February 08, 2019 - 2:37 PM
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. - The Latest on storms hitting California (all times local):
2:35 p.m.
As many as 50 housing structures were damaged by trees toppled during a snowstorm in Yosemite National Park.
The Union Democrat newspaper reports that storms earlier this week displaced more than 160 employees who provide food, lodging and other services for visitors.
It says no one was injured when trees and branches, under heavy snow, began falling and damaged cabins and tents housing Aramark employees near Half Dome Village. Power lines fell and started a fire, burning three structures.
Aramark contracts services for the National Parks Service. Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
A spokesman for Aramark, David Freireich, said the company was working to assist the displaced workers.
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7:50 p.m.
More than 120 visitors and staff who became snowbound in a Sierra Nevada resort due to recent storms have been freed.
The U.S. Forest Service says snow trapped the guests and staff at a lodge at Montecito Lake in Kings Canyon National Park.
It wasn't immediately clear how long everyone had been stuck, but a Forest Service statement says crews travelled by snowmobile to the lodge Wednesday morning to ensure everyone was safe and then returned Thursday with supplies.
Heavy equipment and crews then cleared 8 miles (12.8 kilometres) of snow and more than 20 fallen trees on Generals Highway.
National Park Service personnel began escorting visitors down the mountain at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The first convoy included 25 vehicles and 92 guests.
More snow is headed to the Sierra.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019