Yosemite evacuates tourists as wildfires cut summer plans short

Visitors express disappointment but park says choice to empty popular valley was tough but necessary

The few remaining campers in Yosemite valley packed up gear Wednesday and cleared the area for firefighters battling a huge wildfire near Yosemite national park.

The sun rose in a smoke-filled sky over the scenic valley, which normally bustles with summer tourists but has largely emptied out after authorities reluctantly ordered the closure a day earlier.