A wildfire has already burned 32,000 acres and more than 20 residences 10 miles away from Yosemite National Park which is located about 200 miles east of San Francisco. The park remained open, although access on Highway 140 was limited. Fire operations have led to closures, although the California Highway Patrol was escorting traffic during some periods of the day.

The so-called Telegraph fire which has been burning since Friday, was 40 percent contained Wednesday and more progress was expected overnight, said Mike Mohler, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire is believed to have been started by someone who was target shooting. There was no official word on the identity of the one suspected to be responsible for the fire.

Those threatened the great fire are in the communities of Midpines, Briceburg, Mariposa, Greeley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley and Mount Bullion Camp. There is no official count on the number of people evacuated from the area.

More than 3,100 people are involved in fighting the fire (67 fire crews, backed up by 13 helicopters, six air tankers, 60 bulldozers, 268 fire engines and 30 water tenders).

Firefighters are restrained by high temperatures and the dry timber that is fueling the fire. "The fire is still heading north, but the forward spread has really slowed," Mohler said. Still, the higher humidity is helping them do a better job.

Officials also announced the death of an 18-year-old firefighter who was struck and killed by a falling tree Friday while helping to contain a wildfire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest (about 50 miles west of Redding). Andrew Palmer had been sent to California to help battle hundreds of fires that occurred because of lightning strikes in late June.