YOSEMITE — The evacuation order for residents of the community of Wawona was lifted yesterday morning, and today at 7 a.m., the public was allowed to return. The fire is now estimated at 4,188 acres and is 25 percent contained. There are currently 422 personnel assigned to the incident including 8 hand crews, 5 helicopters and 10 engines. Some crews ...

YOSEMITE — While attention has been focused on the South Fork Fire which prompted the evacuation of Wawona last Saturday, the Empire Fire continues to burn near Bridalveil Campground, which is closed to the public to house South Fork Fire firefighters. The Empire Fire was reported on Aug. 1, and has grown to 2,013 acres – up from 1,200 acres ...

YOSEMITE — With the success of the burning operations on the west flank of the South Fork Fire, residents are being allowed to return to their homes this morning in the community of Wawona. Residents, homeowners and employees will be required to provide identification before being allowed to enter. The area will remain closed to the public until Thursday, Aug. ...

OAKHURST — An Oakhurst man was arrested after a routine traffic stop turned up drugs, guns and counterfeit money, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. On Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 9 p.m., a sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on a white 4-door sedan in the area of Highway 41 and Highway 49 for an expired registration. During the ...

MADERA – Kenneth Allen Jackson, convicted in 2014 on 21 counts of arson for a string of fires in the Yosemite Lakes Park area, has been denied parole by the Board of Parole Hearings. Jackson will remain in Solano State Prison. The Board’s denial was communicated to Madera County District Attorney David Linn in a letter on August 18, 2017. ...

YOSEMITE — Residents of the community of Wawona who were evacuated on Saturday are being allowed to return to their homes. According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, the mandatory evacuation order for residents and employees only will be lifted at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23. Residents, homeowners and employees will be required to provide identification before being allowed ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Aug. 14, to Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017. Ahwahnee residential burglary On Monday, Aug. 14, at 6:38 p.m., a deputy was dispatched to the 59000 block of Road 601 regarding a residential burglary. Due to the lack of investigative leads, witnesses, and suspect(s) ...

YOSEMITE — Firing operations on the South Fork Fire have proceeded according to plan as crews continue to focus on protecting the community of Wawona. The fire is now estimated at 3,820 acres with 17 percent containment. There are 765 personnel assigned to the incident including 22 hand crews, 7 helicopters and 20 engines, with air tankers as available. There ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Firefighters were called out in the early morning hours to reports of a vegetation fire in the Bootjack area. At 1:20 a.m., crews responded to a fire on Oak Grove Road near Blade Creek Road. It was reported to be burning in vegetation and no structures were immediately threatened. Firefighters had the forward progress stopped by 2:04 ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation into the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Sunday, Aug. 20, in the area of Avenue 12 and Highway 41. The shooting occurred just after 3 p.m. during a pursuit that followed a carjacking at gunpoint near the Chevron on Avenue 15. Just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, CHP ...