CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced

10/24/2026

🔥 Vegetation Management Burn: Ahwahnee 🔥

The CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit will conduct a vegetation management burn on October 28–29, 2026.

📍 Location: Off Road 619 in Ahwahnee
🌾 Area: About 112 acres of annual grass, oak woodland, and heavy brush
⏰ Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day
💨 Smoke will be visible. Please don’t call 911 for smoke from this area during burn hours.

Why we burn:
✅ Protects the community of Ahwahnee and the Highway 49 South corridor
✅ Part of a strategic plan to prevent disastrous fires like the 1961 Harlow Fire
✅ Removes noxious weeds, fuel loading, and ladder fuels
✅ Promotes healthy native grasses

Thank you for your patience as we work to keep our communities safe! 🚒

10/24/2026

A prescribed burn will take place on October 28-29 in the Crooks Mountain area of Ahwahnee. If conditions are conducive to burning, the operation is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 5:00 p.m.

10/24/2026

🌲Take a moment. Take it all in.

Located in the Sierra Nevada, Emigrant Gap Demonstration State Forest offers a closer look at California’s forest ecosystems and the role responsible forest management plays in keeping them healthy.

CAL FIRE’s Demonstration State Forests help showcase sustainable forest management practices, support research, offer recreation, and provide opportunities for the public to learn about California’s forests firsthand.

10/23/2026

AwareCA gives you access to verified wildfire and emergency information directly from first responders, including incident updates, evacuation information, cameras, aircraft activity and customizable alerts.

Already using other emergency apps? Keep them in your toolkit and add AwareCA as the source for emergency information directly from first responders.

🔗 Download AwareCA and learn more: aware.ca.gov.

10/22/2026

Don’t let cooler weather fool you. 🍂🍂🍂

Fall has historically brought some of California’s largest and most destructive wildfires. Dry vegetation, wind, and low humidity can still create dangerous conditions.

Give your home a safety check:
🌿Move combustible materials at least five feet from your home.
🏡Clear leaves and debris from roofs and rain gutters.
🔥Check that vents are ember-resistant. - This means 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch corrosion-resistant, non-combustible metal mesh designed to block wind-driven fire embers and flames from entering a structure’s attic, crawl space, or eaves during a wildfire.

Cooler weather doesn’t mean the wildfire threat is over. Stay vigilant. Don’t let your guard down.

10/21/2026

Despite recent rainfall, debris burning remains suspended.

10/20/2026

✈ Expanding California’s Aerial Firefighting Fleet

Wildfire readiness means having the right resources positioned and ready to respond when a fire starts.

CAL FIRE is putting its fifth C-130H airtanker into service, strengthening our ability to respond to wildfires and help protect lives, homes, communities and California’s natural resources. This is another major step forward toward a planned fleet of seven large-capacity aircraft.

California is the first state in the nation to own, operate, and maintain C-130H airtankers for wildfire suppression. Each aircraft can carry up to 4,000 gallons of fire retardant and is designed to support rapid initial attack on wildland fires.

With the deployment of the fifth C130H, CAL FIRE’s Paso Robles Air Attack Base in San Luis Obispo County will be adding a C-130 airtanker to its ramp. This strategic placement will further enhance rapid-response capabilities for the region and across California.

Want to see where our aircraft are flying? Check out CAL FIRE’s flight tracker and the free AwareCA app to follow aircraft activity, view wildfire incidents and access emergency information.

10/19/2026

10/19/2026

🔥🔥 What does “forward progress stopped” mean?

When firefighters say a fire’s forward progress has been stopped, it means crews have stopped the fire from continuing to spread.

It does not mean the fire is out or contained. Firefighters still have work to do.

Crews continue building and strengthening control lines, putting out hotspots, and checking the fire’s perimeter to reduce the chance of it spreading again.

Even after a fire stops advancing, firefighters may remain on scene for hours or days to make sure the fire is under control.

10/18/2026

🌲 What happens to forest materials after they leave the forest?

During National Forest Products Week, we’re highlighting the people and projects helping put these materials to work across California.

CAL FIRE supports wood products and bioenergy projects that strengthen California’s wood products infrastructure, support healthy, resilient forests and create economic opportunities for communities.

From turning forest materials into useful products to developing new opportunities for the forest-sector workforce, this work helps keep California’s forests and communities strong.

Learn more about how this work is making a difference on the ground: https://bit.ly/CALFIRE_WPBE