O’NEALS – Crews are on scene of a fire reported in the area east of Highway 41 on the San Joaquin Experimental Range south of Road 200. A full wildland dispatch was called up at 2:43 p.m., including Air Attack out of Fresno, and one air tanker, and a helicopter out of Columbia. The fire is located about 3 miles ...

O’NEALS – Crews are at scene of several vegetation fires near the Rocky Cut on Highway 41, south of Road 200. Southbound traffic is being diverted onto Road 200, and northbound is being allowed through but is reduced to one lane (see detour map below). UPDATE: at 9:30 a.m., both directions were open with one-lane traffic control in place, and ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – Crews are on scene of a vegetation fire north of Highway 140 in the Catheys Valley area of Mariposa County. Just after 5 p.m., a small fire was reported in the 3800 block of Highway 49 in the Bootjack area. However, that fire was reportedly put out by locals, and engines en route spotted a smoke off ...

HENSLEY LAKE – Firefighters are on scene of a roadside vegetation fire just south of Hensley Lake on Road 400. Just before 12:30 p.m., reports came in of a fire burning along Road 400 near Road 406. A full wildland dispatch was called out, including aircraft out of Hollister. The first unit at scene reported the fire at about 4 ...

NORTH FORK – Crews are on scene of a vegetation fire in Cascadel Woods, dealing with high winds and steep terrain. At about 9 p.m., reports came in of a tree into a house on Cascadel Drive, hitting a power line. As engines were responding to that scene, they saw a fire burning along Cascadel Road, the dirt road that ...

O’NEALS — Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire in the O’Neals area east of Road 211. Just before 2:30 p.m., crews were dispatched to reports of a fire on 3 Gate Road off Hildreth Road near High Water Road. The first unit at scene reported the fire at about two acres, burning at a slow rate of spread ...

OAKHURST – Remember last summer when the devastating Detwiler Fire hit, and you were wondering what you could do to help? Now is the time to register for the Red Cross Shelter Boot Camp, right here in the mountains. Red Cross volunteers put compassion into action every day, and your help is needed to man the Red Cross shelters when ...

Written by Randy Moore, Regional Forester, USDA CALIFORNIA —  Last year, more than 1,500 wildfires burned over 640,000 acres on National Forest System lands in California, including the Thomas Fire, the largest fire in California’s recorded history. The surrounding communities are still dealing with damage from debris flows caused by a charred and barren landscape that no longer has the ...

RAYMOND — A escaped control burn north of Raymond this morning is a reminder that the recent snows have not brought enough moisture to prevent the unintended spread of fire as residents burn debris piles. As of noon today, firefighters are at scene of an escaped control burn in the Raymond area just off Road 600. Just after 11 a.m. ...

OAKHURST — Wildland firefighter Josh Willis loves puppies, pizza, naps, and hikes. How do we know? The Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s local auction page told us so. Originally from Long Beach, Josh is just starting his firefighting career here in the Sierra — and you can welcome him and other goodhearted guys and gals with a good strong bid, as the Wildland ...