SACRAMENTO— As critical fire weather continues to increase wildfire risk across much of Southern California, CAL FIRE urges all residents to take proactive steps to protect their families, homes, and communities. The “Ready, Set, Go!” campaign offers clear guidance to ensure everyone is prepared for wildfire emergencies. READY Prepare your home and property. Create defensible space and harden your home. ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–With fire season right around the corner, knowing when a fire starts in your area can mean the difference between life and death. Nearly every wildfire fatality occurs within the first hour, yet official notifications are often delayed, sparse, or non-existent.  Watch Duty (WD), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, alerts you of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real time when ...

Submitted by Patricia Taylor, Executive Director, Madera County Transportation Authority When Measure T failed in 2022, the Madera County Transportation Authority (MCTA) and all our member agencies had to examine what we did wrong and figure out how to deliver a package of investments that would reflect the needs and expectations of our residents and business community. So, we started ...

FRESNO — During Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12), the American Red Cross of the Central Valley reminds everyone home fires claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined. To help protect your household, test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes. Fire now travels ...

COARSEGOLD–The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians is proud to donate $100,000 to support the “Moving Madera Forward” campaign to renew Measure T. Measure T, a half-cent sales tax measure, has been pivotal in funding transportation projects in Madera County since its inception in 2006. The renewal of Measure T is crucial for continuing to address the county’s growing transportation ...

COARSEGOLD–Air and ground firefighters are responding to a structure fire that has spread to the vegetation  in the area of the 64000 block of Road 417. The fire is 15-20 acres with multiple structures threatened. The potential is for 500 acres. This is the Coarsegold Fire. We will update this article when more information is available. Update 4:30 PM The ...

AHWAHNEE––  The University of California Cooperative Extension and Yosemite Gateway Prescribed Burn Cooperative are offering a free workshop covering defensible space, zone zero home hardening, evacuation preparedness, and local fire preparedness resources in Ahwahnee, CA. Representatives from CAL FIRE will be discussing what actions can be taken to make homes more fire resilient, including landscaping, building materials, and inexpensive modifications ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY–Early afternoon yesterday, Tuesday, July 30th, air and ground firefighters were dispatched to a new wildfire in the Don Pedro area. The fire was found to be 15 to 20 acres burning at a moderate rate of spread and threatening structures.  It had started near the west end of Piney Creek Road. It became the Pedro Fire. Evacuations were ...

MARIPOSA– After another wet winter and above-average snowpack, warming temperatures and winds are quickly drying out the abundant annual grass crop. The increasing fire danger posed by the high volume of dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region is prompting CAL FIRE to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Madera, ...

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 ...