Forest Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will reinstate thousands of workers laid off in February starting this Wednesday. That includes many hundreds of Forest Service workers across the Mountain West.

The federal wildland firefighting force is currently split between five land management agencies – the Forest Service (under the U.S. Department of Agriculture), the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (under the Department of the Interior).

The Trump administration’s mass firings of federal employees have hit McCall hard, especially because the Forest Service is one of the area’s most important employers.

It has been known for some time that heavy metal content in soils after wildfires can increase. New research suggests that fire retardants used in suppression efforts could be playing a role.

Stanley Mayor Steve Botti says that small businesses in the Sawtooth Valley town lost about $1.5 million dollars in revenue from the Wapiti fire that has burned more than 128,000 acres with 85% containment.

Beavers are often seen as pests, but recent research in Idaho suggests they play an important role in helping forests rebound from wildfire by creating “refugia” for plants and animals.

Beneficial fire is an essential part of confronting the wildfire crisis. But for now, there’s not enough people to do the work. A prescribed burn this spring in Central Idaho shows how partnerships can get more workers on the line.

Christmas is less than a week away, and if you don’t have a tree yet, permits are available through Dec. 25 to harvest one on public lands.

Whether you’re cutting down a Christmas tree for the first time or you’re a seasoned pro, public land officials have tips to safely enjoy this holiday activity.

The U.S. Forest Service manages some 160 thousand miles of trails, and maintaining that sprawling system is a major undertaking. Volunteer trail workers have become an essential part of keeping the public’s access open to its vast wild areas.