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US Says Hunter's Illegal Fire Started Big Wildfire

A Hotshot fire crew member rests near a controlled burn operation at Horseshoe Meadows, as crews continue to fight the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, Sept. 4, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service, Mike McMillan)
1/13 A Hotshot fire crew member rests near a controlled burn operation at Horseshoe Meadows, as crews continue to fight the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, Sept. 4, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service, Mike McMillan)
Crews clear California Highway 120 of debris, as crews continue to fight the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, Sept. 4, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service, Mike McMillan)
2/13 Crews clear California Highway 120 of debris, as crews continue to fight the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, Sept. 4, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service, Mike McMillan)
A member of the Monterey Hotshots carries a gas can near a burn operation on the southern flank of the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, August 30, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service)
3/13 A member of the Monterey Hotshots carries a gas can near a burn operation on the southern flank of the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, August 30, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service)
A member of the BLM Silver State Hotshot crew using a drip torch to set back fires on the southern flank of the Rim Fire in California, August 30, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service)
4/13 A member of the BLM Silver State Hotshot crew using a drip torch to set back fires on the southern flank of the Rim Fire in California, August 30, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service)
A member of the Bureau of Land Management Silver State Hotshot crew from Elko, Nevada, walks through a burn operation on the southern flank of the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, August 30, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service, Mike McMillan)
5/13 A member of the Bureau of Land Management Silver State Hotshot crew from Elko, Nevada, walks through a burn operation on the southern flank of the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, August 30, 2013. (U.S. Forest Service, Mike McMillan)
Firefighter Russell Mitchell monitors a back burn during the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California, August 27, 2013.
6/13 Firefighter Russell Mitchell monitors a back burn during the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California, August 27, 2013.
A videographer records the Rim Fire burning through trees near Yosemite National Park, California, August 27, 2013.
7/13 A videographer records the Rim Fire burning through trees near Yosemite National Park, California, August 27, 2013.
A firefighter stands on top of a fire truck at a campground destroyed by the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California, August 26, 2013.
8/13 A firefighter stands on top of a fire truck at a campground destroyed by the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California, August 26, 2013.
A fire truck drives past burning trees as firefighters continue to battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California, August 26, 2013.
9/13 A fire truck drives past burning trees as firefighters continue to battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California, August 26, 2013.
South Korean army soldiers demonstrate their martial arts skills during the 66th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at the Gyeryong military headquarters in Gyeryong.
10/13 South Korean army soldiers demonstrate their martial arts skills during the 66th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at the Gyeryong military headquarters in Gyeryong.
A helicopter reloads fire retardant as firefighters continue to battle the Rim Fire in Tuolumne City, California, August 26, 2013.
11/13 A helicopter reloads fire retardant as firefighters continue to battle the Rim Fire in Tuolumne City, California, August 26, 2013.
South Korean army soldiers demonstrate their martial arts skills during the 66th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at the Gyeryong military headquarters in Gyeryong.
12/13 South Korean army soldiers demonstrate their martial arts skills during the 66th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at the Gyeryong military headquarters in Gyeryong.
Firefighter A.J. Tevis watches the flames of the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California, August 25, 2013.
13/13 Firefighter A.J. Tevis watches the flames of the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California, August 25, 2013.
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U.S. authorities said that a large wildfire that has consumed vast forests in one of the country's best known national parks was caused by a hunter who lost control of an illegal campfire.

The country's Forest Service said Thursday that no arrest has been made in the case and withheld the name of the hunter. Officials said there was no indication the hunter was cultivating an illegal marijuana crop, as one local fire chief had suggested.

More than 4,300 firefighters continue to battle raging flames in and near the Yosemite National Park in (the western state of) California. Officials said the wildfire that began August 17 is now 80 percent contained but that it may still be another two weeks before it is extinguished.

Officials said that more than 950 square kilometers of forests have been burned, and more than 100 structures destroyed, including 11 homes.

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