OAKHURST–Most people had already snuggled into bed for the night when cellphones starting ringing and pinging, alerting people to a vegetation fire on Deadwood Mountain just outside of Oakhurst. Early reports put the fire near the lookout tower on top of the mountain. Then people started reporting there were multiple fires. Some said 3, others up to 8. Firefighters from ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–Who would have expected such an intense weather weekend in July? Several thunderstorms made their way through the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains early in the weekend. Sunday morning culminated in an intense thunderstorm moving through the foothills. It all began with warnings from The National Weather Service (NWS) that thunderstorms would move through the area over ...

MARIPOSA–The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) would like to remind Eastern Madera County and Mariposa County residents of the fire danger and use of illegal fireworks. All fireworks, including “Safe and Sane,” are illegal in Mariposa County as well as all areas east of the Madera Canal in Madera County. CAL FIRE Peace Officers will be out in ...

RAYMOND–Air and ground firefighters are responding to a vegetation fire in the 38000 block of Road 600. The fire is reported to be 5 acres burning at a moderate rate of spread in oak woodland. The potential is for 25 acres. This is the Gulch Fire. We will update this article when more information is available. UPDATE 3:30pm The Madera ...

INDIAN LAKES–Air and ground firefighters are responding to a vegetation fire in the area of Shawnee Avenue and Sioux. The fire is reported to be 10 acres with a potential for 100 acres. No structures are threatened at this time. This is the Sioux Fire. We will update this article as more information is available. Update 6:33 pm The fire ...

FRESNO— Residents of the Central Valley are facing an above-normal wildfire season as the climate crisis threatens to upend more communities. The best defense during an emergency is to be prepared. The American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter advises everyone to get ready now. The number of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. has increased by 85% in just the last ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–The Eastern Madera Fire Safe Council (EMCFSC) is building plans for regional high-impact fuel reduction measures. Although projects are developed in close collaboration and council with agency experts, they need to have citizen voices accounted for. They need to hear from residents. The most effective plans to develop a more fire-adapted community and fire-resistant landscape are going to include ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council (Y/S RC&DC) is thrilled to unveil the latest initiative in our ongoing commitment to wildfire prevention and community safety: the Mariposa Strategic Wildfire Mitigation Project. Spanning an area of approximately 70 acres or 1.5 miles along Boyer and Homestead Road. This project involves the a comprehensive approach to wildfire mitigation, aiming to ...

MARIPOSA – Spring is a great time for pile burning! Pile burning is a safe, effective, and legal way to reduce your wildfire risk when equipped with the tools and knowledge to do so. Yosemite Gateway Prescribed Burn Cooperative (YGPBC) and University of California Cooperative Extension are organizing a Learn & Burn workshop. This will be about residential pile burning ...

MARIPOSA–The Yosemite Gateway Prescribed Burn Cooperative and University of California Cooperative Extension are organizing the following free monthly webinar series. These are to help arm residents with the knowledge and tools necessary to mitigate the effects of wildfires. Wednesday March 6 4 to 5 pm This webinar will include two insurance brokers from Mariposa and Madera counties to inform us ...