MADERA COUNTY — Firefighters responded this afternoon to reports of a vegetation fire just west of Highway 41 along Road 406. Just before 2 p.m. today, CHP reported that a motor vehicle accident near 42399 Road 406 had sparked a fire and requested Cal Fire to respond. The first unit at scene reported the fire at about three acres. Cal ...
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Four Charged With Arson For Burning Stolen Car, Sparking Pier Fire
TULARE COUNTY — District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges against four individuals for starting the Pier Fire by burning a stolen car. The Pier Fire charred nearly 37,000 acres east of Springville, Calif., from Aug. 29 to Sept 24. Isiac Renteria, 19, Richard Renteria, 21, Osvaldo Esparza-Guerrero, 20, and Breane Ojeda, 21, were arrested on Oct. 24. All ...
Read More »Park Service Considers Raising Entry Fee To $70 During Peak Season
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Park Service (NPS) is considering increases to fees at highly visited national parks during peak visitor seasons. In a statement released yesterday, the NPS says the increase is “part of its commitment to improve the visitor experience and ensure America’s national parks are protected in perpetuity. “Proposed peak season entrance fees and revised fees for ...
Read More »Man Gets 12 Years For Arson, Ex-Wife Fears Much Earlier Release
MADERA COUNTY — When Michael Lapschies was sentenced on Sept. 26 to 12 years in prison for lighting a series of fires in the Bass Lake area in 2015, and making threats against his ex-wife Amanda Skye-Ritchie, she was not at all satisfied that he would actually serve anywhere near the term imposed by the Bass Lake Superior Court. On ...
Read More »Prescribed Burning And Lightning-Caused Fires On Sierra National Forest
NORTH FORK – The Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, is preparing for the fall, winter, and spring burning program, said District Ranger Denise Tolmie, and projects will consist of three activities: pile burning, broadcast, and underburning. The objectives will be to reduce fuel loading from recent tree morality, and hazard removal projects within the Wildland Urban Interface and ...
Read More »Sheriff’s Crime Log Through Oct. 22
MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 16 to Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Bass Lake mail theft On Monday, Oct. 16 at 9:28 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to a telephonic call of mail theft that occurred at Malum Ridge Road and Marina View Drive. A report was ...
Read More »Warm Temps Increase Fire Activity, More Smoke In Yosemite
YOSEMITE — Five fires continue to burn in the wilderness areas of Yosemite National Park, with a strong stable air mass over the area bringing warmer than normal temperatures and lower humidity. This has contributed to more fire activity and more smoke production as the 8,000-acre Empire Fire moved through some heavier fuels. The smoke has been flowing into Yosemite ...
Read More »Another Fire On Deadwood South Of Oakhurst
OAKHURST — Once again, firefighters were called out to reports of a fire burning along the roadway on Highway 41 south of Oakhurst on Deadwood. Just after 9:30 a.m., crews responded to a vegetation fire near reported near 425B. Engines from Cal Fire, Madera County Fire and Sierra National Forest responded. The first unit at scene, which was a CHP ...
Read More »Dangerous Fire Weather Keeps Crews On High Alert
CALIFORNIA — After one of the deadliest and most destructive weeks in California’s history, firefighters are prepared for another significant wind event in Southern California. Some 4,300 firefighters remain on the front lines of 9 active wildfires, many of which are projected to be fully contained by the end of the week. Firefighters continue to extinguish hot spots and perform ...
Read More »One-Day, One-Way Traffic Control On Hwy. 41 Near Yosemite
MARIPOSA COUNTY — Caltrans work north of Oakhurst near Yosemite National Park originally scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25 has been rescheduled to Thursday, Oct. 26, per Caltrans. The work may result in delays of 10 minutes or longer. The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announces one-way traffic control is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26 on State Route 41 in Mariposa County ...
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