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 the Office of Assemblyman Frank Bigelow CALIFORNIA – The wildfire season is still raging across our state. In our region alone, wildfires have devastated some of our communities. Even now, homeowners and first responders are fighting to protect homes, property, and lives. While I hope that none of you have been affected by a wildfire, there are resources ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The search for Nick Goldman came to a successful end late last night, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Search & Rescue crews found him near the Quartz Mountain Trailhead. He is in stable condition. Due to pitch black darkness, volunteers stayed the night with Goldman and extracted him from the location at first light this morning. ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Sheriff’s Office has issued two fraud alerts in an effort to keep residents safe from scams related to land-lines, cell phones and computers. The first is an alert about a new scam using the name of the Publishers Clearinghouse. Predators are now said to be calling potential victims with instructions to send cash by way of ...

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is issuing an identity theft alert to citizens placing ads online. If you get a call from someone claiming your credit card is no good, hang up, and call your credit card company directly. The Sheriff’s Office received word this morning from an Eastern Madera County couple, who placed an ad online in the ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – As of Sunday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., the Incident Commander and Mariposa County Sheriff have announced the lifting of evacuations on the Bridge Fire, and all residents are being allowed to return to their homes. Harris Road at Highway 49 and Harris Road at Ponderosa Court will be open to residents only. Expect continued security patrols ...

O’NEALS – That band of merry makers and preservers of local history are at it again. This time the Clampers will be dedicating a monument commemorating a notorious stage robbery at the location of the long-gone town of Hildreth near O’Neals. The gentlemen of E Clampus Vitus, affectionately know as “Clampers,” love a good bit of fun, but they are ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – It was a day of successes on the Bridge Fire today, with crews holding it at 300 acres, and achieving 60% containment. Some 700 structures were threatened at the height of the fire, and not one was lost. As of 7 p.m. this evening, the evacuation order is lifted for residents living in the Ponderosa Basin area ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – On Saturday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m., the Bridge Fire Incident Commander and Mariposa County Sheriff will allow most residents to return to their homes. Today at 7 p.m. residents of the Ponderosa Basin community will be allowed to return home, with the exception of those who live on the dirt portion of Harris Road.

MARIPOSA COUNTY – As fire management personnel gathered for the morning briefing at the Mariposa County Fairground’s Incident Command Post, they were optimistic yet cautious about fire conditions today. Crews achieved 25% containment overnight on the 300 acre fire, burning northeast from the William Sell bridge on Highway 49.