COUNTY — Madera County District Attorney David A. Linn announced on Tuesday, Nov. 1 that at least two armed investigators will be stationed at the central count location during the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 8, election day.  All other investigators will be available for dispatch to any polling place that requires assistance. D.A. Linn says investigators are frequently used for ...

YOSEMITE — The El Portal Road (Hwy 140) is closed within Yosemite National Park due to a rockfall on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 31, say park officials. The closure is in place from the park line to the Cascades picnic area. Several large boulders on the road prohibit vehicular traffic. This closure is expected to last at least through ...

OAKHURST — At 3:20 p.m. this afternoon, as many families were readying their children for a big night out trick or treating, witnesses were understandably horrified to see a vehicle traveling on Highway 49 toward Oakhurst with flames coming out from under the car. The driver of the small passenger vehicle was apparently initially unaware of the problem and continued to operate ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Cal Fire has lifted the burn ban locally and so it’s time to take down the yellow fire signs that many have posted around the mountains. The North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, which provided the signs, appreciates any help you can offer to accomplish this task. If you posted signs, the auxiliary asks that you please ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Cal Fire and the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) announced that the burn suspension in all State Responsibility Areas of Madera, Mariposa and Merced Counties has been lifted as of 8 a.m. today. Cal Fire Burn Permits are required and burning is permitted on “Permissive Burn Days” only, as established by the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District. Permits can be obtained from any local ...

OAKHURST — What started as a cozy fire on a rainy day turned into a call to the fire department. At approximately 1 p.m. today, as emergency crews were already responding to a multi-vehicle accident in Coarsegold, firefighters were alerted to respond to reports of a structure fire on Laurel Drive. Engine 12 out of Oakhurst was among the first on scene, ...

COARSEGOLD — Just after noon today CHP received reports of a multi-vehicle accident on Road 417 about one half of a mile east of Highway 41. According to CHP, at approximately 12:15 p.m. a male driver from Coarsegold was heading westbound on Road 417 in a Honda sedan near Chukchansi Road, and traveling too fast for the rainy weather conditions. As ...

YOSEMITE — Current winter storm activity has created hazardous driving conditions along Tioga Road. Yosemite National Park has closed Tioga Road from from Crane Flat to Lee Vining. This closure will be in place until further notice. Tioga Road typically closes each fall and remains closed throughout the winter months. The road reopens when weather and road conditions permit in ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — An urgent winter weather advisory has been issued for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon including Bass Lake and Fish Camp, according to the National Weather Service. The advisory is currently in effect from 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 through 11 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30. Above 8,000 feet an accumulation of six to ...

COARSEGOLD — A three vehicle-accident on Highway 41 just south of Coarsegold has closed Highway 41 in both directions for a short time. At 9:30 a.m., CHP and Cal Fire responded to reports of the crash near Van Teri Road. No injuries have been reported, however transmission fluid, nails and debris are scattered across the roadway. Caltrans is at scene ...