MOUNTAIN AREA — When fire leads to evacuation, you may have only minutes to react. Notified via text or phone call, or even by a knock on the door, at that moment, you’re expected to grab and go. Quick — where are your pets? What do they need? A little advance planning will reduce stress and increase your chance of ...

OAKHURST– The Central California Animal Disaster Team (CCADT) has opened emergency animal shelters for small companion animals co-located with Red Cross shelters. Some larger animals are being sheltered at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds while others are at the Coarsegold Rodeo Grounds. “The first fire we did here was in 2013, called the Carstens Fire and we had about 70 to ...

OAKHURST — Now several days into ongoing evacuations from the Detwiler Fire burning in Mariposa County, local relief agencies are busy coordinating efforts on behalf of those who are temporarily displaced. The Red Cross has set up sanctioned shelters at three locations in the Oakhurst area, as of now: Oakhurst Evangelical Free Church, Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church and Mountain Christian ...

By Roger Maybee — One way or the other, by now you have probably heard the terms “firewise” and “harden your home.” But what does it really mean? Being firewise is being knowledgeable on how wildfire behavior affects you. Hardening your home against wildfire just means taking steps to improve the chance of your home and structures withstanding ignition by ...

Here is a classic example of how Owner Mitigation + Firefighter Hard Work = Success. Though the official fire season may be winding down in the next few months, finger crossed, preparation to ensure that your home is fire ready and fire safe is an ongoing task that is best accomplished in the wet and cooler weather. This dramatic photo ...

CALIFORNIA — Over 4,000 firefighters are battling nine large wildfires across California. Yesterday, new fires erupted in Nevada and San Bernardino county. Firefighters are making good progress on both of these fires, while continuing to gain containment on the remaining blazes across the state. Gusty winds and poor humidity recovery, particularly in the Sacramento Valley and foothills, continue in the ...

SACRAMENTO – In the past two months, California has experienced a rash of large and damaging wildfires and in almost every single case, the fire was preventable. It’s true — 95 percent of all wildfires are caused by the activity of people! Cal Fire is asking, especially with the holiday weekend, that all Californians do their part now to help ...