Fires consume trees and brush near mountains along Merced River in Briceburg, California, 27 Jul 2008

Officials say a wildfire in the western state of California is threatening thousands of homes and the entrance to a world-famous national park.

The so-called Telegraph Fire has burned almost 12,000 hectares, destroying 25 homes since it began Friday.  California officials say another 4,000 homes are in danger, and that hundreds of people have been forced to evacuate.

The flames also forced officials to close down Highway 140, that leads to the main entrance to Yosemite National Park.

Officials say the park is open, although the fire caused some of the park's facilities to lose electricity, and some visitors have decided to leave.

Firefighters say they did get some help from a brief spate of cooler weather, but forecasters say temperatures are expected to rise in coming days.

More than 3,400 firefighters have been battling the blaze, which officials say is now 10 percent contained.

Officials say area residents appear to have started the fire when they were target shooting Friday.

California has been battling a series of wildfires since June.  

Officials say dry weather and steep, hilly terrain has made containing many of the fires more difficult.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.