At least 1,500 people living in a community near the Yosemite National Park have been told to leave their homes and establishments and evacuate immediately as a raging wildfire continues to burn across California since late Monday.

Aside from the evacuation order, Sheriff John Anderson also declared a local state of emergency in Madera County.

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The Madera County Sheriff's Office said around 13,000 residents living in Oakhurst, a community located 16 miles from an entrance to Yosemite National Park, have been notified of the fire but not everyone were ordered to abandon their homes.

Erica Stuart, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said the wildfire has already damaged about 500 acres but the state fire department said no reports of injuries or damaged buildings have been recorded so far.

But the wildfire continues to threaten homes, caused road closures and shut down a community shelter in Madera County, authorities said on Monday.

Four hotels in the community of Oakhurst were evacuated and classes have been canceled for most of the Yosemite Unified School District on Tuesday.

The fire was recorded to have started at 1:50 p.m. off of Road 425A, near the Highway 41 and Highway 49 junction in Oakhurst, south of Yosemite, and quickly spread to 200 acres, state fire officials said.

The Madera County Sheriff's Office added that the flames spread to Highway 41 at about 5 p.m. and began burning toward Hidden Falls in the area of Road 222 and Highway 41.

Homes have already been evacuated late Monday officials said although they have no records yet how many of those who were told to evacuate were still in their homes or establishments as of this posting.

TagsCalifornia wildfire