YOSEMITE — Wawona residents evacuated from their homes on Saturday can only watch and wait for a change in the erratic weather that has increased activity on the west flank of the South Fork Fire. The fire is now estimated at 3,473 acres with 10 percent containment. As the threat to the community of Wawona has grown with the daily ...

MADERA COUNTY — One man is dead and two others are in custody following a reported carjacking that ended with a chase through the orchards in the Madera Ranchos area this afternoon. Just before 2 p.m., CHP officers and Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports that three Hispanic males had held a motorist at gunpoint near Avenue 15 at Highway 41, ...

YOSEMITE — After increased fire activity on the west flank of the South Fork Fire forced residents of Wawona from their homes yesterday morning, they gathered at the Tenaya Lodge last night to hear from fire officials about the current situation. Incident Commander Deron Mills assured everyone that the decision to evacuate was not taken lightly. “We struggled with this ...

YOSEMITE — A Mandatory Evacuation Order has been issued for the community of Wawona inside Yosemite National Park due to increased activity on the west flank of the South Fork Fire. The evacuation order is for all areas east of Highway 41 along Chilnualna Falls Road and Forest Drive, including the Big Trees Lodge. Residents and visitors must vacate by ...

NORTH FORK — A single-vehicle crash at the Fine Gold Creek bridge blocked the road for about an hour this morning, and tore a big chunk out of the 70-year-old bridge. A 60-year-old man from Fresno was eastbound on Road 200 in a 2009 Lincoln Town Car registered to a limousine service in the valley, when he entered the 25 ...

YOSEMITE —  Crews made good progress on the South Fork Fire yesterday, constructing hand line on the west flank of the fire north of Wawona Dome. The fire is now estimated at 2,903 acres with 10 percent containment. There are 528 personnel assigned to the incident including 13 hand crews, 7 helicopters, 11 engines and 3 air tankers. UPDATE 11 ...

EASTERN MADERA COUNTY — Those planning a night out this Saturday need to be certain they have designated a sober driver, as should always be the case. The Oakhurst Area of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) and driver license safety checkpoint on Saturday, Aug. 19, somewhere within the unincorporated area of northeastern ...

YOSEMITE — The South Fork Fire continues to move away from the community of Wawona as crews strengthen the fireline on the west flank and hold it to the north of the Merced River. There was no fly-over with updated estimates overnight, so the fire is still estimated at 2,407 acres with 7 percent containment. There are currently 512 personnel ...

OAKHURST — Law enforcement officers were busy today in the Miami and Lewis Creek areas north of Oakhurst, eradicating several large marijuana grows from public lands. Members of CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting) worked in short-haul teams out of the Batterson Work Station heliport, removing plants and the accompanying infrastructure from illegal grows on the Sierra National Forest. A short-haul ...

YOSEMITE — The community of Wawona gathered last night to hear from fire officials and law enforcement about suppression efforts and evacuation plans for the South Fork Fire. The fire is now estimated at 2,407 acres with 7 percent containment. Incident Commander Deron Mills of the South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team is also the Deputy Fire Chief in Yosemite, ...