- On the lower slopes of Jackass Ridge, smoke wafted through an oak woodland canopy, its gray haze contrasting with the green, yellow and red hues of the forest. A crackle of burning grass could be
- The Mount Wilson Observatory and communications equipment at the summit of Mount Wilson were protected both by actions taken by firefighters during the Eaton Fire and treatments applied months before
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A “typical” day as a burn boss (if there is one)
April 3,2025
It’s 8 a.m. Cory Carlson is onsite and ready to start his workday as a district fire management officer in the Chino Valley Ranger District on the Prescott National Forest in Prescott, Arizona. On -
Smokey Bear a legend of legends 80 years and counting
January 3,2025
Year-end reflections. We all do them. What did we accomplish? What were the highlights? Did we exceed, meet or fall short of our goals? For many of us, the last question is all too common an -
12 days of Forest Service Christmas
December 11,2024
Join us and the Durand High School Madrigal Choir from Durand, Michigan, as we celebrate the holiday season with a reinterpretation of that Christmas classic, the 12 Days of Christmas! Sing along with -
Wrangling the world’s biggest Smokey Bear
December 6,2024
“Smokey, Smokey!” Tess McCarville and Alex Robertson revel hearing this chant for three hours as they slowly walk 2.5 miles, holding the ropes of a 16-foot long, 25-foot wide and 51-foot-tall Smokey -
Reflections from receding waters and storms
December 4,2024
When Hurricane Helene hit the southeastern United States in late September 2024, its destruction spared neither national forests nor members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service -
Our forest bill is due
November 1,2024
Western forests are designed to burn. For the one-third of the U.S. population that lives in high wildfire risk areas, this means if we continue to deprive forests of fire it only makes the next fire -
A bear for all seasons
October 1,2024
Fall is upon us, and many folks are beginning to make their plans to get out and see the beauty of one of nature’s most spectacular displays of colors! From the magnificent maples of New England to -
Monks chip away at wildfire risk
August 12,2024
USDA Forest Service is reducing wildfire risk and forging unusual, unique partnerships. The Gila National Forest and Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery work together to reduce wildfire risk across - We’re celebrating Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday, by honoring wildfire prevention heroes. Heroes like Lassie, Walt Disney Productions and the San Diego Padres, who have all been awarded for their
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Getting fire-ready
July 8,2024
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest extends like a long finger down the Idaho-Wyoming state line with seven ranger districts scattered from the storied lawless zone the U.S. Constitution forgot near -
The healing power of nature
June 12,2024
Nature can be damaging and cause fear. Natural disasters like wildfires can change landscapes, communities and lives. But nature can also help us heal — instilling a calmness and peace in a sometimes - Federal wildland firefighters, fire support staff and contractors work on the frontlines of the nation’s wildfire crisis to protect life, property, and natural and cultural resources. That’s why we
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Valentine Fire restores forest and community
May 20,2024
Smoke rising from a forest is ominous. Often it is the first alarm of another wildfire sparked by lightning or carelessness; a wildfire that potentially could become catastrophic and deadly. On Aug -
Powering Through
May 13,2024
Roseburg, Ore – Phil Bigler, the chief operating officer at Douglas Electric Cooperative, embodies the multifaceted role required to keep the lights on in rural America. From strategic planning and -
A blueprint for fire prevention
May 10,2024
Editor’s note: Clear Lake Environmental Research Center in Lake County California received an additional Community Wildfire Defense Grant in round 2 for $8,002,157 to support reducing fuels and -
Evacuation Highway
May 8,2024
Nestled outside the bustling metropolis of Seattle, Washington, Kittitas County straddles the I-90 corridor, attracting outdoor enthusiasts and second-home owners seeking solace amidst nature’s beauty -
Prescribed burn associations ignite the future
March 27,2024
Prescribed fire, sometimes referred to as controlled burning, is deeply rooted in the South. Historically and culturally, fire has been used to maintain healthy wildlife habitat for hunting, improve -
A family fire legacy
March 1,2024
A childhood dream ignited. Matthew Rau was five years old when his family moved into government housing at a U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service ranger station. Some of his earliest