NORTH FORK — This morning at about 1:30 a.m., a car burst into flames in front of Jennie’s Garden Store, next to Bob McKee’s Hardware Store in downtown North Fork. McKee was notified by his alarm company and he raced down to the store. Upon arrival, he found that a car was fully engulfed in flames just under the overhang ...

MARIPOSA – A minimum-security inmate who walked away from the Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) Mount Bullion Conservation Camp (CC #39) in Mariposa County on March 21 has been apprehended. Inmate Blake Castro, 31, was apprehended at approximately 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 21, by the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office after a property owner notified law enforcement of a suspicious person ...

BASS LAKE — One of the year’s most anticipated events, the Smokey Bear Run / Walk will return to the shores of beautiful Bass Lake this fall for its 30th year. Organizers are already planning for a spectacular day, and early-bird registration is available. The 30th annual Smokey Bear Run / Walk is set for Saturday, Sept. 23, when runners and walkers of all ages will ...

NORTH FORK — Icy roads and speeds too fast for conditions likely contributed to a single-vehicle crash just west of Bass Fork Minit Market this morning. Just after 7 a.m., reports came in of a solo vehicle off the roadway on Road 200 just west of Hadley Road. A neighbor heard the crash and hurried to the scene to assist ...

OAKHURST – “As residents of this county we’ve been gambling that nobody in our public safety ranks would lose their life in the line of duty, and we can’t keep going on like we’ve been going.” These are the sentiments expressed by firefighters and sheriff’s deputies as they gathered today at the old Blockbuster in Oakhurst before heading out to ...

MADERA COUNTY — Bill Ritchey is serving as chairman of the Citizens, Firefighters and Citizens for Measure L 2017 committee. He has spent the past several years working with residents, firefighters and County officials to identify the challenges faced by the Madera County Fire Department and the Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs or volunteers), and has been involved in formulating a ...

CEDAR VALLEY — With all the concern generated by media reports yesterday that the earthen dam in Cedar Valley was in imminent danger of failure, we followed up with Madera County Public Works to find out what is really going on. Ahmad Alkhayyat is the Director of Public Works for Madera County. We asked Alkhayyat about media reports that the earthen ...

SACRAMENTO – Residents of California who live in State Responsibility Areas (SRA), have been required for the past five years to pay an annual Fire Prevention Fee — which many consider an illegal tax — on each habitable structure. Assembly Member Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals and Senator Tom Berryhill, R-Twain Harte have introduced AB 211 to require an annual report be ...

Here is a classic example of how Owner Mitigation + Firefighter Hard Work = Success. Though the official fire season may be winding down in the next few months, finger crossed, preparation to ensure that your home is fire ready and fire safe is an ongoing task that is best accomplished in the wet and cooler weather. This dramatic photo ...

CALIFORNIA — Over 4,000 firefighters are battling nine large wildfires across California. Yesterday, new fires erupted in Nevada and San Bernardino county. Firefighters are making good progress on both of these fires, while continuing to gain containment on the remaining blazes across the state. Gusty winds and poor humidity recovery, particularly in the Sacramento Valley and foothills, continue in the ...