In pictures: California's Rim Fire
- Published
Thousands of firefighters are struggling to contain a huge wildfire near California's popular Yosemite National Park, that covers an area about the size of the city of Chicago.
Known as the Rim Fire, it has scorched nearly 225 sq miles (582 sq km) of land and threatens power lines and a major reservoir serving the city of San Francisco.
But the steep, sloping terrain and dry, windy weather conditions have made it hard to control the fire.
More than 5,000 homes are endangered and some residents, like the family pictured above on Saturday, were forced to flee.
The fire has become so large that is has reportedly developed its own weather pattern, making it harder for officials to predict how it will behave.
The blaze originated in a canyon in the Stanislaus National Forest more than a week ago. Crews are trying to protect two groves of giant sequoia trees now dangerously close.
The blaze has grown to be one of the largest wildfires ever seen in the state, yet it is only one of 50 burning in the western US.