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Yosemite Access Highway Closed As Fire Rages

YOSEMITE (CBS/AP) - The main highway into Yosemite National Park remained closed Friday as firefighters continued to battle a wildfire outside of the park.

A U.S. Forest Service officials said the blaze had consumed more than 1,000 acres since it was reportedly sparked Thursday when a motor home caught fire.

The California Highway Patrol reports that Highway 140 is closed from a point east of Mariposa to the park's gate.

Some local traffic is being escorted through, but officials suggest that tourists traveling to the park take Highways 121 or 41 instead.

Fire officials said the fire will take days to extinguish because of its location—a rugged area of heavy brush and timber.

The wildfire is burning on Sierra National Forest land and is not within Yosemite's boundaries.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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