Submitted by Lynnette Balsamo Jordan As the one year anniversary of the Courtney Fire approaches, let’s take a walk back in history to the beginning of Bass Lake Heights. It all started at the end of WWII when Chief Warrant Officer Louis Balsamo Sr. visited an old Navy buddy at Hidden Valley Meadows. Dan Johnson had built a cabin retreat ...

MADERA COUNTY – The man accused of starting the Courtney Fire, that destroyed 30 homes in the Bass Lake Heights along Road 426 nearly a year ago, was back in Madera County Superior Court this morning. Oscar Bustillos, of Apple Valley, Calif., will return to court on Nov. 3 for a jury trial. Bustillos remains free on bond pending the ...

MADERA COUNTY – The man accused of starting the Courtney Fire that destroyed some 30 homes along Road 426 in the Bass Lake Annex in September 2014 appeared in Madera County Superior Court today. Oscar Bustillos, of Apple Valley, was arrested shortly after Cal Fire asked for a warrant on Nov. 17, and was arraigned on Nov. 25.

OAKHURST – Sheriff John Anderson, Director of the Madera County Office of Emergency Services (OES), continues to reach out to those impacted by the Courtney Fire disaster. The Sheriff’s Office will have a booth set up outside Raley’s, at 40041 Highway 49 in Oakhurst on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 to 11 a.m. Regardless of the level of damage you ...

OAKHURST – The 320-acre Courtney Fire is now 90% contained, with an expected date for total containment of Sunday, Sept. 21. Residents were allowed to return to their homes in the burn area on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Road 426 remains closed to the public, but is expected to be reopened within the next day or so. We will post ...

OAKHURST – All evacuation orders and advisories for the Courtney Fire have been lifted. The road into Bass Lake Heights will remain restricted to residents only. In order to enter the area, you must go to the Oakhurst Substation near True Value, off Highway 49 in Oakhurst, and obtain an “Entry Pass.” These passes are for residents living in the ...

OAKHURST – Cal Fire officials were met with cheers and applause this morning at the Oakhurst Community Center as residents from the Bass Lake Heights area learned that they will be allowed to return to their homes later today. Barring any unforeseen flareups in the burn area, or dangerous issues discovered by PG&E, officials hope to allow reentry about 6 ...

POT LUCK DINNER Neighbors helping neighbors: Shannon Cole and others are organizing a potluck dinner for Courtney Fire area residents and responders on Sunday, Sept. 21, starting at 5 p.m. at the Oakhurst Elks Lodge, located at 42484 Road 41 in Oakhurst. The Elks have donated the facility, explains Shannon.

OAKHURST – The Courtney Fire is now 50% contained at 320 acres. As of 6 p.m. tonight, the evacuation order has been lifted for residents along Summit Drive and Skyline Drive, and on Road 222 along the south shore of Bass Lake. Other evacuations remain in place, and Road 426 is still closed between Summit Drive and Road 223.

BASS LAKE – In light of the Courtney Fire that has devastated the Bass Lake area, Miller’s Landing will not be having their end of the season party and fireworks display scheduled for this Friday, Sept. 19. Instead, Miller’s will be hosting a Tri –Tip BBQ for the families that have lost their homes or been affected by the fire, ...