Public Safety · Madera County
Sierra National Forest Plans Prescribed Burns Through Early May Across Madera, Mariposa Counties
The Bass Lake Ranger District plans to treat approximately 3,300 acres in the Sierra National Forest between October and early May, as announced by the Forest Service on Oct. 26. Project areas span Madera and Mariposa counties, with smoke potentially affecting North Fork, Ponderosa Basin, Jerseydale, Oakhurst, Fish Camp, Sugar Pine, Cedar Valley, Bass Lake, Ahwahnee and surrounding areas. Burning will occur during daytime conditions to limit visibility impacts, and the Forest Service will coordinate with Caltrans and local law enforcement on Highway 41 traffic. The agency emphasized that seeing smoke from these operations does not authorize residential debris burning, which CAL FIRE's Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit confirmed remains suspended as of its Oct. 21 notice.