MADERA COUNTY–The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is reporting three separate search and rescue calls on Sunday, 9.4.2022. Beginning at 8:35am with the first call and the final call coming in at 4:00pm, conditions all day were considered extreme due to excessive heat. Rescue #1 Lost Hiker at Devils Slide At 8:35am on Sunday 9/4/22, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received ...

MADERA COUNTY–Excessive heat, dehydration, and hikers falling ill kept Madera County Sheriff’s and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) busy over the hot weekend. Rescue #1 Rainbow Falls On Friday afternoon, July 15, 2022, Madera County Sheriff’s Sgt. Roussell and Deputy Vermeulen were on patrol in the Eastern Madera County area when they were dispatched to a possible medical aid at Rainbow ...

BASS LAKE – Madera County Search and Rescue Deputies and volunteers responded to the area of Willow Creek near the Falls Beach Recreation Area this weekend to rescue a 29-year-old woman from Daly City that had fallen while hiking and complained of pain. The woman suffered injuries while hiking on the rough side of the river opposite of the designated ...

MADERA COUNTY MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Search and Rescue (SAR) has been very busy! On Saturday, Aug. 15, they performed three back-to-back rescues in the Madera County mountain communities. Search and rescue is strenuous even under the best of circumstances and working in extreme conditions (especially with the recent heat wave) creates even more pressure ...

BASS LAKE — A “medical” rescue is reportedly underway Sunday at Angel Falls off Road 274 at Willow Creek. SNO is awaiting more details about the incident, which reportedly happened about 12:30 p.m. above Bass Lake. Law enforcement officers — and a medevac air ambulance — were en route to the scene after authorities received reports of an individual submerged ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Pandemic or not, it was a busy afternoon Sunday in the high country for Madera County first responders.The activity started around 4 p.m. when MCSO’s Dispatch Center received a call regarding a 35-year-old woman from Colorado who was involved in a climbing accident on the southern face of Shuteye Peak. She reportedly had been climbing with a ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — According to area law enforcement officials, “multiple positive factors” influenced the successful rescue of 74-year old John Van Dinther in Mariposa County on Jan. 25. On Wednesday, Jan. 22, Van Dinther was last seen on Bear Clover Road in the Jerseydale area of the county. Later that day, his children reported him missing shortly after 4 p.m., ...

This national award recognizes outstanding work in the area of emergency medical service for our Nation’s Wildland Firefighters. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group, based in Boise, Idaho, has awarded Yosemite National Park Helitack member Heather Wonenberg the 2018 Outstanding Wildfire EMS Individual of the Year Award. This award recognizes and honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding work, actions, or programs, ...

BASS LAKE — A dip in the water turned into a trip to the hospital for a visitor to a creek near Bass Lake this weekend. Just before 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, the Madera County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a report of a subject who slipped and fell in the area of Angel Falls along Willow Creek near ...

MADERA COUNTY — A local hero was recognized by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) as George Stillman retired from Madera County Search and Rescue last week after 18 years of volunteer service. “Affectionately known as ‘SAR George’ by other team members, he has served in a variety of capacities throughout the years,” said MCSO in a public statement. “He ...