YOSEMITE — Residents of the areas surrounding Yosemite National Park may be seeing smoke from a lightning-caused fire inside the park. The Empire Fire was reported on the night of July 31, and is currently estimated at 147 acres. This fire is being managed for multiple objectives — both protection and resources, say park officials. The Empire Fire is approximately ...

MARIPOSA — Labor Day weekend marks the return of one of the most anticipated events in Mariposa County — The Mariposa County Fair, running Friday through Monday, Sept. 1 – 4. Since 1939 this has been the quintessential country fair, featuring agricultural events, displays, demonstrations, entertainment, a carnival, a midway and more, providing old-fashioned fun for the young and young-at-heart. ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — In the aftermath of the Detwiler Fire, the Mariposa County Fire Safe Council is offering a free chipping program for all Mariposa County residents. One of the biggest sources of fuel for wildfires are small, fine fuels such as downed branches and brush. With this program in place, the goal is to chip these branch piles and ...

YOSEMITE — After a long winter of heavy snowfall and delayed openings along Highway 120 (Tioga Pass), things are now bustling at Tuolumne Meadows. The Tuolumne Meadows Store is open daily from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., and the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and Grill opened for the season on Tuesday, Aug. 1. The Hikers Bus and the Tuolumne Meadows Shuttle ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Firefighters are on scene of a fire on the Bass Lake Ranger District just east of Fish Camp. At about 11:40 a.m., reports came in of a vegetation fire about five miles east of Fresno Dome Campground toward Quartz Mountain trailhead, along Forest Road 6S10. The first unit at scene reported the Iron Fire at about ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Though the fire has long moved through the areas surrounding the town of Mariposa, the damage done by suppression efforts remains, and firefighters have now shifted into repair mode. One resident experienced first-hand today the reality that crews don’t just tear things up as they fight to save homes, they also return to repair any necessary damage. ...

TUOLUMNE COUNTY — One person is dead and another seriously injured after a single-vehicle accident near Sonora last week. Wayne Dubois, 82, and Artha Dubois, 79, both of Oakhurst, were eastbound on Highway 120 near Buck Meadows in a 1999 Chevrolet pickup at approximately 55 miles per hour, according to CHP. Artha Dubois was driving, and apparently lost control of ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Firefighters worked through the night hitting hot spots and patrolling the perimeter of the nearly-contained Detwiler Fire. The fire is still holding at 81,826 acres and is now 90 percent contained. As the Detwiler Fire is winding down from active fire suppression, fire managers will start the next phase of the control effort — Fire Suppression Repair. ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Firefighters continue their work to secure the line around the remaining northeast portion of the Detwiler Fire and to hit hot spots inside the perimeter. Cal Fire posted this photo on their Twitter page, showing the shoulder patches of just a few of the dozens of fire departments and agencies who worked together on the suppression efforts. ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Crews continue to be released from the Detwiler Fire as firefighters work on hot spots and full containment of the northeast perimeter. The fire is now estimated at 81,826 acres and is 85 percent contained. There are currently 2,821 personnel assigned to the incident including 184 engines, 35 water tenders, 76 hand crews, 12 dozers, 7 helicopters ...