YOSEMITE – The El Portal Fire, which started a week ago today, is now estimated at 4,689 acres with 78% containment. The fire remained active throughout the night, and crews worked to mop up, strengthen, and hold the containment line. Today they will continue to cool hot spots within 300 feet of the fire’s edge.

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 ...

YOSEMITE – Firefighters made good progress today on the El Portal Fire. Though it grew in size to 4,198 acres, it is now 58% contained. Firing operations started today and will continue tonight along the northwestern fire perimeter. On the lower half of the fire, crews began to do mop up and patrol, and backhaul equipment. They will continue these ...

YOSEMITE – Residents of the community of Foresta will be allowed to return to their homes on Friday, Aug. 1, at 3 p.m. as the evacuation order is lifted. Big Oak Flat Road and Highway 120 were reopened yesterday, so all major roads in the park are now open, though visitors are urged to call 209-372-0200 before traveling in the ...

YOSEMITE – The El Portal Fire has now grown to 3,600 acres and is 34% contained. There are currently 1,063 personnel assigned to the incident, and the cost to date of suppression efforts is estimated at $4,400,000. Reports from fire officials note that the fire made a one-half to three-quarter mile run in the Crane Creek area today. Two small ...

YOSEMITE – The El Portal fire continued to gain ground throughout the day, reaching 3,545 acres in size. However, crews made good progress on the lines. Firefighters have achieved 34% containment as the fire continues to char the forest on the west side of Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest. There are currently 864 personnel assigned to the ...

EL PORTAL – Residents in the area of the El Portal fire are encouraged to attend a community briefing at 6 p.m. tonight – Monday, July 28 – at El Portal Elementary School. The current fire conditions will be presented. As of this morning, the fire is over 2,600 acres with 5% containment. Evacuations are still in effect. Over 700 ...

YOSEMITE – The El Portal Fire has now grown to 2,632 acres as it continues to char forests in Yosemite National Park (YNP) and the Stanislaus National Forest. As of 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, there is still 0% containment, and 585 personnel from around the region continue to battle the blaze, along with air tankers and helicopters.

YOSEMITE – A wildfire burning near El Portal is threatening homes in the Foresta area, and has promted evacuations and road closures along Highway 140. The fire was reported at 3:19 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. It started just above Old El Portal near Foresta and burned very rapidly up Merced Canyon, consuming approximately 2,100 acres as of 9 p.m., ...

MADERA COUNTY – A Coarsegold couple convicted on a combined 27 counts of arson were back in court on Monday, asking for new lawyers. Kenneth Jackson and Alice Waterman both requested Marsden hearings, whereby they asked that their court-appointed attorneys be dismissed and replaced, either due to ineffective assistance of counsel, or because there is some conflict between lawyer and ...