YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) – A firefighter was killed Saturday while battling a wildfire burning near Yosemite National Park, California state fire officials said.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney was killed while fighting the Ferguson Fire in the morning hours.
The blaze broke out around 10:30 p.m. on Friday in Mariposa County, near the west end of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra National Forest.
Fire officials said it had burned about 130 acres (53 hectares) by Saturday afternoon.
Varney is survived by his wife and two small children, state fire officials said. The circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately released and officials said they were still working to confirm details.