Written by Sarah Bolton – Hello Madera County Residents! Welcome to the second edition of the Tree Mortality Community Column. Our company, Blue Ridge Services (BRS), is partnering with Madera County to oversee and implement their tree mortality mitigation project. At this point, most of us who live in Madera County are very used to tree mortality. In the past, ...

AHWAHNEE – Mop-up continues on the Oak Fire burning northeast of Ahwahnee. The fire is estimated at 360 acres and is now 75 percent contained. All advisory evacuation notices have been lifted as of 9 a.m. today. Road 620 is now open without restriction. Fire personnel are still active in the area, so please reduce speeds and drive with caution. ...

AHWAHNEE – The Oak Fire is now 55 percent contained as crews continue to strengthen containment lines and do mop-up in the interior. With more accurate mapping, the estimated size has been adjusted to 360 acres. The fire started on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 3:44 p.m. off Lonesome Oak Road north of Road 620. At 2 p.m. yesterday, evacuation orders ...

AHWAHNEE – Another successful day on the fireline brings the containment of the Oak Fire to 50 percent. The estimated size is still holding at 390 acres. The fire started on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 3:44 p.m. off Lonesome Oak Road north of Road 620. At 2 p.m. today, evacuation orders were lifted for the communities of Cedarbrook and Timberloft. ...

BASS LAKE – It has been less than two years since the Bass Lake Courthouse returned to full-time status, hearing jury trials and providing mountain area residents the convenience of a local court. But now, the Superior Court of California, County of Madera, intends to permanently close the Bass Lake Courthouse, effective Dec. 3, forcing Eastern Madera County residents to ...

AHWAHNEE – The huge column of smoke over the Oakhurst area the past few days has been reduced to a light haze as firefighters on the Oak Fire continue to hold it at 390 acres. It is now 45 percent contained. Crews have mopped up about 60 feet inside the line on the western and northern perimeters and will be ...

AHWAHNEE – Firefighters made excellent progress today on the Oak Fire, burning northeast of Ahwahnee above Road 620. The fire was estimated at 390 acres at 1:30 p.m. today, and is holding at that acreage. The fire is 35 percent contained. The mission for the day was to hit the east flank hard with water drops and retardant between Road ...

AHWAHNEE – As crews head out to the lines on the Oak Fire today, their main focus will be on the eastern flank where they are still working to complete the fireline. The Oak Fire was reported at 3:44 p.m. yesterday afternoon and quickly grew to an estimated 250-300 acres. As of 10 a.m. today, the fire is estimated at ...

AHWAHNEE – Residents have been evacuated and advisories issued ahead of the Oak Fire, burning north of Road 620 (Bissett Station) northeast of Ahwahnee. As of 5:47 p.m., the fire was estimated at 150 acres with a moderate rate of spread, and by 7 p.m., the estimate had risen to 250 acres with 0 percent containment. The fire continues to ...

AHWAHNEE – Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire northeast of the community of Ahwahnee. At 3:45 p.m., resources from Cal Fire, Madera County Fire and the Sierra National Forest, along with air resources, were dispatched to Lonesome Oak Lane north of Bissett Station Road. CHP and Madera County Sheriff’s deputies also responded to what has been dubbed the ...