There have been around 13,000 people and businesses asked to evacuate as intense flames have endangered hundreds of people near Yosemite National Park in Central California, a blaze that was still out of control by early Tuesday. Roads, including State Route 41, were closed leading into Yosemite. The fire began some time on Monday afternoon, according to fire authorities.

Junction Fire - Oakhurst, CA from John-Mark Brix on Vimeo.

Many are blaming California's third straight year of drought conditions, which are leading to excessively dry conditions around the state, for what might be the state's worst fire season. In Madera County, where the fire was blazing a path of nearly 2-square miles, eight structures were destroyed. 500 homes in an area called Oakhurst, less than 20 miles from a Yosemite park entrance, were also reportedly in danger.

"This is a wind-dominated fire. We have no control of that," Erica Stuard, the Madera County Sheriff's Department spokesperson told the Associate Press. There was a mandatory evacuation order put into place for around 1,000 people, with some 4,000 other residents told to leave their homes because of the fire danger. This is the second fire to take place in the foothills of Yosemite in the last couple of weeks.

As many as 600 firefighters have been called out to battle the blaze. There was no information about how the fire would be contained early Tuesday. According to reports, the office of Gov. Jerry Brown had requested government money to help pay for 75 percent of the firefighting costs.

The fire was initially reported sometime around 1:50 p.m., according to Madera County Cal Fire Don Stein, division chief, as reported by the Fresno Bee. The fire reportedly began in the area that's known for homeless people camping out, near Road 425-A and Quail Drive, located on the northeastern outskirts of Oakhurst. But officially, fire authorities do not know what started the blaze. Further investigation is expected.

A number of precautions had to be taken during the height of the blaze on Monday. Road closures included the southern gate entrance to Yosemite as well as the closures of Highway 41 at Road 426, Road 222 and Road 274, according to reports. 

The American Red Cross set up a shelter at the Coarsegold Community Center on Highway 4, because the Oakhurst Community Shelter had to be shut down.  There was a second emergency shelter set up at the the YLP Community Church in Yosemite Lakes. Besides the loss of the eight structures, firefighters were able to save a propane business from exploding when flames approached it.