SACRAMENTO – Cal Fire announced Wednesday it will be awarding nearly $16 million for fire prevention grants to local fire departments and fire safe councils to reduce the threat of large wildfires. The 2016-2017 State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund and tree mortality grants are aimed at reducing the threat wildfires as well as dead and dying trees in and ...

NORTH FORK — Firefighters made quick work of a vegetation fire this afternoon on Kowana Lane just off Road 221 in North Fork. At approximately 3:30 p.m. this afternoon crews were called out to an address at the end of the road where a fire was burning in a pasture next to the house. There was one travel trailer inside ...

PRATHER — As excessive heat, steep terrain and extremely dry vegetation hamper fire suppression efforts, the Goose Fire has now grown to 1,800 acres, still with just 5 percent containment. The fire continues to move to the southeast, and firefighters will work through the night to construct and strengthen containment lines. The number of personnel assigned to the incident has grown ...

COARSEGOLD — The Sheriff’s Office has announced that they are allowing some of the residents evacuated due to the Serpa Fire to return home as of 10 p.m. tonight, Thursday, July 21. All residents living along Road 420 and the roads adjacent are now being allowed to return home. Only residents will be allowed in, the area is still closed ...

CALIFORNIA — While the Broken Fire in Coarsegold is 100 percent contained, there are over 3,600 firefighters battling 10 major wildfires across California. Mild temperatures have given firefighters the opportunity to gain the upper hand on containing five large fires over the past couple of days. Temperatures will continue to remain below normal, but high winds and low humidity is ...

COARSEGOLD — The “Broken Fire,” so-named for its proximity to the long-closed Broken Bit Restaurant on Highway 41 north of Coarsegold, is now 80 percent contained at 103 acres as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. The fire broke out just before noon today on the Veater Ranch, threatening one home before the forward progress was stopped at about 3:20 p.m. Pre-evacuation ...

OAKHURST — The term “fire season” seems to have replaced the word “summer” in the local lexicon, and as the days grow warmer area residents may want to make note of a special event happening locally that should serve to alleviate some stress. Mountain Area Merchants Association (MAMA) invites the community to a day designed to spread the word about ...

COARSEGOLD — Over 60 people gathered in the Yosemite Lakes Park Clubhouse on Monday evening, May 12, to hear from District Attorney Michael Keitz and Cal Fire investigators about the recent prosecution and conviction of two YLP residents on charges of arson and conspiracy. “We were here last summer to talk to you about the fires in the area,” said ...