NORTH FORK — As returning residents settle back into the lives in the Mission Fire area, fire crews continue their very good work toward total containment and control. The fire is still holding at 1,035 acres and is now 65 percent contained. There are currently 1,479 personnel assigned to the incident including 180 California National Guard troops specially trained as ...

OAKHURST — It was another productive day on the lines at the Railroad Fire, as crews have now achieved 55 percent containment. Sky Ranch Road was reopened to residents just before noon today, including ECCO and The Grove. Highway 41 is scheduled to be reopened tomorrow afternoon at 5 p.m. The Railroad Fire is now estimated at 12,344 acres, and ...

OAKHURST — Residents evacuated from Sky Ranch Road are being allowed to return home. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has announced that evacuations will be lifted as of 11:30 a.m. today for Sky Ranch, ECCO and The Grove. Residents will be required to show identification to enter, and the area remains closed to the public until further notice. Resident screening ...

NORTH FORK — Residents evacuated last Sunday ahead of the Mission Fire are being allowed to return home. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has announced that the evacuations will be lifted for residents only at 10 a.m. today. Resident screening locations have been established at traffic control points. Entry to non-residents will remain restricted. For additional information regarding traffic control ...

OAKHURST —  Firefighters continued to make good progress on the Railroad Fire overnight, and officials have released their plan for repopulating evacuated areas and reopening Highway 41. The fire is now estimated at 12,141 acres with 50 percent containment. Fire officials have announced this schedule for the lifting of evacuations: The Fish Camp area will be open to the public ...

OAKHURST — At a community meeting tonight in Oakhurst, residents, travelers on Highway 41 and those who are employed north of town heard very good news. Fire officials have announced the schedule for the lifting of evacuations on the Railroad Fire. The Fish Camp area will be open to the public tomorrow, though people will have to access from the north ...

COARSEGOLD — Just before 4 p.m. today firefighters were called out to Highway 41 near Serpa Canyon, and by the time they arrived on scene minutes later, the flames had been doused by local travelers. At 3:57 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a grass fire just starting on Highway 41 across from the Broken Bit. Meanwhile, Jessica and John Frabotta ...

NORTH FORK — Evacuated residents of North Fork’s Cascadel area will be happy to hear that the Mission Fire did not grow in size overnight and is holding at 1,035 acres. The fire is now 25 percent contained. There are currently 1,409 personnel assigned to the incident including 146 engines, 25 hand crews, 18 dozers, 11 water tenders and 9 ...

OAKHURST — There was no infrared flight information for the Railroad Fire overnight, so it is still being reported at 11,603 acres with 43 percent containment. However, a look at the briefing map from this morning (at the bottom of the page) shows a lot more black (containment) line than on yesterday’s map, after 24 hours of good progress on ...

OAKHURST — The Madera County Sheriff’s Office would like to expedite the process for residents to gain access to their residences when the danger from the Railroad Fire and the Mission Fire has passed and re-population occurs. In light of this effort, the Sheriff’s Office will open the Oakhurst Substation (see map below) for residents to come present documentation as ...