NORTH FORK – It takes a village to support hundreds of firefighters battling thousands of acres of scorching flames, and that’s what has sprung up, literally overnight, at the Old Mill Site in North Fork. Nearly 1,700 firefighters, support staff, overhead and contractors are staged on the 135-acre compound managed by the North Fork Community Development Council, effectively doubling the ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Crews are doing a great job of holding the line on the French Fire. New numbers this morning estimate it at 13,835 acres with 60% containment. The evacuation order has been lifted as of 9 a.m. today for residents living in the Arnold Meadow and Wagner’s Mammoth Pool Resort area. The Forest Service Area Road and ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire has now burned an estimated 13,803 acres and is 60% contained. An evacuation order will be lifted on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 9 a.m. for residents living in the Arnold Meadow and Wagner’s Mammoth Pool Resort area. The Forest Service Area Road and Trail Closure remains in effect and the area remains closed ...

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 ...

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, burning on the Bass Lake Ranger District near Rock Creek, has prompted the evacuation and closure of all campgrounds along Forest Road 81 (Minarets/Mammoth Pool Road). According to the Forest Service, the closure on Road 81 will be moved down to the Redinger Lake Overlook, about seven miles up from North Fork. Residents ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – A fire near Rock Creek campground in the Sierra National Forest is limiting access to the Minarets/Mammoth Pool Road and displacing campers. About 100 acres have burned since the fire was reported about 6 a.m. this morning by the lookout at Shuteye Peak. The Incident Commander is reporting via radio that there is a potential for ...

NELDER GROVE – A half-mile hike into Nelder Grove of Giant Sequoias yesterday revealed the presence of about 20 Sierra National Forest firefighters, hard at work. The Fresno 4 Crew is on detail at this location off Sky Ranch Road, just past the turnoff to Calvin Crest, working to restore the forest to its natural state. They are also available ...

CLOVIS – The Sierra National Forest will be implementing forest-wide fire restrictions. Higher fuel temperature, dry fuel conditions, severe drought, and an increase in fire activity on the forest and nationwide has led to this decision. Restrictions are in place in all areas on the Sierra National Forest, including the wilderness. Campfires and barbecues are only allowed in developed campgrounds ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Last night’s spectacular lightning storm let U.S. Forest Service firefighters know they would likely be busy today. There were 173 confirmed lightning strikes across the Sierra National Forest, sparking some 10 fires, according to SNF Headquarters. The Cattle One Fire, burning on the Bass Lake Ranger District just below Clover Meadow, was reported by the lookout ...