MARIPOSA COUNTY — Firefighters made good progress overnight and throughout the day on the Spring Fire, burning in the Bootjack area along Highway 49. The fire is holding at 225 acres and is now 35 percent contained. Crews continue to hit hot spots and strengthen fire lines. There are currently 554 personnel assigned to the incident, including 53 engines and ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — The search for a Mariposa man who went missing on Friday, June 23, has ended tragically with the discovery of his body. Ronnie Cole, 19, was located by searchers approximately three miles upriver from the Bagby Campground area. Cole had gone to the Briceburg area of the Merced River known as “Cable Beach,” to swim with two ...

MARIPOSA – Peace Officers with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit have determined the cause of two recent wildfires in Mariposa. The Ben Fire was started on June 28, and was caused by a vehicle driving in tall, dead grass. This fire ultimately burned 630 acres of vegetation and burned across multiple properties. On ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Highway 49,  which was closed down yesterday afternoon when the Spring Fire jumped the road, is now open for one-lane traffic control. Traffic will be escorted one lane at a time until 8 p.m., then the roadway will be closed down again. Motorists are advised to be cautious and aware of emergency vehicles, and please be patient. ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Suppression efforts continue on the Spring Fire, burning along Highway 49 in the Bootjack area. The fire has charred an estimated 225 acres and is now 15 percent contained. There are currently 33 engines, 14 crews, 5 dozers, 4 water tenders, 3 helicopters and 6 air tankers assigned to the incident. The fire started on Sunday, July ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Residents in some areas evacuated earlier today due to the Spring Fire are being allowed to return to their homes, though they will likely be without power. Homes on Morning Star, Carlton, Silva and the lower part of Ashworth Road below Grist are being repopulated tonight, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Residents are being warned that there ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Additional resources are responding to a vegetation fire burning along Highway 49 at Allred Road near the Lutheran Church southeast of Mariposa. At 1:45 p.m., a full wildland dispatch was called up for reports of the fire, which was estimated at 3 acres when the first resources arrived at scene at 1:56 p.m. The fire has since ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Due to the Spring Fire, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has implemented mandatory evacuations and advisories in the fire area. Highway 49 South is CLOSED from Silva Road to Varain Road. As of 3:26 p.m., mandatory evacuations were ordered on:   Ching Road to Silva Road Allred Road to Morning Star Road Ashworth Road to Old Oak ...

MARIPOSA — The Ben fire, burning in the Mormon Bar area of Mariposa County, is now 80 percent contained and is still holding at 630 acres. Ben Hur Road at Buckeye, and Ben Hur Road at the entrance to the Quick Ranch remain open to residents only. There are currently 40 engines, 12 crews and 5 water tenders assigned to ...

MARIPOSA — Firefighters continue to make good progress on the Ben fire, burning in Mariposa County. It is now 70 percent contained and is still holding at 630 acres. After a hard closure during the height of suppression efforts, Ben Hur Road at Buckeye, and Ben Hur Road at the entrance to the Quick Ranch were open yesterday, to residents ...