"As a major wildfire disrupts thousands of vacations and the tourist economy of the Sierra Nevada, National Park Service officials on Tuesday announced they are closing large sections of Yosemite National Park and ordered visitors and employees to evacuate by noon Wednesday.

The announcement Tuesday afternoon that two main tourist areas — Yosemite Valley and Wawona — will close came as flames encroached from the Ferguson fire on the park’s western boundary and hazardous smoke blanketed the region.

All park hotels, campgrounds, and visitor services in Yosemite Valley and Wawona will be closed, said Scott Gediman, a park spokesman. Park officials hope to reopen by Sunday or Monday.

Visitors staying in park campgrounds and hotels were being asked to leave on Tuesday afternoon and visitors who had reservations were being notified they will receive refunds."

Paul Rogers reports for the San Jose Mercury News July 24, 2018. [2]