NORTH FORK – Crews on the Willow Fire put in a good, hard shift today, though fire officials have not updated the estimated acreage or percent of containment at this time. A mapping flight over the fire tonight will provide new data for an update after the morning briefing tomorrow. The current estimate stands at 1,521 acres with 5 percent ...

NORTH FORK – One of the big challenges of battling the Willow Fire, in addition to some nearly vertical granite walls, is the heavy regrowth of dense brush and the number dangerous snags left behind after the 2001 North Fork Fire. Over 4,000 acres burned in that fire along the Willow Creek drainage and across the face of Peckinpah Mountain. ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office is warning all residents about a telephone fraud that’s targeting the mountain area. Scammers are using scrambling devices to change the phone number shown on the caller ID, in some cases showing the Sheriff’s Office phone number of 209-966-3615, or even just showing 911. The scammers are identifying themselves as Sheriff’s Office ...

NORTH FORK – Word is coming in from Operations on the Willow Fire that Road 274, between North Fork and Bass Lake, will reopen at noon today,  July 27. All other road closures and evacuations will remain in effect, including Central Camp Road, Douglas Ranger Station north of Trails End, and Autumn Ridge Way (Whiskey Falls Road/Forest Road 8S09). Whiskers ...

NORTH FORK – There has been no change to the estimate on acreage for the Willow Fire, with fire officials holding it at yesterday’s 1,521 acres. The updated map shows only a small push-out to the east in Division M. (see maps below) The 5 percent containment number has also not changed as of this hour, but we await reports ...

NORTH FORK – The Willow fire is now estimated at 1,521 acres, and is still at 5 percent containment. The fire is burning in the Willow Creek Canyon north of North Fork, and east of Bass Lake. Air Tankers and helicopters worked from above all day, as ground crews strengthened firelines and worked in steep, dense terrain. More resources continue ...

NORTH FORK – Mountain area residents woke to a red sunrise and the smell of smoke as the Willow Fire grew to 1,100 acres overnight. It is now 5 percent contained. The fire, which was reported at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, is burning in heavy fuels along the Willow Creek drainage north of North Fork and east of ...

NORTH FORK – The Old Mill Site in North Fork will once again play host to an Incident Command Post as the Willow Fire ravages 200 acres north of town. The fire was reported at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, at the end of Willow Canyon Drive, and quickly raced north and east, burning in heavy fuels. It is ...

OAKHURST — The American Red Cross of the Central Valley is opening an evacuation center at the Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Road 425B, for residents affected by the Willow Fire. Volunteers will be on scene to provide comfort, snacks, and water for evacuated families. The Red Cross is also coordinating with the Central California Animal Disaster Team to care for ...

NORTH FORK – A fast moving fire burning on the Sierra National Forest between North Fork and Bass Lake started today at about 2 p.m. Residents are lining Road 274 taking photos and video of the huge tower of smoke rising about the Willow Creek drainage. Road 274 between Old Central Camp Road and Central Camp Road is closed, along ...