OAKHURST–The local American Red Cross in Oakhurst has been selected to participate in a pilot “Wildfire Assessment” program for the residents of Eastern Madera County. This program is to assess Zone Zero (0 to 5 feet from your residence). Most structures that burn during a wildfire are the result of burning embers igniting combustible vegetation and other combustibles within Zone ...

SACRAMENTO–Wildfire Preparedness Week is May 1 – 7, 2023. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and our partner agencies will host five statewide events throughout the week to raise awareness of what individuals and communities can do to help protect against the threat of wildfires. By preparing well in advance of a wildfire and taking steps ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Sierra Tel, serving both Eastern Madera County and Mariposa County, announces that its 2023 telephone directory recounts the long history of Midpines Food and Gas. The directory story briefly recounts the times gone by of the 1926 Carstens building, located at the intersection of Carsten’s Road and Highway 140 in Midpines, that is now Midpines Food and ...

THIS JUST IN:  Information received from Madera County regarding the proportion of our population indicates an even greater need to take advantage of Sierra Ambulance’s service. Per information provided by Robert Macaulay, Chief of Staff to Tom Wheeler, Madera County District 5 has the highest concentration of both elderly and disabled.  Nearly 20 per cent of our population is age ...

FRESNO – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has declared May 11 as National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. This declaration stresses the importance of making advance plans to protect your pets if disaster strikes. “A majority of pet owners consider their pets to be family members,” say Naomi Tobias, founder and CEO of the Central California Animal Disaster Team (CCADT). “When ...

FRESNO – As wildfire season approaches, residents need to be aware of and prepared for the possibility that their power will be shut off – sometimes for several days – as a safety precaution. California’s three largest energy companies have announced a coordinated wildfire safety and awareness campaign to prepare Californians for the threat of extreme weather and power outages ...

MADERA – If you have not yet signed up to be notified in the event of a fire, flood or other emergency, now is the time to register. It is free and it’s important, not only for your safety but for the safety of first responders. On Wednesday, May 1, at around 10 a.m., Madera County’s Emergency Alert System (MCAlert) ...

MADERA – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services is placing three County Emergency Plans out for public comment. The three plans are described as follows: Emergency Operations Plan: This plan is a framework document which outlines how the County will respond to an emergency. The EOP sets guidelines to manage a disaster in an effective, efficient, and timely ...

NORTH FORK – Residents living in high-risk wildfire areas who want to take action to increase their safety, but are unsure about how to start, can now find the information and the inspiration they need to organize and accomplish wildfire risk reduction projects in their community. North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California is teaming up with the National ...

CENTRAL SIERRA – In light of the disastrous tree mortality, the profusion of vegetation (fuel!) after the winter rains, and the large number of fires already this season, it is imperative for all people who live or work in Madera and Mariposa Counties – especially those in the foothills – to register or update their information for emergency contact. Madera ...