VALLEJO, Calif., Sept. 2, 2022—With Labor Day weekend approaching, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region reminds visitors to recreate responsibly, plan ahead, and prepare for any forest closures and fire restrictions. This year, there have been more than 500 fires on California national forests with approximately 98 percent contained within the first 48 hours […]
U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Fire and Aviation
Posted inRegional
California FOREST NEWS Episode 8 – Smith River Hotshots
Our eighth episode of California FOREST NEWS, In this episode of California Forest News, we look at another Federal Interagency Hotshot Crew. First certified as a Hotshot Crew in 2009 the Smith River Hotshots became the 2nd Interagency Hotshot Crew on the Six Rivers National Forest. California FOREST NEWS is a new video series produced […]
Posted inRegional
California FOREST NEWS – Episode 6&7 Hotshots
Our sixth episode of California FOREST NEWS. In this episode, the first of a two-part series, we catch up with the Eldorado Hotshots to learn what a Hotshot crew is and how they protect communities and natural resources from high-intensity wildfire. Our seventh episode of California FOREST NEWS. In this episode, the second of a […]
Posted inRegional
California FOREST NEWS – Episode 5 – Prescribed Fire
November 4, 2021 – Our fifth episode of California FOREST NEWS. This episode is all about Prescribed Fire. Learn about the different types of prescribed fire as well as the methodical process the U.S. Forest Service and our partners utilize to reintroduce beneficial, low-intensity fire to California forests. What is California FOREST NEWS? California FOREST […]
Posted inRegional
California FOREST NEWS – Episode 4 – Low Intensity Fire
Our fourth episode of California FOREST NEWS. This episode explains the importance of routine, low intensity fire within California’s fire adapted ecosystems. It also explains the consequences of removing, low intensity fire from these same ecosystems and landscapes including the buildup of hazardous fuels. What is California FOREST NEWS? California FOREST NEWS is a new […]
Posted inRegional
Expert Opinion: Fuel Treatment Areas – video
October 21, 2021 – Our third episode of California FOREST NEWS. This episode of California FOREST NEWS features two experts from behind the scenes of the Caldor Fire: The Forest Supervisors of the Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Hear their opinion on the importance of fuel treatment areas. What is […]
Posted inRegional
Forest News: “Fuel Treatment Areas” – video
The second episode of Forest News: California National Forests. In this episode, we examine how fuel treatment areas on National Forest System lands changed the intensity of the Caldor Fire and provided opportunities for community defense.
Posted inRegional
New video series: Forest News
Introducing Forest News, a new video series exploring National Forests in California. In this first episode, ‘California Fire Intensity,’ we examine the combination of factors that exacerbate wildfire intensity and behavior including fuel, wind, terrain, and drought.
Posted inCalifornia
Forest Service Mobilizes Mexico Fire Crews to Provide Wildland Fire Support
Vallejo, CA – The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is mobilizing 100 wildland firefighters from across Mexico to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in California. Traveling from their homes throughout 22 states in Mexico, the crews will assemble in Guadalajara to board a chartered flight directly into California. The Mexican firefighters, along with agency representatives, will […]
Posted inCalifornia
Agreement signed to protect wildlife, reduce wildfire risk
(L to R) Jonathan Birdsong, Director of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Western Regional Office, Matthew Reischman, Asst. Deputy Director of Resource Protection for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Mark Emmerson, Sierra Pacific Industries’ (SPI) Chairman and Chief Financial Officer and Randy Moore, Regional Forester for the U.S. Forest Service’s […]
Posted inCalifornia
California U.S. Forest Service Firefighters Mobilized to Southwest Fires
VALLEJO, California, June 15, 2017 – Nearly 600 California-based U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighters and support personnel have been mobilized to wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico. The personnel that are part of this mobilization come from all 18 national forests in California (Pacific Southwest Region). Among the firefighting resources are 19 engines, 18 fire crews […]
Posted inRegional
Sierra Meadows Partnership adopts “all-hands, all-lands” approach to restore and protect state’s Sierra Nevada meadows
SAN FRANCISCO, California January 19, 2017 – The Sierra Meadows Partnership, spearheaded by non-profit conservation organization California Trout and comprising a broad coalition of government agencies, scientists, non-profit conservation organizations and other stakeholders, announced the release of the Sierra Meadows Strategy. The strategy outlines an action plan to restore and protect 30,000 acres of mountain […]
Posted inRegional
New Aerial Survey Identifies More Than 100 Million Dead Trees in California
VALLEJO, Calif., Nov. 18, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the U.S. Forest Service has identified an additional 36 million dead trees across California since its last aerial survey in May 2016. This brings the total number of dead trees since 2010 to over 102 million on 7.7 million acres […]
Posted inRegional
Local firefighters assist Southeast states in wild land fire suppression efforts
Redding, CA November 17, 2016 – Nearly 500 fire personnel from California have been mobilized by the U.S. Forest Service to assist with wildfires in several states in the Southeast. On Saturday, November 12, 2016 five 20-person contract crews hosted by the Shasta-Trinity and Plumas National Forests departed Redding, Calif. bound for fires in Georgia, […]
Posted inCalifornia
California Smokejumpers hiring seasonal workforce for 2017 season
Redding, Calif. – Anyone interested in becoming a smokejumper or applying for a summer job as a smokejumper should know 2017 seasonal positions will be filled through a centralized-hiring process. The California Smokejumpers utilize high speed, fixed wing aircraft, to deliver wildland firefighters throughout California and beyond. Smokejumpers provide aggressive initial attack and natural resource […]