California wildfires partially shut down Yosemite at peak of tourist season

Dangerous air quality forces closure of section of national park, which gets more than half a million visitors in July alone

Yosemite national park has been partially closed and officials have ordered more mandatory evacuations as wildfires continue to sweep across California this week. Fueled by dry conditions and high temperatures, smoke has settled over the popular tourist destination, causing unsafe conditions for visitors and workers, prompting officials to issue a temporary closure and evacuate the remaining tourists beginning on Wednesday at noon.

The California department of forestry and fire protection said on Wednesday that the blaze has burned 60 square miles (155 sq km). It is 25% contained.