MARIPOSA — A deadly forest fire kept spreading Wednesday west of Yosemite National Park, and erratic winds and trees killed by a historic California drought are expected to pose more problems for firefighters, officials said. The Ferguson Fire between the park and the town of Mariposa that's popular with visitors...
Fire Turns Yosemite National Park Smoky, Hurts Businesses
MARIPOSA — A deadly wildfire near Yosemite National Park shrouded the popular destination in smoke and left some tourist-dependent businesses hurting Monday, but visitors still braved trails, campgrounds, lodges and restaurants in the California park, officials said. Amenities were open and visitors posted photos on social media as they hiked...
Deadly Wildfire Near Yosemite Doubles in Size
MARIPOSA — Fire officials say a deadly wildfire burning near the west end of Yosemite National Park doubled in size overnight. U.S. Forest Service spokesman John DeYoe says the Ferguson Fire had scorched 14 square miles of brush and timber as of Monday morning. It is 2 percent contained. Temperatures...
Firefighter Killed in Wildfire Near Yosemite National Park
A second-generation California firefighter who was using a bulldozer to prevent a wildfire from spreading was killed Saturday near Yosemite National Park, state fire officials said. Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney, 36, died in the morning hours, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. The Ferguson Fire...
County Hired Convicted Murderer in 2015. Dictos Says Hires Now Must Pass Background Checks.
Fresno County Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos says he does not want another Tony Amundson situation. Amundson is an appraiser working for Dictos. Amundson has murder and assault convictions in his long-ago past that went unnoticed because no one bothered to ask before he was hired in 2015. They came to light...
Fresno County Employee Served Time for Murder. Now He's Running for Office.
By David Taub and Bill McEwen When Tony Morgan Amundson, an appraiser in the Fresno County Assessor-Recorder's Office, approached his boss about running for the elected position in Mariposa County, Paul Dictos encouraged him to give it a try. Imagine Dictos' surprise when he found out Monday (March 26) that...