By JAMES DAMSCHRODER

The Union Democrat

A fire camp has been set up in south Tuolumne County to attack the Telegraph Fire's push north, as firefighters had about 40 percent of the blaze contained on Wednesday.

The camp, west of Buck Meadows off of Highway 120, was set up Tuesday after supplies were taking too long to get from the Mariposa Fairgrounds fire camp to the northern flanks of the flames, said Jim Neumann, Cal Fire spokesman.

"It was just taking too long getting heavy equipment to the fire on those windy roads," Neumann said.

As of Wednesday night, about 32,000 acres had been burned by the fire, which is being blamed on target shooters in the Midpines area. Twenty-one homes and 33 outbuildings had been scorched.

The estimated cost to fight the fire had risen to $15 million.

Meanwhile, Yosemite National Park was still without power on Wednesday. Many of the restaurants, shops and administrative buildings were running on generators, while individual cabins in the park, including those in Curry Village, were without power.

Wires were cut as downed and burned poles were endangering firefighters, said Adrienne Freeman, spokeswoman for Yosemite.

"We are accommodating people as best as we can," Freeman said. "A lot of people came out here to camp anyways."

"We used flashlights," said Jeff Stoll, who had stayed at Curry Village since Monday. "We made the best of it. It was fine."

National Park Service representatives said they hope to have the power back by Monday.

The fire continues to spread on both sides of the Merced River, according to Cal Fire. The communities of Midpines, Greeley Hill and Coulterville are under an evacuation advisory.

Contact James Damschroder at jdamschroder@ uniondemocrat.com or 588-4526.