YOSEMITE — El Portal Road (Highway 140) inside Yosemite National Park is closed from the park boundary to its junction with Big Oak Flat Road due to small debris flows. No estimated time has been given for reopening. More details will follow as we have more information. UPDATE: El Portal Road has reopened as of 7:30 am on Friday, November ...

CALIFORNIA — Cal Fire is now accepting applications for the position of Fire Fighter I – a seasonal, temporary classification used by Cal Fire. Applications are accepted each year during a one-month filing period from Nov. 1 – 30. As a member of a fire crew, a Fire Fighter I fights wildland, rural, and structural fires and responds to various ...

YOSEMITE — In honor of Veterans Day on Saturday, Nov. 11 and Sunday, Nov. 12, the entry fee to Yosemite National Park is waived for all visitors. This fee free weekend is offered to all park visitors in honor of current members, retired members, and reserve members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. The National Park Service ...

SAN FRANCISCO – The North Fork bioenergy plant has just cleared another hurdle toward getting the project up and running. They have now been offered a power purchase agreement from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). North Fork Community Power, LLC, is a joint venture between Phoenix Energy and the North Fork Community Development Council that will own and operate a ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning a prescribed fire in the Mariposa Grove between Nov. 4 – 14, weather conditions permitting. Rangers expect to have a few days of smoke associated with this burn. Over 100 years of aggressive fire exclusion throughout the Sierra Nevada Range has dramatically altered forested ecosystems, say park officials. Historically, natural fires ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park has expanded and improved the Yosemite Museum’s Web Catalog to enhance the public’s ability to experience a wide variety of historically significant items. Visitors are invited to explore more than 2,000 catalog records for objects and images from the Yosemite Museum collection. These records include American Indian basketry, historic objects related to John Muir, and ...

TULARE COUNTY — District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges against four individuals for starting the Pier Fire by burning a stolen car. The Pier Fire charred nearly 37,000 acres east of Springville, Calif., from Aug. 29 to Sept 24. Isiac Renteria, 19, Richard Renteria, 21, Osvaldo Esparza-Guerrero, 20, and Breane Ojeda, 21, were arrested on Oct. 24. All ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Park Service (NPS) is considering increases to fees at highly visited national parks during peak visitor seasons. In a statement released yesterday, the NPS says the increase is “part of its commitment to improve the visitor experience and ensure America’s national parks are protected in perpetuity. “Proposed peak season entrance fees and revised fees for ...

CALIFORNIA — After one of the deadliest and most destructive weeks in California’s history, firefighters are prepared for another significant wind event in Southern California. Some 4,300 firefighters remain on the front lines of 9 active wildfires, many of which are projected to be fully contained by the end of the week. Firefighters continue to extinguish hot spots and perform ...

YOSEMITE — Visitors to Yosemite National Park should be aware of a number of construction projects that may cause delays in their travels. Yosemite Valley: Contractors continue work on Northside Drive between Sentinel Drive and the Yosemite Lodge crossing near Yosemite Falls. Currently they are installing curbs. Flaggers will control traffic, with one lane open at a time. Contractors also ...