News & Press

PRESS RELEASE: California Secures Seven C-130 Military Aircraft for Fighting Wildfires...

Wed, 9 Aug 2023 17:00:00 GMT

In recent weeks, the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives have taken action on a critical issue of importance for California: authorizing the expedited transfer of seven C-130 aircraft from the United States Coast Guard to CAL FIRE for wildfire suppression, search and rescue, and emergency operations related to wildfires. Read More.

Enterprise-Record: Private-public partnerships needed for firefighting | Editor For A Day

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 17:47:00 GMT

Calforests consists of private industrial forest owners and managers, sawmills, veneer mills, and several biomass powerplants. Our members are committed to the sustainable management of our private forest resources and supporting active forest management of national forests within California. Cumulatively our members own and manage in excess of 3.5 million acres in California, sharing thousands of miles of border with U.S. Forest Service and other federal lands. Read More.

PRESS RELEASE: Federal Court Sides with Counties, Cities, and Forestry Groups, Ruling USFS...

Fri, 26 May 2023 20:20:00 GMT

Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana (Court) issued a ruling in a case brought by Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) against the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) seeking to enjoin the USFS’ use of aerial fire retardants during firefighting activities. The Court ruled that USFS may continue using aerial fire retardants while pursuing a Clean Water Act (CWA) permit. This ruling came after a broad coalition of communities and landholders affected by wildfires filed an amicus brief and participated in oral arguments supporting USFS’ ability to use aerial fire retardants. Read More.

PRESS RELEASE: Wildfire Stakeholders File Amicus Brief in Key Case Regarding Use of Aerial...

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:08:00 GMT

Today, a broad coalition of communities and landholders affected by wildfire filed an amicus brief supporting the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in a lawsuit brought last year by Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. The brief, filed in opposition to FSEEE’s motion to summary judgment, highlights the importance and efficacy of aerial fire retardant. The parties are calling on the Court not to enjoin the use of fire retardant given its importance to combat increasingly devastating wildfires in the West, while the USFS advances its application for a Clean Water Act permit. Read More.

The Amicus Brief can be found here.

PRESS RELEASE: Federal Court Permits Counties, Cities, and Industry Group’s to Participate...

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 20:03:00 GMT

Today, in a court case challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) ability to use chemical fire retardants to combat wildfires while it seeks a Clean Water Act (CWA) permit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana denied the motion to intervene. However, the judge has ruled that the extraordinarily broad group of forest coalitions and communities affected by wildfires be permitted to participate collectively as an amicus party in the case and will be allowed oral argument on the summary judgment motion. Read More.

PRESS RELEASE: Counties, Cities, Industry Groups File Motion to Intervene in Court Case...

Thu, 9 Mar 2023 20:13:00 GMT

Highlighting the dramatic public interest concerns that would arise if the U.S. Forest Service were precluded from using its full suite of options to protect communities and habitat from wildfires, an extraordinarily broad coalition of parties – including counties, cities and industry groups – filed a motion to intervene in a case challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to use
chemical fire retardant to combat wildfires while it seeks a permit. Read More.

Bay Nature: Logjam: The Supply Chain Problem That’s Keeping California From Preventing...

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:22:00 GMT

Ted and Moorea Stout follow an old logging road that passes their house, walking through charred groves of century-old pines and burned California black oaks flaunting vibrant new foliage. Ted veers into the forest, striding to an 18-inch stalk with dark green leaves whorled around a single stem. He bends to greet three buds swelling out of trumpet-shaped pods, all but caressing them. Read More.

Politico: Timber industry and firefighters on opposite sides of California ballot fight

Sat, 8 Oct 2022 00:25:00 GMT

A proposed millionaires’ tax that would subsidize electric vehicles and hire more firefighters in California has drawn heavy opposition from a surprising source: the timber industry. Read More.

The Daily Independent: Landowners Empowered to Help Prevent Wildfires with Law by Assemblyman...

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:27:00 GMT

Given California’s increasingly intense wildfires, Assemblyman Vince Fong (R – Central Valley) introduced Assembly Bill 522 to help private landowners to clear brush and timber to prevent future fires, and the Governor signed it into law. Read More.