Written by Ryan R. Traina, FDNY –  As the sun rose over the steep mountains of the Six Rivers National Forest, my day began with a personal guided tour with Matthew Conklin, the Operations Section Chief of the Southern California Incident Management Team 2. We were operating at the Gasquet Complex fire, located in the northwestern corner of California. Matthew ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Central California residents woke once again to heavy smoke from the Rough Fire, which is now estimated at 128,796 acres with 29 percent containment. There are currently 2,570 personnel assigned to the incident, including 60 crews, 164 engines, 14 helicopters and 23 dozers. With the fire now into its seventh week, management teams continue to time ...

YOSEMITE – There are currently four fires burning in Yosemite National Park. The Tenaya Fire (37 46.091 x 119 34.641 – Mariposa Co., 7200′ elevation, date reported 9/7). This wildfire began on the afternoon Monday, of Sept. 7, and is being suppressed. The fire is located along the Lehamite Creek Trail from the north rim of the Valley to the ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park and Ansel Adams Gallery announce the fifth annual Gateway Expressions Student Art and Poetry Contest. The Gateway Expressions Student Art and Poetry Contest celebrates the creativity of youth in Yosemite’s gateway communities, and is open to all students, grades K-12, who attend school or youth programs within the gateway community school districts of Yosemite National ...

MADERA – A Coarsegold man was found guilty yesterday in Madera Superior Court of nine counts of child molestation. James Salsgiver, 59, faces 195 years to life for his convictions: on three counts of sodomy, 25 years to life each. On three counts of oral copulation, the sentence could be 15 years to life each. And on three counts of ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – New evacuations and warnings for the Rough Fire were issued at 6 a.m. this morning, as the fire continues to threaten homes and communities near Hume Lake, Calif., and heavy smoke has become a daily challenge across central California. The Rough Fire has now grown to 119,069 acres with 29 percent containment. Heavy concentrations of smoke ...

YOSEMITE – The Tenaya Fire is now estimated at 455 acres with 25 percent containment. The fire began on the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 7, and is being suppressed. It is located along the Lehamite Creek Trail from the north rim of the Valley to the Tioga Road. The Incident Commander notes that fire activity has moderated today, as it ...

OAKHURST – On Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the Oakhurst Library will host Byron Lewis who will explain to his audience how to identify which old books are, or will become, valuable. Byron is a local rare book collector, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge of old, rare books. He’ll explain how to identify which books are ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST  – The Rough Fire has now grown to 110, 134 acres and remains the largest active fire in California. Containment has fallen from 31 to 29 percent as the fire perimeter grows. Heavy concentrations of smoke were present near the fire today, with increased impacts in the San Joaquin Valley foothills northwest of the fire. Unhealthy to ...

MADERA COUNTY – Madera County Master Gardeners will be hosting a Meet-and-Greet evening for anyone interested in becoming a Cooperative Extension Master Gardener. The program has annual training classes that provide participants instruction about important garden ing topics. After completing the training, Master Gardener volunteers perform 25 hours of community volunteer work and complete 12 hours of continuing education each ...