SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – A bit of precipitation yesterday brought welcome relief from the heat, and helped to dampen down some of the fire behavior on the Rough Fire, now estimated at 139,133 with 40 percent containment. There are currently 3,741 personnel assigned to the incident. The foothill communities west of the fire saw clearing skies as the winds moved ...

MADERA COUNTY – It is with great sadness that Sheriff Varney announces the passing of the Sheriff’s Office’s longest serving employee. Diana Rankin passed away at her home last Tuesday. She had been employed with the Sheriff’s Office since February of 1975 and had worked in a variety of capacities including a Jail Matron, Dispatcher, and for the last 15 ...

YOSEMITE – Hans Florine, world renowned rock climber, completed his 100th ascent of the Nose Route of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Saturday, Sept. 12. Florine, along with Jayme Moye, an adventure writer from Boulder, Colo., and Fiona Thornewell, an adventurer from London, England, finished the ascent on Saturday afternoon, after beginning the climb on Thursday, Sept. 10. ...

OAKHURST – The Sundance Fire, that closed Road 420 and prompted the evacuation of dozens of homes in the area of Sundance Drive yesterday, is believed to have been started by two juveniles playing with spray cans and some form of ignition that torched off the surrounding vegetation, according to District Attorney David Linn. Linn and investigator David Engstrom of ...

NORTH FORK – As if firefighters weren’t weary enough from this long summer of fires, they were called out this afternoon for reports of a smoke on House Ranch Road just off Road 200 between North Fork and O’Neals. It was a burn pile. Someone apparently decided that a few drops of rain had erased the danger of years of ...

OAKHURST – In the midst of a firefight along Road 420 this afternoon, while residents were evacuating, crews were cutting fireline, and tankers and helicopters were dropping water and retardant, two tankers were forced to return to Fresno with half their load undelivered, and three helicopters were grounded when someone decided to fly a drone over the Sundance Fire south ...

OAKHURST – A fire burning along Road 420 just off Highway 41 on the south side of Deadwood has prompted road closures and evacuations. Just after 3:30 p.m. today, several reports came in of a smoke just south of Road 420 at Sundance Drive, about 1/2 mile east of Highway 41. The first few engines on scene attacked the fire ...

COARSEGOLD — The American Red Cross of the Central Valley is opening a shelter to assist residents affected by the Sundance Fire. The shelter is located at the Yosemite Lakes Community Church, 43840 Patrick Ave. in Yosemite Lakes Park. Red Cross volunteers will provide lodging, meals, hygiene kits and more for the evacuated families. “We started working with our government ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The Rough Fire has now grown to 129,877 acres with 31 percent containment. The Fresno County Sheriff has issued an additional evacuation warning for the area along Hopewell Road north of Highway 180 and east to the Sequoia National Forest Boundary. The fire is now split into three zones: South Zone – managed by California IMT 4, ...

OAKHURST – For those who need some coaching on the use of computers, setting up email, or using the internet, the Oakhurst Library is offering you a free class to hone your skills. Beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 16, Heather Kolberg will be teaching a 4-week beginner’s class on working with computers. The classes run on consecutive Wednesdays from 9 – ...