Written by Ryan R. Traina, FDNY –  As the sun rose over the steep mountains of the Six Rivers National Forest, my day began with a personal guided tour with Matthew Conklin, the Operations Section Chief of the Southern California Incident Management Team 2. We were operating at the Gasquet Complex fire, located in the northwestern corner of California. Matthew ...

CALIFORNIA – Several hunting seasons are approaching and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is asking the public to use technology — rather than social media — to report wildlife and pollution crimes across the state. “We often get reports of violations and other very good tips sent to CDFW through social media, but our Twitter and Facebook ...

LAKE COUNTY, CALIF. – As firefighters battled the Jerusalem Fire, estimated at 5,000 acres and burning southeast of Clear Lake in northern California, Cal Fire Law Enforcement officers arrested Juan Ramos Silva, 49, of Lower Lake, Calif., for one count of arson and allegedly starting a backfire. Silva was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 9, at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Press ...

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today announced the department is investigating a case of human plague in California, and conducting an environmental evaluation in the Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and the surrounding areas. The department began investigating this incident after a child from Los Angeles County became ...

CALIFORNIA – As crews are demobilized from the Willow Fire in Eastern Madera County, they are likely being reassigned to one of nearly two-dozen incidents burning across the state. There are 23 active fires across California, with over 10,000 firefighters battling them. Tinder dry conditions from the drought continue to allow wildfires to burn at an explosive rate. Just last ...

SACRAMENTO – With wildfires burning across the state being continually exacerbated by severe drought conditions and extreme weather, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today declared a state of emergency in California to help mobilize additional firefighting and disaster response resources. “California’s severe drought and extreme weather have turned much of the state into a tinderbox,” said Governor Brown. “Our courageous ...

MADERA – On Wednesday, July 15, Board of Equalization Vice-Chairman and District 1 member George Runner participated in two Town Hall meetings in the City of Madera, hosted by Madera County Supervisor Rick Farinelli. The two events, while intended for different audiences, focused on taxes and the state of the California economy. The first Town Hall was directed at Madera’s ...

CENTRAL SIERRA – Whether you’re new to the mountain area, or have lived here for generations, the historic drought and extreme fire conditions warrant a close look at how you’ve prepared for the fire season. Karen Guillemin-Kanawyer, Cal Fire’s MMU Fire Prevention Specialist, says the potential for dangerous, destructive wildfires is very real. “It is up to everyone to be ...

CALIFORNIA – Firefighters were faced with a major challenge on the Lake Fire in San Bernardino County on Wednesday as a hobby drone, or (UAS) unmanned aircraft system, was spotted in the fire area where airtankers were flying. Just before 6 p.m. in the Onyx Summit area an airtanker spotted the drone in the area where the firefighting aircraft were ...

SAN FRANCISCO – On Thursday, May 14, the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC), in partnership with the Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) concluded their 2015 Spring Meeting hosted by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). This event brought together leaders on Western forestry issues to learn about the future of forestry in a changing climate, ...