SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Officials are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible for causing the French Fire. An investigation has concluded, and it has been determined that an abandoned campfire near the Rock Creek Campground was the cause of the French Fire on the Bass Lake Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest.

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire has now grown to 11,466 acres with 15% containment. Yesterday’s active fire behavior continued throughout the night as the fire moved to the western shore of Mammoth Pool just north of the boat ramp. Last night’s infrared images show the largest areas of growth on the northern sections of the fire. A firing ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Firefighters had their work cut out for them on the northern zones of the French Fire today. Fire activity was moderate until about 2 p.m., but as the wind and topography aligned, activity picked up and the fire began exhibiting extreme behavior and rapid rates of spread. Residents living in the community of Arnold Meadow were ...

MADERA COUNTY – This afternoon, under the direction of Sheriff John Anderson, the Madera County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) issued an emergency evacuation notice to those who live or vacation in Arnold Meadow. With large embers spotting out ahead of the French Fire, conditions required the mandatory evacuation, and a notice was issued through MC-Alert. There were roughly 11 ...

NORTH FORK – Sierra Mono Indian Museum has announced that the 44th Annual Indian Fair Days and Pow Wow, previously set for this Saturday, Aug. 2, has been rescheduled due to poor air quality as a result of the French Fire burning on the Sierra National Forest. That’s the bad news, and there’s also good news. The event has now ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The most recent updates from fire officials show the French Fire now at 8,207 acres with 15% containment. Once again, a blanket of thick smoke hangs over the mountains and foothills, limiting flight time for air operations supporting a burnout on the southern edge of the fire. As the top priority, work to improve that southern ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – As the day shift gathered for their morning briefing on the French Fire at 0600, the smoke was probably heavier than on any morning since the fire started on Monday. But mother nature cooperated, the inversion lifted, and helicopters were able to lift off from the Incident Command Post/Heliport in North Fork by mid afternoon.

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire grew overnight to 7,024 acres and crews have achieved 10% containment of the blaze, burning on the Bass lake Ranger District near Rock Creek Campground along Forest Service Road 4S81. There are currently 1,074 personnel assigned to the incident, along with air resources that include a DC10 retardant plane (VLAT).

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire continues to ravage the forest on the Bass Lake Ranger District, growing overnight to 5,600 acres with 0% containment. There are currently 536 personnel assigned to the incident, staging at the Old Mill Site in North Fork where a heliport has been set up with six helicopters and three additional on order.

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The French Fire, burning on the Bass Lake Ranger District along Forest Road 81, has now reached 3,637 acres with no containment noted. Fire crews continued to build new containment lines on Tuesday, and reopen established control lines which were used during the Aspen Fire last year.