoke that is polluting the air and the same weather phenomenon is expected Wednesday, said National Weather Service forecaster Cindy Bean.

There is a possibility of thunderstorms Thursday, which could bring erratic winds and create containment problems for fire crews, Bean said.

A big concern is thousands of dead trees that were killed by an epic drought that has gripped California for several years.

On Monday, crews retrieved the body of heavy fire equipment operator Braden Varney, 36, after he died in steep terrain on Saturday. Firefighters took turns keeping vigil near Varney's body and saluted as it was taken to a coroner's office.

The blaze that started Friday prompted officials over the weekend to order the evacuation of the Yosemite Cedar Lodge, which is outside the park, and of several nearby communities as flames crept up slopes.