MADERA COUNTY — A volunteer firefighter, or PCF (Paid Call Firefighter) became the patient rather than the rescuer, when he lost consciousness while responding to a medical aid call in Chowchilla last night. Madera County Fire Engine 2, staffed with one PCF, responded to a 911 call for an in-home medical emergency at about 11 p.m. on Wednesday. The engine ...

MADERA COUNTY – Most people are likely not aware that the majority of Madera County fire stations are not manned, and sit empty until the Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs or Volunteers) assigned to those stations are called up. People also may not realize that there is only one firefighter on duty in Oakhurst, and that the first engines they see ...

OAKHURST – “As residents of this county we’ve been gambling that nobody in our public safety ranks would lose their life in the line of duty, and we can’t keep going on like we’ve been going.” These are the sentiments expressed by firefighters and sheriff’s deputies as they gathered today at the old Blockbuster in Oakhurst before heading out to ...

MADERA COUNTY – A group of firefighters, deputies and citizens took to the streets on Saturday to engage the community in the conversation about Measure L. They believe strongly that if residents know all the facts about the measure, they will support it. Nearly two dozen people gathered at the Maywood Center on Ave. 12 to “walk, knock and talk” ...

MADERA COUNTY — There are several public meetings scheduled over the next two weeks that will allow residents to learn more about the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax known as Measure L. With so much discussion about the measure, these are important meetings for voters wanting to learn the facts and have their concerns addressed. Mark your calendar for a ...

NORTH FORK — Residents on Willow Creek Drive have just been through a week of threats from the rising waters of Willow Creek, but this evening the threat was from fire. Just after 7:30 p.m., reports came in that a man had built up a pile of debris on his porch and lit it on fire. According to neighbors, they ...

OAKHURST — A memorial service and reception are planned for retired firefighter and beloved community member Kenneth Jordan, on Sunday, Dec. 11. The memorial is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Mountain Christian Center, located at 40299 CA-49 in Oakhurst. Following the memorial, guests are invited to a reception at Sierra Pines Church, located at 40855 Covey Court in Oakhurst. Ken ...

SACRAMENTO – In response to the massive tree die off across California—which the U.S. Forest Service today estimated has killed over 102 million trees since 2010 — Cal Fire is continuing its work with federal, local, and utility partners to remove dead and dying trees that pose the greatest risk to public safety. “Although the epidemic tree mortality we are ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Fresh rain and snow has made conditions right for Sierra National Forest crews who are continuing their pile burning work this week, according to SNF Battalion Chief Burt Stalter. “We burned along the east boundary of Cascadel Woods yesterday to remove piles leftover from the Willow Fire contingency lines.” Starting today, through the remainder of this week, ...

COARSEGOLD — Just before 9 p.m. tonight firefighters were called out to reports of a structure fire in the 43000 block of Ellen Mine Road, just north of Road 415. The first engine at scene at 9:08 p.m. reported the structure was 80 percent involved. Three additional water tenders were requested. As of approximately 9:50 p.m. the structure was a ...