Columbia College Fall 2017 President’s List Students

Columbia College Fall 2017 President’s List Students

Columbia, CA…Columbia College has named 182 students to the fall 2017 semester President’s List. We are pleased to officially recognize their exceptional scholastic achievement.  This acknowledgment is reserved for students completing twelve or more units of semester coursework at Columbia College and earning a cumulative grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0, with no grade […]

Yosemite Conservancy Names Mark Marschall to Lead its Volunteer Program

Yosemite Conservancy Names Mark Marschall to Lead its Volunteer Program

San Francisco, CA…Forty-year National Park Service Employee Brings a Deep Understanding of Yosemite National Park to His New Role. Yosemite Conservancy announced that Mariposa resident and long-time National Park Service ranger Mark Marschall will lead its volunteer program. “Mark brings a deep understanding of Yosemite National Park to his new role as volunteer program manager. […]

Yosemite National Park Identifies Remains of Gerardo Cruz Hernandez

Yosemite National Park Identifies Remains of Gerardo Cruz Hernandez

Yosemite, CA….Last reported at Glacier Point on November 22, 2017. Yosemite National Park Rangers have positively identified the remains of Gerardo Cruz Hernandez, from Santa Barbara, California, who was last reported at Glacier Point on November 22, 2017. When he was reported missing, Park Rangers, with the aid of search dogs and a CHP helicopter, […]

Tis the Season as Chain Controls in Effect on Local Highways

Tis the Season as Chain Controls in Effect on Local Highways

Arnold, CA…The precipitation and the nip in the air is bring snow to the high country. Sonora, Ebbetts & Tioga Passes are closed. Ebbetts is closed at the east end of Lake Alpine, Sonora is closed 26.4 miles of Strawberry or just over a marathon’s length from Strawberry. Chain controls from Tamarack on up Hwy […]

Improvements Underway along Northside Drive and Camp 4 Campground in Yosemite

Improvements Underway along Northside Drive and Camp 4 Campground in Yosemite

Yosemite, CA…Yosemite National Park is working to implement several roadway and campground improvements within Yosemite Valley. Extensive work is being conducted on Northside Drive, the road leading from Yosemite Village to Yosemite Falls and toward the park exits. Significant work is also being conducted at Camp 4, a popular campground in Yosemite Valley. The current […]

Update on Fatal, 1,300 Ton Rockfall in Yosemite National Park

Update on Fatal, 1,300 Ton Rockfall in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite, CA…A series of rockfalls occurred yesterday afternoon from the Southeast face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Seven rockfalls occurred over a four-hour time span, with the initial rockfall happening at 1:52 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time. A preliminary estimate for the cumulative volume of all seven rockfalls is about 16,000 cubic feet (450 […]

Yosemite Fire Update

Yosemite Fire Update

Yosemite, CA…There are multiple fires burning in Yosemite National Park’s wilderness. Showers and thunderstorms are possible each afternoon and evening through Tuesday, with a slight increase in temperature and lower relative humidities. Gusty and erratic winds are possible with any thunderstorm that develops. Smoke will be moderate throughout the Yosemite area, except for Wawona, today […]

Yosemite National Park Fire Update September 9th 2017

Yosemite National Park Fire Update September 9th 2017

Yosemite, CA…There are multiple fires burning in Yosemite National Park’s wilderness. Very little change in temperatures and humidities through the weekend. Slight chance for afternoon/early evening showers and thunderstorms for the next several days. A slight warming trend will begin Sunday. Finding insurance is a huge problem for homeowners in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Delos […]

Yosemite Area Fire Update For September 1st, 2017

Yosemite Area Fire Update For September 1st, 2017

Yosemite, CA…There are multiple fires burning in Yosemite National Park’s wilderness Smoke will be present due to a high pressure system which brings higher temperatures and lower relative humidities. Hot and dry weather will persist through the weekend and into early next week. Finding insurance is a huge problem for homeowners in the Sierra Nevada […]

Yosemite Empire Fire Update For August 26th

Yosemite Empire Fire Update For August 26th

Yosemite, CA…The Empire Fire is being managed for both resource and protection objectives. It is approximately 1 mile south of the Bridalveil Campground east of Alder Creek drainage and west of Bridalveil Creek drainage, burning in Red fir. Fire behavior has been actively flanking and backing with some single and group tree torching. The fire […]

South Fork Fire Update…Wawona Evacuation Order Has Been Lifted

South Fork Fire Update…Wawona Evacuation Order Has Been Lifted

Wawona, CA…The mandatory evacuation of Wawona has been lifted for residents only on the west side of Chilnualna Creek starting today at 7:00 am. Visitors and residents east of the creek will be able to return tomorrow. Burning operations above Wawona were completed yesterday. Last night’s infrared flight shows significant reduction in heat in the […]

South Fork Fire Update, 3,820 Acres, 17% Contained, Wawona Evacuation Orders Remain in Effect

South Fork Fire Update, 3,820 Acres, 17% Contained, Wawona Evacuation Orders Remain in Effect

Wawona, CA…Crews made significant progress yesterday building and strengthening line on the west side of the fire above Wawona. Contingency lines were also established to the northwest leading to Turner Ridge. Firefighters now have access to the South Fork and have been inserted to extinguish spot fires that have been occurring the past few days. […]

South Fork Fire Mandatory Evacuation Order for Residents of Wawona

South Fork Fire Mandatory Evacuation Order for Residents of Wawona

Wawona, CA…Evacuation order is for all areas east of Highway 41 along Chilnualna Falls Rd. and Forest Dr. Residents and visitors must vacate by 4:00 pm today. Red Cross Shelter at Tenaya Lodge. Community meeting will be held at Tenaya Lodge at 6PM. Fire activity increased yesterday primarily due to downdraft winds from thunderstorms. The […]

Yosemite Area Empire Fire Update August 17th, 1,450 Acres

Yosemite Area Empire Fire Update August 17th, 1,450 Acres

Yosemite, CA…The Empire Fire is being managed for both resource and protection objectives. It is approximately 1 mile south of the Bridalveil Campground east of Alder Creek drainage and west of Bridalveil Creek drainage, burning in Red fir. Fire behavior has been actively flanking and backing with some single and group tree torching. The fire […]

Yosemite Area South Fork Fire Update, 2,407 acres Containment: 7%

Yosemite Area South Fork Fire Update, 2,407 acres Containment: 7%

Yosemite, CA…The South Fork Fire experienced minimal growth yesterday as weather conditions and high humidity levels held the fire within the western and southern containment lines. The fire continues to slowly spread to the northeast into the Yosemite Wilderness. Air resources will continue to assist the firefighting effort today as smoke levels allow. Direct line […]

Firearms Determined to be Cause of Detwiler Fire

Firearms Determined to be Cause of Detwiler Fire

Mariposa, CA…California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) investigators have determined the cause of the Detwiler fire. The discharge of firearms, on public lands, is responsible for sparking the fire. The specific circumstances surrounding the cause remain under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the person or persons responsible for starting the Detwiler fire […]

Detwiler Fire Reaches 85% Containment, Repopulation Continues, Hot Spot Map Included

Detwiler Fire Reaches 85% Containment, Repopulation Continues, Hot Spot Map Included

Greeley Hill, CA…As the containment numbers continue to climb and resources are starting to be released we thought we would pass along last night’s heat maps. This will dictate today’s workload for helicopters and boots on the ground as they cool off the warm spots on the map. The official update from last night…”Last night […]

Detwiler Fire Community Meeting on July 27th in Greeley Hill

Detwiler Fire Community Meeting on July 27th in Greeley Hill

Greeley Hill, CA…CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4, the Mariposa County Sherriff’s Office and additional cooperating agencies on the Detwiler Fire will be hosting a community meeting in Greeley Hill. Representatives from the agencies managing the incident will provide an operational briefing and be available for questions. Please arrive early as the meeting will start […]

CAL-FIRE Cancels Greeley Hill Town Hall Because of Fire Activity on North Flank of Detwiler Fire

CAL-FIRE Cancels Greeley Hill Town Hall Because of Fire Activity on North Flank of Detwiler Fire

Greeley Hill, CA…The Detwiler fire is now at 78,900 acres and 65% contained While the containment number rising is a good thing almost all of the burned acreage jumps have been on the northern edges of the fire. Even as most of the news from the Detwiler Fire is good there have been some troubling […]

Detwiler Fire Evening Update, 75,500 acres, 40% Contained, 63 Residences Destroyed, 1 Commercial Building Lost, 67 Minor Structures Burned, 13 Residences Damaged and 8 Minor Structures Damaged, 4,489 Personnel Working Fire.

Detwiler Fire Evening Update, 75,500 acres, 40% Contained, 63 Residences Destroyed, 1 Commercial Building Lost, 67 Minor Structures Burned, 13 Residences Damaged and 8 Minor Structures Damaged, 4,489 Personnel Working Fire.

Mariposa, CA…Today firefighters continued to construct and reinforce fire lines. Due to successful suppression efforts, repopulation is continuing as directed under the incident repopulation plan. An additional fire camp was opened to support the Northern branches of the fire. We ask the public to exercise caution and remember that, “One Less Spark-One Less Wildfire”. We […]

Detwiler Fire Morning Update, 75,200 acres, 30% Contained, 60 Residences Destroyed, 1 Commercial Building Lost, 63 Minor Structures Burned, 13 Residences Damaged and 7 Minor Structures Damaged, 4,489 Personnel Working Fire.

Detwiler Fire Morning Update, 75,200 acres, 30% Contained, 60 Residences Destroyed, 1 Commercial Building Lost, 63 Minor Structures Burned, 13 Residences Damaged and 7 Minor Structures Damaged, 4,489 Personnel Working Fire.

Mariposa, CA…The 4,489 strong fire fighting army that has been assembled to battle this fire now has the upper hand and are working hard on putting the Detwiler in the history books. There is a long, long way to go but this does seem like an apt place to insert a Churchill quote…”Now this is […]

Detwiler Fire Evening Update, 75,000 acres, 25% Contained, 61 Residences Destroyed, 1 Commercial Building Lost, 63 Minor Structures Burned, 13 Residences Damaged and 6 Minor Structures Damaged, 4,408 Personnel Working Fire.

Detwiler Fire Evening Update, 75,000 acres, 25% Contained, 61 Residences Destroyed, 1 Commercial Building Lost, 63 Minor Structures Burned, 13 Residences Damaged and 6 Minor Structures Damaged, 4,408 Personnel Working Fire.

Mariposa, CA…Evacuation Orders were lifted in the town of Mariposa due to decreased fire activity and successful firefighting operations. Damage assessment crews have completed approximately 95% of their assessment of damaged and destroyed buildings. An inversion layer is expected to develop tonight which will help lower temperatures and raise humidity which will assist firefighting operations. […]

Yosemite National Park Remains Open Yosemite Valley Accessible via Highways 140, 120, and 41

Yosemite National Park Remains Open   Yosemite Valley Accessible via Highways 140, 120, and 41

Yosemite, CA…Yosemite National Park remains open with all hotels, lodges, stores and campgrounds that have opened for the season are fully open and operational. All entrances to Yosemite National Park are open. Visitors can get to Yosemite Valley via Highway 140 from Mariposa, Highway 41 from Fresno, Highway 120 West from Groveland, and Highway 120 […]

AT&T Has Activated its Text-to-Donate Campaign For Detwiler Fire Relief

AT&T Has Activated its Text-to-Donate Campaign For Detwiler Fire Relief

Mariposa, CA…To help those impacted by the Detwiler Wildfire in Mariposa County, CA, and other California wildfires, AT&T has activated its Text-to-Donate Campaign. Wireless customers can make a $10 donation to assist those affected by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to support the American Red Cross. Customers can text up to five times for a total […]

Red Cross Operating Five Shelters for Detwiler Fire Evacuees

Red Cross Operating Five Shelters for Detwiler Fire Evacuees

Sacramento, CA…The Red Cross shelter at Groveland Community Hall is now closed. Evacuees who stayed at the Groveland facility have been relocated to the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. New evacuees in the area are encouraged to go to the fairgrounds for assistance. The American Red Cross is operating the following shelter locations for residents impacted by […]

Firefighters Hold the Detwiler Fire to 48,000 acres, 7% contained, 8 Structured Burned, 1 Damaged, 1,500 Threatened, 3,175 Personnel Working Fire

Firefighters Hold the Detwiler Fire to 48,000 acres, 7% contained, 8 Structured Burned, 1 Damaged, 1,500 Threatened, 3,175 Personnel Working Fire

Mariposa, CA…Today, fire behavior remained active. Firefighters faced high temperatures along with dry and drought stressed chaparral and grass. Steep and inaccessible terrain continue to challenge control lines. The fire encroaches on culturally and historically sensitive areas. The fire continues to threaten power lines to the S. of the incident which supply power to Yosemite […]

Evacuation Guidelines for Tuolumne County Residents

Evacuation Guidelines for Tuolumne County Residents

Sonora, CA…Types of Evacuations: In Tuolumne County there are three types of evacuation warnings. Implementation of one or the other is dependent upon the actual or potential danger to the affected population as determined by the Incident Command Staff or the Board of Supervisors. The Three Types of Evacuation are: Evacuation Advisory – Issued to […]

Detwiler Fire Evacuation Advisory and Warning South of Hwy 120

Detwiler Fire Evacuation Advisory and Warning South of Hwy 120

Sonora, CA…An evacuation advisory has been issued for the area south of Highway 120 to the county line, between Smith Station Road and the Town of Moccasin. An Evacuation advisory means there is a potential for evacuation and residents should start preparing for evacuation. An evacuation warning has been issued for the areas of Jackass […]