OAKHURST — The American Red Cross of the Central Valley has opened a shelter to assist residents affected by the ongoing Willow Fire at the Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Road 425B. The Red Cross previously established an evacuation center in response to the Willow Fire, but because of new mandatory evacuations for the Cascadel Woods community, volunteers have set up ...

NORTH FORK – Due to increased fire activity on the Willow Fire, a mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the Cascadel Woods community. This evacuation order includes all residences off of Cascadel Road (Road 233), Mission Drive, Peckinpah Acres Drive and Cascadel Woods subdivision. The Douglas Ranger Station Road mandatory evacuation has been expanded to include the remainder of ...

NORTH FORK – The Willow Fire ran another half-mile to the south in the last 24 hours, continuing it’s push across Peckinpah Mountain, and running to the east toward Whiskey Falls. The fire stayed mostly to the top of the mountain, and didn’t come down the slope. There was also a fairly healthy run on the northern perimeter in the ...

NORTH FORK – The Willow Fire was very active today, putting up huge columns of smoke and raising concerns as residents once again lined the roadways to watch trees torching and helicopters and tankers come and go in rapid succession. As of 9 p.m. there is no update on estimated acreage, still reported at 2,077 with 30 percent containment. New ...

NORTH FORK – Residents of Cascadel Woods should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. The Willow Fire remained active overnight due to the on-going hot and dry weather, pushing a half-mile south. Residents in the Cascadel Woods community, who are under a pre-evacuation advisory, should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Due to the fire activity, fire managers ...

NORTH FORK – The challenges continue on the southern perimeter of the Willow Fire, as it continues pushing its way across the South Fork Bluffs on the western face of Peckinpah Mountain. Now estimated at 2,077 acres with 30 percent containment, the fire’s southern division was characterized as “an interesting beast” during this morning’s briefing at the Incident Command Post ...

NORTH FORK – Firefighters made good progress on the Willow Fire today, strengthening lines, finishing hose lays, doing mop-up where possible, and clearing snags. Though there is no updated acreage on the fire as of this writing, the Incident Commander told the crowd at a packed Town Hall meeting this evening in North Fork, that he hopes for 30 percent ...

MADERA COUNTY – Charges have been filed against a San Jose man in connection with the death of a young boy on Bass Lake on June 27. The boy died after being run over by a wave runner, reportedly operated by Phat Chau. Chau, 55, has been charged with misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter after allegedly running over 13-year-old David Flores of ...

NORTH FORK – Today, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigators have stated that the Willow Fire on the Sierra National Forest, which started July 25 and has charred over 1,700 acres between North Fork and Bass Lake, Calif., was human caused. USFS Law Enforcement Officers, working in conjunction with the Madera County District Attorney’s Office, have identified a juvenile ...

NORTH FORK – A thick blanket of smoke hung over fire camp again this morning as the Willow Fire, burning between North Fork and Bass Lake, has now grown to 1,739 acres and is still listed at 5 percent containment. Heavy inversion and smoke will likely keep air resources grounded until about 11 a.m. this morning. There are 8 helicopters ...