Prescribed fire boosts community safety & forest health
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 heard as low-lying flames crept uphill, consuming woody debris that carpeted the forest floor. After hours of navigating the steep terrain of the Weaverville Community Forest, Tim Ritchey took a brief pause to reflect on a day spent lighting the fires like the one burning a few feet away. “Overall, we...
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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
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Stoking Success
April 10,2025
“Made in the USA: Supporting American manufacturing jobs and promoting sustainable forest management” — a series that spotlights how Wood Innovations Program grant recipients are putting Americans to -
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 -
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 -
120 years of the Forest Service
March 31,2025
Did you know that Smokey Bear has his own zip code? Or that a quarter of U.S. ski resorts are located on national forests? To celebrate 120 years of the USDA Forest Service, we bring you these and 10 -
From the forest floor to mountaintop: An inspiring ascent
January 22,2025
What’s a typical day like for a forest supervisor on a national forest? Well, they oversee how visitors use the land and help protect forests. So, they have their hands in lots of tasks, like -
Preserving an Indigenous food source
January 8,2025
The Apache Tribes of Arizona have harvested acorns from Emory oak trees for centuries, using them in cultural ceremonies and as a traditional food source. However, in recent decades, tribal elders -
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 -
A holiday spirit of resilience
December 20,2024
Towering over the Ellipse, framing The White House and President's Park with festive cheer, is the National Christmas Tree. Always a symbol of the holiday spirit, this year’s tree, a red spruce from
