SACRAMENTO—More than 7,500 personnel, including firefighters, law enforcement, and other emergency support personnel, are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to ongoing historic wildfires in Southern California. Yesterday, firefighters also responded to 37 new wildfires across the state. In the first nine days of the year, 29,053 acres have burned from 92 fires. Incident Management ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST–The Bass Lake Ranger District (BLRD) Fire Crews are resuming prescribed fire operations near the Sugar Pine Railroad. Crews are planning to ignite approximately 10 acres along the 5S17 Road, adjacent to Highway 41, just north of the Westfall Forest Service Fire Station. Please see the associated map (below) for details. If weather permits, operations will begin on ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–Beginning October 1st, 2024, Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) will transition to its winter schedule for bus service running from Merced and Mariposa to Yosemite National Park. Highway 140 Corridor Routes The service along the Highway 140 corridor operates year-round. However, by reducing the frequency of the runs to and from the park, YARTS is able to reflect ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST–Sierra National Forest (SNF) officials are announcing that temporary fire restrictions have gone into effect on June 30, 2024. Due to drying vegetation and rising daytime temperatures, conditions now necessitate the implementation of fire restrictions. Fire restrictions prohibit campfires in non-developed areas, welding, operating an internal combustion engine except on a National Forest System road or trail, and ...

MADERA COUNTY— The Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) reports that shortly before 11:30am on June 19, 2024, their Communications Center received an emergency call reporting an unresponsive female in the water near Angel Falls. Search and Rescue teams, along with USFS, Madera County Fire & CALFire, Sierra Ambulance, and the CHP H-40 helicopter responded to the area. During the operation, ...

FRESNO – Starting June 1st, the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) will operate service from the city of Fresno to Yosemite National Park for the duration of the 2024 summer season. This is an expansion of service on the Highway 41 corridor. This service currently operates between the city of Oakhurst to the Park. Beginning next month, YARTS will ...

Bass Lake – The 10th Annual Yosemite Half Marathon, a race centered around breathtaking vistas on National Park and Forest Service lands, takes place May 10-11, 2024 on the Bass Lake Ranger District. Race Expo Leads Off on Friday, May 10 Runners and spectators will begin arriving Friday, May 10th, at Recreation Point Campground for the Race Expo. The race ...

The Sierra National Forest – The Bass Lake Ranger District invites nature lovers residing in the North Fork/Oakhurst/Mariposa area to become part of the incredible 2024 reforestation effort. The amazing spring reforestation program will see contract crews planting an astounding 750 acres. The reforestation program aims to rejuvenate areas affected by the 2014 French/2020 Creek Fires. A staggering total of ...

MERCED – The YARTS 2024 summer services to Yosemite National Park are now available to the public. Prospective passengers may make reservations on the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) for trips they plan to take during the summer months. Reservations are highly encouraged to ride YARTS as only a limited number of walk-on tickets are issued. Highway 120 The ...

NORTH FORK—This article is a continuation of last week’s “Noma Resort: Hidden Oasis on Yosemite’s Doorstep.”   Noma Resort sits near the entrance to the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway, at the historic apple orchard near Clearwater Fire Station. It’s one of the loveliest areas of the Byway, especially since the devastating forest fires of the last several years. The Leyva Brothers, ...