SACRAMENTO – As temperatures fall and you spend more time indoors in front of the fireplace, the last thing you want to think about is the condition of your chimney. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage or destroy homes and injure people. Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. Make sure a professional chimney sweep inspects your solid fuel venting ...

CLOVIS – With the recent change in weather conditions, Fire Officials with the Sierra National Forest are declaring the Creek Fire 100 percent contained. The Creek Fire started the evening of September 04, 2020 in the Big Creek drainage burning an unprecedented 379,895 acres before being contained on December 24, 2020. Due to the severity of the fire, many hazard trees ...

SACRAMENTO – The Keep California Working Act garnered more momentum in the Legislature with new co-authors announcing their support for the bill within the last week. With the new additions, a total of thirty-seven legislators are now supporting the measure. This milestone signifies an opportunity for the Legislature to work together on small business relief efforts. The Keep California Working ...

SACRAMENTO – As Californians prepare for the Christmas holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reminds everyone the rules of safe driving are just as critical as ever.  Although traffic may be lighter this holiday season, it is not an invitation to speed.  The rules of the road still apply, and motorists should avoid driving tired, impaired, ...

SACRAMENTO – If you are a California survivor of the recent wildfires receiving rental assistance for temporary housing through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, let FEMA know if you have a continuing need. Rental assistance is for paying rent, including a security deposit, at a place other than your damaged home. To continue to receive it, you must prove an ...

NORTH FORK, Calif. – Pizza Factory announced its newest franchise owner, James Silva, who has a long history with the neighborhood pizzeria concept. From throwing dough in the kitchen to managing operations at his college town’s Pizza Factory in Fowler, Silva is now transitioning into restaurant ownership, taking over operations at the existing North Fork restaurant and following the previous owner’s ...

MARIPOSA – On Monday, December 21 at 8 a.m. CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) will lift the burn permit requirement in Mariposa County. CAL FIRE burn permits will NOT be required. Open burning will be allowed on “Permissive Burn Days” as established by Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District. MMU would like to remind residents that creating and maintaining 100 ...

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. Each year the State of California makes funding available through the OHMVR Grants Program. This Program provides financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations (federal, city, county, nonprofit, etc.) who develop, maintain, ...

MARIPOSA – Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office now has the ability to accept emergency text messages. Residents can text 911 instead of calling, if they are unable to do so in the case of an emergency. This technology is available to use from their cell phones when speaking on the phone is not an option or could put the caller in ...

Article submitted by Paul Netter, SCE FRESNO — Big Creek has always had “the hardest-working water in the world,” but after the devastation of the Creek Fire, it might also lay claim to the hardest-working wildfire restoration effort too. Not to mention the largest restoration effort in Southern California Edison’s history. Following a wildfire that began on Sep. 4 and ...