Fire closes highway into Yosemite

MARIPOSA, Calif., July 29 (UPI) -- Wildfire forced the closure Tuesday of a highway leading into Yosemite National Park in California.

The Los Angeles Times said a 10-mile stretch of Highway 140 between Briceburg, Calif., and the park's western entrance would be shut down until further notice as fire crews continued trying to get a handle on the 29,600-acre Telegraph Fire.

Heavy smoke from the fire has already been hurting the usually bustling tourist trade at Yosemite, where travelers from around world come for the spectacular views of El Capitan and Half Dome mountains.

The San Jose Mercury-News reported Tuesday that tourist numbers at the park have dropped since the fire started in rugged terrain last Friday.

The fire, which has destroyed a dozen homes and threatened around 4,000, was started by a group of people who were target shooting. The Times said investigators had tracked down the shooters, but had determined that criminal charges were not warranted.