OAKHURST – Just as firefighters were dealing with a medical rescue at Angel Falls and an unconscious person at Recreation Point in the Bass Lake area, they were called out for a fire reported on Wortham Road near Oakhurst. Just before 1 p.m., several calls came in of a vegetation fire south of Road 423. The first unit at scene ...

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 ...

SAN FRANCISCO — In recognition of California Wildfire Awareness Week (May 7-10), PG&E announced it will provide $2 million to local Fire Safe Councils in 23 counties for 30 projects that reduce wildfire risk and help keep communities safe. The funds will pay for fuel reduction, emergency access and defensible space projects, as well as chipper days in local communities. ...

CALIFORNIA — Cooling temperatures this week could help firefighters continue to make progress on 13 large wildfires burning in the State, while the number of fatalities due to fire has increased by one since our last report. The death toll rose to 42 yesterday, after authorities located another victim of the Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County. Meanwhile, the identity of a ...

OAKHURST — A vegetation fire on Deadwood between Oakhurst and Coarsegold caused the temporary closure of Highway 41 Sunday night. At about 9:17 p.m on Sunday, Oct. 15, firefighters were called out to respond to what the reporting party referred to as a “very large fire” on Highway 41 near Road 425C. The first engine on scene reported the grass ...

OAKHURST — You needn’t look far to find that giving spirit that defines the foothills. Just one day ago, Dee Ann Smith at Discover Yosemite put out the call, asking for community help to fill a bus with snacks and water so it could be driven up to support firefighters and other responders in the hard-hit town of Santa Rosa, ...

OAKHURST — Dee Ann Smith at Discover Yosemite says their office knows of at least 21 friends who’ve lost their homes due to fires burning in Santa Rosa, so they’re in touch with what people in the midst of this disaster need on a day-to-day basis, right now. In order to help out, they’ve decided to fill a bus with ...

Why seed after a wildfire? Loss of vegetation leaves land vulnerable to increased runoff, erosion, and sedimentation. It also encourages weeds, degrades habitat, and impairs forest regeneration. Reestablishment of permanent vegetation provides long-term erosion control, may restore lost habitat values, and may help suppress noxious weed invasion after a wildfire. However it takes time and favorable climatic conditions to establish ...

Written by Bob Labozetta — MARIPOSA — As is being witnessed now, wildland fire is the #1 natural disaster in Mariposa County, note members of Mariposa Master Gardeners. “Common to our Mediterranean climate at this time of year, wildfire is first and foremost among county residents’ concerns,” they say, asking, “How does one live in harmony within our natural wonderland ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – Suppression repair work on the Detwiler Fire has been suspended due to high fire danger. On Sunday, July 16, the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit of Cal Fire responded to the Detwiler Fire, which started in the Hunters Valley are of Mariposa County. As of Tuesday, Aug. 8, the fire is 81,826 acres and 98 percent contained. Fire crews have ...