U.S. Forest Service

The Trump administration plans to rescind protections on tens of millions of wild acres by filing a rule to end the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Brooke Rollins initiated this move, citing wildfire prevention as the reason for rescinding prohibitions on road construction and logging across about 30% of U.S. Forest Service lands. However, experts like Chris Dunn argue that research shows most wildfires start near roads, countering the claim that repealing protections will improve forest health.

All flights in and out of Aspen Airport were suspended Wednesday evening due to a wildfire burning near the airport's airspace. The fire, dubbed the Kittle Fire, was reported burning 20 acres, but forest service officials confirmed that no structures are currently threatened and no evacuations are in place. Travelers must check with their airlines for further updates regarding rescheduling.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing a wildfire recovery plan controversial for potentially reducing payments utility companies make after wildfires. Supporters, like Joe Denham, argue that the reforms will ensure victims are prioritized over out-of-state financial interests. Denham also warns of systemic issues faced by communities, such as difficulties affording insurance and rebuilding following fires.

In Alaska, multiple candidates are running for Senate, including Mary Peltola and two individuals with the name Sullivan: Dan Sullivan and Dan S Sullivan. The article notes that both men appear on the ballot under one name after the other, a complicated quirk of the contest. Furthermore, observers have called Peltola a significant threat in the contest.

A new brush fire, named the "Tasha Fire," is burning in the Santa Clarita area near Sierra Highway and Needham Ranch Parkway. Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department are battling the blaze, with assistance provided by the U.S. Forest Service and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The fate of two passengers remains unknown after their helicopter crashed in central Utah while responding to the Widemouth 2 fire. Authorities have been prevented from safely reaching the accident site due to the continued growth and size of the wildfire.

A brush fire is burning in the Burbank hills Saturday afternoon, prompting evacuation orders. The incident occurred near Wildwood Canyon and Harvard Roads around 3:20 p.m. Responding agencies include the Burbank Police Department, Burbank Fire Department, and U.S. Forest Service.

A heavy-lift helicopter crashed near Richfield, Utah, while working to battle a large wildfire. Separately, dozer operator Jason Ensign died Thursday in Oregon during firefighting efforts against an uncontained blaze at Wrights Spring. The crashes and fires have prompted investigations by organizations including the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA.

Wildfire veterans warn that aggressive federal fire suppression tactics and extreme wildfire conditions are endangering crews. A fast-moving blaze in Spokane, Washington, destroyed over 600 structures and displaced 60,000 residents, with officials questioning the effectiveness of 'full suppression' strategies.

Wildfire veterans warn that aggressive federal suppression tactics and extreme weather conditions are endangering crews as wildfires spread rapidly across the Pacific Northwest. The Spokane fire destroyed over 600 structures, and officials question the effectiveness of the 'full suppression' strategy, linking it to historical policies that contributed to current wildfire risks.

Wildfire veterans warn that aggressive federal fire suppression tactics under the Trump administration, combined with extreme weather conditions, are endangering crews as fires spread rapidly across the Pacific Northwest. A fast-moving wildfire in Spokane destroyed over 600 structures and displaced 60,000 residents, raising concerns about the effectiveness and safety of rapid suppression strategies.

Wildfire veterans warn that aggressive federal fire suppression tactics under the Trump administration, combined with extreme wildfires, could endanger crews. A fast-moving fire in Spokane destroyed over 600 structures and displaced 60,000 residents, raising concerns about the risks of rapid suppression strategies.

Wildfire veterans express concerns that aggressive federal fire suppression tactics, combined with extreme wildfire conditions, could endanger crews. A fast-moving fire in Spokane, Washington, destroyed over 600 structures, highlighting risks associated with the Trump administration's 'full suppression' strategy.

Wildfire veterans express concern that aggressive federal fire suppression tactics, combined with extreme wildfires, could endanger crews. The recent Spokane fire, which destroyed over 600 structures and displaced 60,000 residents, highlights the risks of rapid, wind-driven blazes.

Two California men, Joseph and Phoenix Henrichsen, are accused of kidnapping U.S. Forest Service workers in Shasta-Trinity National Forest and have pleaded not guilty. They face multiple charges, including kidnapping and assault, and are being held without bond pending a court hearing.

Fires in Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness have crossed into Canada, burning over 18,000 acres. State leaders in Oregon and Washington are seeking reinforcements as 45 large fires burn across the region, impacting over 1.8 million acres. Drought and heat have worsened conditions, with teams from 35 U.S. states and international crews deployed to combat the blazes.

A heat wave is causing record-breaking temperatures in parts of the Western U.S., with Las Vegas, Phoenix, and El Centro expected to exceed 115°F. The heat dome is increasing wildfire risks, particularly in dry regions like Montana and Nevada, while climate change is linked to more frequent and intense heat events.

Endangered Indiana bats were discovered in North Carolina for the first time in 10 years, with biologists capturing five reproductive females and tracking them to a maternity site in the Nantahala National Forest. The finding offers hope for the species, which has been severely impacted by white-nose syndrome and human disturbance.

Wildfires in the Pacific Northwest have burned over 1.8 million acres, prompting leaders in Washington and Oregon to request reinforcements. The Ptarmigan Fire has crossed into Canada, and states are relying on crews from multiple U.S. states, Australia, and New Zealand due to Canada's inability to assist amid its own wildfires.

Colorado Rep. Brittany Pettersen introduced six bipartisan bills to address wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery after the Aspen Acres and Willow fires burned over 100,000 acres and destroyed 300 homes in Colorado. The legislation aims to enhance wildfire research coordination, expand health care for responders, combat mountain pine beetle outbreaks, and streamline disaster-mitigation resources.

A new report from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and U.S. Forest Service details extreme conditions during a deadly burnover event near the Colorado-Utah border that killed four firefighters. The incident involved rapid fire spread due to dry fuels and strong winds, merging with existing fires and leaving crews less than 30 minutes to respond before entrapment.

Fires in the Pacific Northwest have burned over 1.8 million acres, prompting state leaders to request firefighting reinforcements. Washington and Oregon officials report aggressive fire activity, with teams from 35 states and international crews deployed, while Canada is unable to assist due to its own wildfires.

A new report details the deadly burnover event near the Colorado-Utah border in late June, where four firefighters were killed and one injured due to rapidly spreading wildfires. The incident involved the Rifle Helitack crew responding to the Knowles and Gore fires, which merged with the Snyder Fire under extreme conditions, leading to a fatal entrapment within 30 minutes of initial fire detection.

Joseph 'Charles' Henrichsen and his son Phoenix Henrichsen were indicted for kidnapping two U.S. Forest Service employees in California's Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Using an AR-10 rifle and zip ties, they detained the victims for approximately 15 hours before surrendering. Both face multiple charges including kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and brandishing a firearm during a crime.

Colorado Rep. Brittany Pettersen introduced six bipartisan wildfire bills to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires. The legislation follows the Aspen Acres and Willow fires, which burned over 100,000 acres and destroyed 300 homes in Colorado.

Federal ICE agents and the U.S. Forest Service conducted a checkpoint in Caldwell County, North Carolina, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals for illegal immigration. The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office is addressing the federal operation.

A nonprofit group of U.S. Forest Service employees sued the agency, claiming it violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to analyze toxic heavy metals in aerial fire retardants. The court case challenges whether the Forest Service adequately assessed ecological impacts, with a 2024 study highlighting metals like vanadium and arsenic in the retardants.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 13 individuals in Caldwell County at Wilson Creek for being in the country illegally. Many of those detained had criminal histories, including DUI convictions and illegal entry. Wilson Creek is a popular summer swimming destination for families from Charlotte.

A federal judge halted a Montana logging project over concerns the U.S. Forest Service failed to use best available science to assess its impact on grizzly bear habitat. The preliminary injunction, issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto, pauses the Greenhorn Vegetation Project until a lawsuit by the Alliance of the Wild Rockies and other environmental groups is resolved, citing a flawed 10-acre habitat standard.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Department of Homeland Security with a checkpoint at Wilson Creek, resulting in up to 10 detentions. The site is a popular summer gathering spot for Latino families. Witnesses and community members expressed emotional concern over the operation.

Evacuation zones in Minnesota have been downgraded as firefighting efforts continue against northern wildfires, with combined acreage estimated at over 64,000 acres in the U.S. and 8,400 acres in Canada. Over 1,000 personnel are battling the fires, and some areas in the Boundary Waters reopened, though overnight permits remain canceled. Governor Tim Walz highlighted concerns about entering a 'new norm' due to extreme weather conditions.

Two US Forest Service biologists were kidnapped for approximately 15 hours in Shasta-Trinity National Forest by a man and his son. The incident occurred during a frog habitat survey when the man approached them with an AR-15, restrained them with zip ties, and held them hostage in a nearby trailer.

The U.S. Forest Service has elevated the fire danger level to 'Very High' in Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, effective July 24 to December 31, due to rising temperatures and drying vegetation. The alert, issued under Forest Order No. 05-01-26-12, applies to areas above Altadena, Pasadena, and neighboring foothill communities.

Firefighters in Oregon are confronting extreme wildfire conditions, including 200-foot flames and a pyrocumulus cloud, as they battle the Akawa Butte Fire and Rowe Creek Complex. Strong winds and low humidity have heightened risks, prompting evacuation orders for parts of Sisters, a town near the Akawa Butte Fire, which has destroyed two homes and is the nation’s top wildfire priority.

Firefighters in Oregon are combating multiple wildfires, including the Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters and the Rowe Creek Complex, amid forecasted strong winds and low humidity. Over 1,000 firefighters are working to contain blazes that have destroyed homes and generated extreme fire behavior, with evacuation orders issued for parts of Sisters. The state is experiencing dozens of fires fueled by dry conditions, requiring resources from other states and countries.

Parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Cook County will reopen for day-use access on July 27, but overnight permits remain banned through July 29 due to ongoing wildfires. The fires, sparked by a July 6 lightning storm, have burned over 72,000 acres in Minnesota and Canada, with 1,029 firefighters working to contain them.

The U.S. Forest Service has extended the closure of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness through Oct. 1 due to ongoing wildfires in Superior National Forest. Wildfires sparked by lightning strikes have burned 63,594 acres in Minnesota and 8,412 acres in Canada, with 962 firefighters working to contain them. Some areas may reopen for permit holders as conditions allow, but no visitors have been admitted since July 12.

A father and son have been federally charged after two U.S. Forest Service workers were held hostage at gunpoint for 15 hours in a trailer in a Northern California forest, federal officials said Monday.

A father and son have been federally charged after two U.S. Forest Service workers were held hostage at gunpoint for 15 hours in a trailer in a Northern California forest.

A father and son have been federally charged after two U.S. Forest Service workers were held hostage at gunpoint for 15 hours in a trailer in a Northern California forest. The incident occurred in a Northern California forest and involved a 15-hour hostage situation.