CLOVIS – As we mentioned in recent newsletters, we are in the process of finalizing the revised Sierra and Sequoia forest plans, environmental impact statement, and draft records of decision. Today we are sharing overviews of the wilderness recommendation process and how the revised plans address sustainable recreation and management of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. These overviews summarize ...

Sierra National Forest continues with the winter/spring prescribed burning within the Bass Lake Ranger District. CLOVIS — The Sierra National Forest (SNF) will continue prescribed burning within the Bass Lake Ranger District, beginning Monday, March 14, as weather and air quality is optimal to start ignitions. These treatments will consist of understory burning. This includes removing fuels created during tree ...

Sierra National Forest Seeks Public Input for Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Funding CLOVIS — The Sierra National Forest (SNF) is requesting public input for the California 2022 State Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program application cycle. As part of the grant process, the SNF is requesting public comment on the draft applications submitted to the State. This ...

CAL FIRE NOW ACCEPTING WILDFIRE RESILIENCE BLOCK GRANT APPLICATIONS $10 million in funding available to support private forestland owners SACRAMENTO – CAL FIRE is announcing up to $10 million in funding available for Wildfire Resilience Block Grants. Funding to support private forestland owners is provided through the Budget Act of 2021 and supports California’s goals of improved forest health, resilience ...

As More Cameras, Weather Stations and Grid Devices Were Installed, Re-engineered Circuit Settings Cut Ignitions. The Path Begins to Put 10,000 Miles of Powerlines Underground Mountain Communities — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reached major milestones in 2021 in reducing the risk of wildfires to improve the safety of the electric system. The safety work was a part of ...

This is the first in a series of articles SNO will be doing called “Wildfire Wednesday.” To begin, there will be 8 articles presenting “The 12 Step Guide to Help Plan in Advance for Evacuation.” This guide was put together by Katie Hepler and the members of the California Fire Support Group on Facebook. The California Fire Support Group is ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Yes, it’s the dreaded word wildfires. I’m sure it feels like the wrong time of year to be talking about wildfires for many people, but for me, it’s a year-round conversation as a reporter for our Mountain Communities. One of my responsibilities is to monitor and report on wildfires and emergencies on social media. Many in our ...

HANFORD — The National Weather Service Hanford Office has issued a Wind Advisory and High Wind Warning for areas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite National Park and the surrounding foothills beginning Friday morning and continuing until Saturday afternoon. This has people’s attention considering it was one year ago almost to the day that our communities experienced a highly destructive Mono Wind ...

OAKHURST — It was the day after Christmas 12-26-21, and our area had been receiving some much-needed snow. Families were very excited for the chance to play in the snow together, even though officials had been recommending against travel into the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the week leading up to Christmas, as we reported here. I had spent the day ...

SNF  – Heavy winter weather has been occurring in the Sierra National Forest (SNF) over the past few days, with more of the same expected in the coming days. The weather system has brought much needed rainfall to the valley, and snow to the Southern Sierra, with snow levels falling to as low as into the foothills. This weather is ...