Dear Neighbors, During the past month our community and hospital have made significant changes in how we work. For us, this is the first time in our careers when we are caring for patients without the patient’s friends and family physically visiting to provide emotional and spiritual support. We understand families are missing out on celebrating the first hours of ...

YOSEMITE — We have good news and bad news. The bad news is that fire season has not been cancelled due to the coronavirus. The good news is that the virus will likely result in there being far fewer outdoor activities and gatherings this summer, which should lead to fewer forest fires. That’s what we’re hoping, anyway. So what can ...

COARSEGOLD — To help celebrate National Dog Day — Aug. 26 — Amanda Steen, co-owner of Graydon Kennels, shared some important tips she learned from her father Michael Steen to help keep your pets safe and secure. “The time to plan is not during a panic situation,” Amanda says. Vaccinations Typical vaccination requirements that professionals will need include: Dogs — ...

OAKHURST — The Mt. Bullion Fire Crew is conducting a weed abatement and fire-safety operation this week around the Oakhurst Community Center and Oakhurst Little League fields. The two-day (June 25-26) operation is being supervised by Captain Gordon Dulcich. During Tuesday’s cleanup at the OCC, the fire crew was called away twice. “They had to drop all of their weed ...

MADERA COUNTY — Cal Fire conducted a relatively rare live-fire training course Saturday and Sunday in Chowchilla. Participants in the weekend class — called State Fire Marshal Fire Control 3A — came from the Cal Fire Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) and included individuals from Madera County Fire, Madera City Fire, Mariposa County Fire, Merced County Fire, Atwater City Fire, California Department ...

NORTH FORK — Several fires in the last few years, including the Courtney Fire (2014), Railroad Fire (2017), and Mission Fire (2017), posed significant risks to public health and safety and destroyed homes and infrastructure. In many cases, defensible space and thinned areas made the difference in preventing further high severity fire and economic loss. The Madera Strategic Wildfire Mitigation ...

OAKHURST — “We have a lot of people working in this area and really want to be involved in the community,” says Chriso Lee, director of operations for ArborWorks Inc., a tree care company that in just the past few years has become one of the area’s largest employers. Every day, the company sends dozens of crews out around the ...

OAKHURST — Area residents looking for ways to “harden” their homes and prepare for fire season got some tips on Saturday, June 15 at Oakhurst Elementary when Madera County officials, in partnership with other area public safety agencies, hosted a wildland fire safety workshop. “Go home and put on your firefighter hat and take a good look around your home ...

MADERA — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) has announced effective 8 a.m. Friday, May 31, hazard reduction burning in Eastern Madera County is restricted below 2,000 feet in elevation. Hazard reduction burning above 2,000 feet is allowed with a valid permit from San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Burn permits may ...

SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) meteorologists are forecasting that spring storms will impact its service area today and Thursday. PG&E meteorologists forecast a late spring storm moving into the service area beginning this afternoon, and they urge customers to take the necessary steps to be prepared and stay safe. Moderate to heavy rain is forecast to ...