MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–The 2023 Wildfire season is just around the corner, and the time to prepare for wildfires is now. The Valley Air District encourages residents to be prepared and plan for potential poor air quality due to wildfire smoke that might reach the Valley as we head into the hotter, drier time of the year. Predicting the severity of the ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–With fire season right around the corner, knowing when a fire starts in your area can mean the difference between life and death. Nearly every wildfire fatality occurs within the first hour, yet official notifications are often delayed, sparse, or non-existent.  Watch Duty (WD), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, alerts you of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real time when ...

MARIPOSA—The California Highway Patrol is reporting that a traffic collision has occurred on Highway 49 at Darrah Road. Two vehicles are involved. Major injuries are being reported as well. The northbound lane is currently blocked. An ambulance is enroute and an air ambulance has been ordered to report to the Usona Landing Zone. Please avoid the area if possible. We ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has the following operations scheduled for next week in Mariposa County. State Route 49 • One-way traffic control from Varain Road to Ben Hur Road in Mormon Bar near Mariposa for sign work from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. • Moving lane closure from Mount Bullion ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — – Survivors with losses caused by the severe storms, floods, landslides and mudslides that began February 21, 2023, have less than 30 days left to register for federal disaster assistance. The deadline to apply for assistance is Monday, June 5, 2023. Disaster assistance is available to eligible individuals and households in the disaster-designated counties of:  Kern Madera ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Homeowners and renters in disaster-designated counties affected by the recent severe winter storms and flooding may now have access to free legal advice for disaster-related legal issues. Residents can call a Disaster Legal Service hotline at 888-382-3406 or go to http://freelegalanswers.org. Callers may be asked to leave a message and a specialist will get back to them ...

OAKHURST—The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reporting a traffic collision has occurred at the junction of Highways 49 and 41 in Oakhurst. A single motorcycle is involved with an ambulance enroute. Initial reports indicated two lanes of traffic were blocked, however an update indicates one lane is open. Please avoid the area if possible. We will update this article when ...

STATE ROUTE 41 PAVING AND REHABILITATION PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TONIGHT IN MADERA COUNTY  The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Cal Valley Construction announced the scheduled project to pave and rehabilitate nearly three miles of State Route 41, between Avenue 15 and State Route 145, in Madera County. The following will occur: The project, covering nearly 3 miles, ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Madera, Mendocino and Mono counties were added to the major disaster declaration for California’s severe storms and flooding that began on February 21, 2023.  They join the counties previously designated for Individual Assistance: Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, Tulare and Tuolumne. In addition, Amador, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Inyo, Madera, Modoc, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz counties are now eligible for FEMA’s Public ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has the following operations scheduled next week in Mariposa County. State Route 49 • One-way traffic control from Harris Road to Kimbell Road near Mariposa for utility work from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. • One-way traffic control from the West Fork Chowchilla River to Bootjack ...