UPDATE: El Portal fire in Yosemite; Sequioas safe for now

The El Portal fire has grown to over 3,500 acres with evacuations still in place for the community of Foresta. The fast moving fire has already burned two homes in the community of Foresta.

Wednesday the El Portal Fire was reported to be 34% contained. Residents of Old El Portal could return to their homes by early Tuesday.

Fire crews are working to keep a blaze in Yosemite National Park away from a grove of treasured giant sequoia trees.

Park spokesman Scott Gediman said Wednesday there was no imminent threat to Merced Grove.

The fire was about 10 miles away, and crews were reinforcing old containment lines to prevent it from getting to the trees.

Merced Grove is among three stands of giant sequoias in the park. The towering trees grow only on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and are among the largest and oldest living things on earth.

Gediman said about 50 homes remained under evacuation orders. The fire, which began on Saturday, has burned through more than 5 square miles.

This fire have been fast moving on both national park lands and Stanislaus National Forest lands. At this time there are over 800 fire fighters and air resources attacking this fire.

As for the Dark Hole fire, it’s approximately 600 acres and growing and was started by lighting.

Crane Flat and Yosemite Creek Campgrounds have been closed and the Bridalveil Campground is being used for fire operations.

If you’re traveling, Big Oak Flat Road is closed between Crane Flat south and Highway 140 junction. This will be until further notice for public, employees and residents. Tioga Pass Road, Highway 41, Highway 140 and Highway 120 remain open.

The El Portal fire remains under investigation.