Forest Service Meets with Representatives from Congressman Herger's Office to Discuss 2008 Fire Season in Northern California

  • By John C. Heil III
Participants of the discussion group are outdoors, viewing a map placed on a picnic table.

Kristy Cottini, District Ranger for the Shasta Lake National Recreation Area shows a map of Lake Shasta to Tyler Hammon, Congressman Wally Herger's Legislative Assistant at Lake Shasta, January 7, 2009. Also pictured from left to right: Maryellen Grigsby, Recreational Officer for the Big Bar and Weaverville Ranger Districts; Scott Armentrout, Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Shasta Trinity National Forest; Arlen Cravens, Forest Fire Chief for the Shasta Trinity National Forest; Sharon Heywood, Forest Supervisor for the Shasta Trinity National Forest and Dave Meuer, Congressman Herger's office (far right).

Three members from Congressman Wally Herger's staff, members of the Concerned Citizens for Responsible Fire Management, County Supervisors from Butte, Shasta, Trinity and Siskiyou counties and Forest Service personnel attended a roundtable discussion on fire in Northern California on January 7, 2009, in Redding, Calif.

Legislative Assistant Tyler Hamman from Congressman Herger's office facilitated the meeting. Dave Meuer and Fran Peace from Congressman Herger's office also attended. Region 5 Director for Fire and Aviation Ed Hollenshead, Shasta Trinity National Forest Supervisor Sharon Heywood and Klamath National Forest Supervisor Patricia Grantham also attended. Participating by phone were Congressman Herger, Plumas National Forest Supervisor Alice Carlton and Lassen National Forest Supervisor Kathleen Morse.

The roundtable revolved around last year's record setting fire season. Discussion included initial attack success, the number of fires, tactics used for suppression, fuels management thinning and other fire strategies.

Future communication between the groups is expected.

Additionally, members from the Shasta Trinity National Forest took Hamman and Meuer on a tour of Lake Shasta following the meeting to help illustrate issues related to Travel Management.