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| Map of Yosemite closures // Map courtesy of the National Park Service |
The Yosemite Rim Fire has prompted park officials to shut down Tioga Road, the park’s main east-west corridor, in the western half of the park, Reuters reports.
Tioga Road, also knows as Highway 120, is the only east-west route that completely bisects the park, Reuters said. The closure was to allow firefighters to extend containment lines around the fire before it approaches famous landmarks in the heart of the park.
"That will limit the access for visitors to and from the east side of the park, quite possibly over Labor Day weekend, which will have a significant economic impact on the area and (be)an inconvenience for visitors," Yosemite spokesman Tom Medema told Reuters.
According to the Yosemite website, Big Oak Flat Road, the Highway 120 entrance from the west, is also closed. Entrances to Yosemite via Highways 41 and 140 remain open. Additional closures include Hetch Hetchy Road, parts of Old Coulterville Road and some wilderness trails.
The National Park Service is continuing to issue updates on the Yosemite website and on the park Facebook page.