YOSEMITE – Firefighters made good progress today on the El Portal Fire. Though it grew in size to 4,198 acres, it is now 58% contained. Firing operations started today and will continue tonight along the northwestern fire perimeter. On the lower half of the fire, crews began to do mop up and patrol, and backhaul equipment. They will continue these ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – As the day shift gathered for their morning briefing on the French Fire at 0600, the smoke was probably heavier than on any morning since the fire started on Monday. But mother nature cooperated, the inversion lifted, and helicopters were able to lift off from the Incident Command Post/Heliport in North Fork by mid afternoon.

NORTH FORK – For the second time in as many months, residents of North Fork have had to say goodbye to someone who brightened their day at the local post office. Deeann Nolan, postmaster in this mountain town since 2006, put in her last day of work on Thursday, July 31, after 36 years of service. Long time employee Alice ...

YOSEMITE – Residents of the community of Foresta will be allowed to return to their homes on Friday, Aug. 1, at 3 p.m. as the evacuation order is lifted. Big Oak Flat Road and Highway 120 were reopened yesterday, so all major roads in the park are now open, though visitors are urged to call 209-372-0200 before traveling in the ...

NORTH FORK – Two Sheriff’s deputies working the French Fire, broke free from their patrol duties this morning to render aid to a woman who had just given birth in a parking lot on Road 200 in North Fork. At around 10:20 a.m on Thursday, July 31, FOX 26 (KMPH, Fresno) contacted the Madera County Sheriff’s Office asking them to ...

OAKHURST – Sierra Tel has announced its Keynote Speaker for the 2014 Patriot Day Remembrance event, and now invites the public to attend ceremonies at a new location on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014. This year, Patriot Day will be held at Oakhurst Community Park. Ceremonies begin at 9 a.m., and Keynote Speaker is World War II Veteran Bill Bastian, 92.

NORTH FORK – District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler has rescheduled his North Fork Town Hall meeting, originally set for Thursday, July 31. The new date will be Thursday, Aug. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. The location remains the same, the North Fork Rancheria Community Center, 56900 Kuhugib Road. The Town Hall schedule for the rest of 2014 is the ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire grew overnight to 7,024 acres and crews have achieved 10% containment of the blaze, burning on the Bass lake Ranger District near Rock Creek Campground along Forest Service Road 4S81. There are currently 1,074 personnel assigned to the incident, along with air resources that include a DC10 retardant plane (VLAT).

YOSEMITE – The El Portal Fire has now grown to 3,600 acres and is 34% contained. There are currently 1,063 personnel assigned to the incident, and the cost to date of suppression efforts is estimated at $4,400,000. Reports from fire officials note that the fire made a one-half to three-quarter mile run in the Crane Creek area today. Two small ...

YOSEMITE – The Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) in Yosemite National Park has been reopened to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, July 30. The road was temporarily closed due to fire activity related to the El Portal Fire. All other roads within the park, including the Tioga Road, are open and clear, with the exception of the Foresta community access ...