On April 4, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued a Secretarial Memorandum declaring an emergency situation in the forested lands of the U.S. National Forest System. Her intent is to expand timber production on these federal lands. Rollins’ memorandum follows President Donald Trump’s March 1 Executive Order which directed the Secretaries of Agriculture and the…
On Jan. 24, the U.S. Forest Service announced the closure of several campgrounds in the San Jacinto Ranger District. The three campgrounds to be closed, possibly for the entire year, will be the Black Mountain Group Campground, Dark Canyon Campground, and the Ribbonwood Equestrian Campground, according to Naomi Gordon, External and Legislative Affairs Officer for…
A large scale, wildland-urban interface fire exercise will be held Thursday morning, May 22, in the Idyllwild and Pine Cove communities. Organized by the Riverside County Fire Chief’s Association, the exercise will allow fire, law enforcement and animal service agencies to field-simulate a major fire rapidly approaching the two communities. The exercise will focus on…
The Strong Fire has been quickly contained. The fire was reported shortly after noon today, Aug. 5. It started near Strong Drive and was moving south towards Tahquitz View Drive. Firefighters from Idyllwild Fire Department, Cal Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service immediately surrounded the blaze, which produced several clouds of smoke. At this time…
The U.S. Forest Service Fire crews had planned to burn approximately 400 to 600 acres near Bonita Vista and Lake Hemet during the week of April 15. However, the latest weather forecast is not favorable for prescribed fire, according to John Miller, Forest Service, public affairs person for the San Bernardino National Forest. Until weather…
This week, San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron announced Arturo Delgado as her choice for San Jacinto District Ranger. Delgado is currently the Forest Wildlife biologist on the Angeles National Forest and plans to begin at the San Jacinto Ranger District the week of May 20. He replaces Laurie Rosenthal, who retired in January.
Forest Service fire crews are planning to burn approximately 400 to 600 acres near Lake Hemet during the week of April 15. The Bonita Vista Burn is dependent upon weather and conditions and would occur throughout the week. Smoke and flames will be visible to residents and motorists along State Route 74 in Garner Valley…
The Goldspotted oak borer, the non-native beetle that has killed more than 80,000 oaks in San Diego County, has been positively identified in an Idyllwild oak, on Highway 243 near the center of town. Currently, entomologists know of no native California predator or insecticidal defense against the tree killer. A DNA analysis, conducted by the…
The Cranston Fire was reported about 1 p.m. It has burned about 20 acres near the Forest Service’s Cranston Station and is about 50 percent contained, according to Carol Underhill, the Forest Service information officer. The cause is under investigation Highway 74 is closed to all traffic from Marshall on the west to Highway 243…
The Forest Service has been adding to its air resources during the past three weeks. First, the agency announced the award of four contracts to separate companies for seven next generation air tankers. The second step was the addition of adding four heavy helicopters to the aviation firefighting fleet. …
