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 ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for information on the whereabouts of an inmate who escaped from Madera County Department of Corrections sometime around 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19. Juan Lopez, 33, was in jail for armed robbery and attempted murder. The jail advised the Sheriff’s Office that the AB-109 inmate was last seen wearing ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – After the devastation of the French Fire along the Scenic Byway, the main roads have since been reopened to the public. Forest Road 81(Mammoth Pool/Minarets Road) is open, however some campgrounds in the area remain closed. Fish Creek, Rock Creek, Placer and Sweetwater campgrounds are closed. All campgrounds from Little Jackass and beyond are open. For ...

OAKHURST – As of 6 p.m., Road 426 through the Courtney Fire area has now been reopened to the public. An MCAlert has been issued to area residents, and Cal Fire has released official notice that the road is now open. Residents who need more information on the recovery process can call Madera County Office of Emergency Services at 559-675-7770.

SIERRA FOOTHILLS – The Mariposa County Dispatch Center and local fire departments have been fielding hundreds of calls about smoke in the mountain area. There are no smoke-producing fires currently in the area. The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following statement:

Submitted by Fernando Portillo My name is Fernando Portillo and I am the Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 314 out of Coarsegold. Our Pack is only a year old, but we have already provided services for over 35 boys ages 6 to 12 in our Mountain community. Cub Scouting is an amazing program that teaches boys leadership, independence, physical fitness, ...

OAKHURST – Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Courtney disaster came to the rescue of an Oakhurst woman who was nearly assaulted on Highway 41 in Oakhurst on Thursday. Joshua Wayne Elliott, 21, of Madera, who claimed he spent the night in Oakhurst Cemetery, approached the victim shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday, asking her for a cigarette. When she refused, he ...

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 – Cal Fire Investigators, in cooperation with investigators from the United States Forest Service, have identified a juvenile suspect, in connection with a series of arson fires in Madera County. The fires all occurred in the Oakhurst area over the past several months. The case will be referred to the District Attorney in Madera County for appropriate action. The ...

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson, Director of The Madera County Office of Emergency Services (OES), is reaching out to everyone impacted by the Courtney Fire disaster. Regardless of the level of damage you may have suffered during this disaster, you are urged to fill out a damage survey, so that the OES can better assist you during recovery. The ...