Oak Fire Tops 18,000 Acres, Destroys 41 Structures As Crews Battle Blaze

"As the sun rose over the Sierra Nevada foothills, it appeared burnt orange through hazy skies in Mariposa County.

Since Friday, the Oak fire has consumed more than 18,000 acres of the sparsely populated mountain community. And by Tuesday morning, the blaze, located near Yosemite National Park, had destroyed 41 structures and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

But California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials are hoping that an end is in sight. Crews were still putting out hot spots and providing structure defense Tuesday."

Summer Lin and Tony Briscoe report for the Los Angeles Times July 26, 2022.