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Firefighters make gains on wildfire near Yosemite

MARIPOSA, Calif. (AP) — An evacuation order was lifted for most of the 300 homes near Yosemite National Park as firefighters made gains Saturday on a wildfire in Central California.

Firefighters contained 60 percent of the 300-acre blaze, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

The fire broke out Friday afternoon, threatening 700 homes and five businesses.

Firefighters were hampered by the steep terrain in the area and the dry conditions brought on by California’s drought. One firefighter who received a minor injury on Friday was treated and is now home, officials said.

The burn area is about 15 miles southwest of Yosemite.

There were no reports on any immediate effects on the park.

Later Friday, a second blaze broke out 15 miles to the south in the community of Oakhurst. Nearly 300 alert calls telling residents to evacuate were sent out, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department said, but they were canceled when the blaze’s progress was stopped at 5 acres.

Meanwhile in far northern California, a blaze that broke out nearly four weeks ago grew to almost 130 square miles.

A red-flag warning for dangerous fire conditions near that blaze was extended to Saturday night, but it has yet to damage any homes or buildings. It’s 25 percent contained.

Some homes in the Happy Camp area were under evacuation orders, but it wasn’t clear how many.

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