SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Crews made good progress overnight on the French Fire, aided by cloud cover and lower temperatures. The fire is now estimated at 13,267 acres with 30% containment. Ground crews and equipment continued line construction along the northwest perimeter of the fire, the area of greatest concern. Today crews will continue building and reinforcing containment lines on ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Unstable weather is expected in the area of the French Fire overnight, after lower temperatures and higher humidity throughout the day provided some welcome relief. Planners expect cloudy conditions with potential showers and thunderstorms tonight with light winds, which will be more erratic near any thunderstorms. So far an estimated 12,827 acres have been burned, and ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Cooler weather and lower temperatures are expected to help fire crews on the French Fire today. Some 12,827 acres have been charred by the fire which is now 20% contained. The burnout operation was completed on the southern end of the fire last night to secure containment lines down to the San Joaquin River. Direct fire ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Officials are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible for causing the French Fire. An investigation has concluded, and it has been determined that an abandoned campfire near the Rock Creek Campground was the cause of the French Fire on the Bass Lake Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest.

FISH CAMP – Passengers on the Logger at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad were enjoying a brief stop at the half-way point of their trip into the Sierra National Forest near Fish Camp on Saturday, when they were stunned by the sight of an 8-year-old girl wandering out of the woods alone. It was about 1 p.m. and the ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire has now grown to 11,466 acres with 15% containment. Yesterday’s active fire behavior continued throughout the night as the fire moved to the western shore of Mammoth Pool just north of the boat ramp. Last night’s infrared images show the largest areas of growth on the northern sections of the fire. A firing ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Firefighters had their work cut out for them on the northern zones of the French Fire today. Fire activity was moderate until about 2 p.m., but as the wind and topography aligned, activity picked up and the fire began exhibiting extreme behavior and rapid rates of spread. Residents living in the community of Arnold Meadow were ...

MADERA COUNTY – This afternoon, under the direction of Sheriff John Anderson, the Madera County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) issued an emergency evacuation notice to those who live or vacation in Arnold Meadow. With large embers spotting out ahead of the French Fire, conditions required the mandatory evacuation, and a notice was issued through MC-Alert. There were roughly 11 ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The most recent updates from fire officials show the French Fire now at 8,207 acres with 15% containment. Once again, a blanket of thick smoke hangs over the mountains and foothills, limiting flight time for air operations supporting a burnout on the southern edge of the fire. As the top priority, work to improve that southern ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – As the day shift gathered for their morning briefing on the French Fire at 0600, the smoke was probably heavier than on any morning since the fire started on Monday. But mother nature cooperated, the inversion lifted, and helicopters were able to lift off from the Incident Command Post/Heliport in North Fork by mid afternoon.