San Bernardino National Forest

Newsroom

2005 News Releases
 

• Volunteers needed to count Bald Eagles - Eagle Counts for this winter have been scheduled for the following Saturday mornings: December 17, January 14, February 11, and March 11. The first bald eagle count for this winter is scheduled for Saturday morning, December 17th. Volunteers are needed for the counts--they are stationed at various vantage points around the lakes where they map and note any eagle observations during the 1-hour period from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.  (12/06)
   
• Mountaintop Ranger District planning to burn slash and debris piles - As weather permits, firefighters may begin burning brush and debris piles when weather permits in the North Lake Arrowhead and Barton Flats area. (11/10)
   
• Tree Removal project on Highway 18 in the Arctic Circle starts October 31st - Starting Monday October 31st, The San Bernardino National Forest will be removing dead trees along Highway 18 on the Arctic Circle, between Lakeview Point and the Big Bear Dam. We anticipate completing the project by Friday, November 11th.  The highway will remain open while the work is being done to lessen the impact to the Big Bear community. Motorists may experience short delays up to approximately 15 minutes. (10/27)
   
• Fire Restrictions lowered to "High" Fire Danger on October 21st  - San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Gene Zimmerman announced today that he is reducing the level of fire restrictions in the Forest.  With the change in restrictions, visitors will once again be able to have campfires in developed campgrounds and at yellow post sites. Recreational shooting will be permitted again at designated sites. (10/20)
   
• Firewood collection near Lake Arrowhead -  The Mountaintop Ranger District will sell permits for National Forest System land areas near Lake Arrowhead, Crestline and Running Springs to interested firewood collectors. Permits will be sold at the following prices: four cords of softwood for $20; and one cord of hardwood for $25.  Firewood permits, maps and collection instructions can be obtained on Saturdays in October between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm from the Arrowhead Ranger Station. (10/07)
   
• Fire Restrictions raised to "Very High" effective October 3rd - Due to forecasted Santa Ana winds and recent wildfire activity,  No open campfires are allowed, even in developed campgrounds and picnic areas. Target shooting will be permitted only at developed shooting ranges.  (10/03)
   
• National Interagency Management Teams head for southeast USA - The National Interagency Fire Center is joining in the massive response effort in the wake of this week’s Hurricane Katrina. As of today, more than 1,000 people, representing Department of the Interior agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with the Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, have been mobilized to support the relief effort. (08/31)
   
• Public comment sought in Snow Forest restoration project - The San Bernardino National Forest proposes to conduct restoration and erosion control work at the area previously known as the Snow Forest Ski Resort near Big Bear Lake. This work would be completed in order to improve forest health and also address significant erosion problems that occur at the area during each winter season. (08/30)
   
• Citations Issued in Blaisdell Fire - San Bernardino National Forest officials announced today that they have cited three men for starting the Blaisdell Fire, which has burned 5,198 acres near Palm Springs. The three were cited for “allowing a fire to escape.” (08/29)
   
• Firefighters hurt in collision on Interstate 15 -  Five San Bernardino National Forest firefighters were injured Sunday afternoon in an accident in the Cajon Pass. The five were working to suppress two small wildfires burning along the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 when they were struck by a pickup truck towing a boat trailer.  (8/28)
   
• Children's Forest Exploration Trail - Whether you’re a hiker, mountain biker or equestrian, you’ll love the new Children’s Forest Exploration Trail. Designed by children and built by a community, this unique trail is a 4.5-mile, family friendly trail located in the National Children’s Forest in Running Springs. (08/24)
   
• New San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Announced - Jeanne Wade Evans, currently National Program Manager for Fuels in US Forest Service’s Fire and Aviation Management staff in Washington DC, will be the new Supervisor of the San Bernardino National Forest.  She will report to her new post Oct. 2, providing some transition time until the current Forest Supervisor, Gene Zimmerman retires at the end of the year.  Zimmerman’s retirement will cap a 41-year career in the US Forest Service, including 14 years spent as Forest Supervisor of the San Bernardino National Forest. (08/15)
   
• Open Houses Scheduled to Share Fee Information - The San Bernardino National Forest is hosting a series of Open Houses to share information with the public about changes in the Recreation Fee program. The Forest Service announced in June that the area where recreation fees are required had been reduced to comply with recent legislation. The Open Houses, which are intended to help the public understand the new fee requirements, will be held in 5 different communities between August 16 and August 24. (08/15)
   
• Fire burns hillside in Blue Jay community - San Bernardino National Forest fire crews using a water dropping helicopter quickly doused a fire that started behind a home in the community of Blue Jay.  The Incident Commander noted quick response by local fire agencies averted a large fire. (08/04)
   
• Horse Springs Campground - improvements planned - The San Bernardino National Forest plans to rehabilitate the Horse Springs Campground, repairs to the restrooms, picnic tables, parking barriers and bulletin boards are planned for 2005. The addition of new services such as trash removal will be incorporated into the services that support this campground and the surrounding area. Re-vegetation and erosion control within the campground is planned for future improvements. (08/01)
   
• Public Comment sought on herbicide use in Big Bear area - Dalmatian toadflax and Sweet Pea are invasive, non-native shrubs found throughout areas of California.  The Mountaintop Ranger District is proposing to remove and permanently eradicate the shrubs by a combination of physical removal and herbicide application at the Big Bear Ranger Station and Juniper Point located across from the Big Bear Ranger Station. (07/29)
   
• 2003 wildfire costs top the 1 billion dollar mark - A Preliminary report by the US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station's Forest Fire Lab, indicates costs for the catastrophic fires during October 2003 cost over 1.2 Billion dollars.   (07/25)  (Preliminary Cost Report 630k PDF)
   
• Manzanita Fire 100% Contained July 24th - The Manzanita Fire located north of Angelus Oaks, sparked by lightning on July 22nd was declared contained yesterday. (07/25)
   
• Lake Arrowhead Volunteer Project July 30th - Come lend a hand with a fire restoration project in the Lake Arrowhead area on Saturday July 30th. (07/30)
   
• Fire Restrictions Raised to "High" July 22nd -  Fire danger increases as seasonal summer heat dries out grasses and chaparral.  Open fires will not be permitted in Yellow Post sites as well as general forest areas (07/19)
   
• Help Build The Exploration Trail – July 16! - Children's Forest (San Bernardino National Forest Association) is hosting Exploration Trail Community Trail Building Day, Saturday, July 16, 2005, from 9am to 3pm. The trail is a 4.5-mile family hiking trail located in the National Children’s Forest in Running Springs. (07/08)
   
• Fire Danger Level raised to "Moderate" - The San Bernardino National Forest is implementing its annual fire season restrictions beginning today June 20, 2005.  Under the restrictions, no open campfires or charcoal fires are allowed outside of designated recreation sites such as campgrounds, picnic sites, and yellow post sites. (06/20)
   
• Adventure Pass No Longer Required in Portions of Southern California National Forests - The US Forest Service is reducing the area in Southern California where recreation fees are required. Although 81% of the San Bernardino National Forest will no longer require the Adventure Pass, the pass will still be required in most locations that are popular with visitors. (06/14)
   
• Repairs to Storm Damaged Fire Roads Underway - San Bernardino National Forest contractors have begun the enormous task of repairing fire access roads ravaged by the record storms of the 2004-2005 winter. (06/10)
  (Supplemental Road List PDF)
   
• Forest Service making improvements to recreation fee sites nationwide for enhanced visitor services - US Forest Service today announced significant adjustments to its recreation fee program nationwide, which will result in a higher quality recreation experience for the American public. (06/09)
   
• MAST Fire Agencies stage drill in Idyllwild - The Riverside Mountain Area Safety Taskforce (MAST) and cooperating fire service agencies will be holding an evacuation exercise on June 15, 2005 from 9:00am to 5:00pm in the Idyllwild area.  (06/07)
   
• Bald Eagle spotted in Big Bear! - In a normal year, bald eagles visit the Big Bear area only during the winter months. Generally, we have between 15-25 bald eagles between November and the beginning of April when they depart for nesting areas to the north. This year, however, you may have noticed one of our special visitors ignoring the “usual” pattern. (06/06)
   
• Riverside MAST to conduct drill - California Department of Forestry & Fire press release on upcoming disaster drill in Idyllwild. This is a simulation and not a live drill to simulate a wildland fire. (06/03)
   
• Public Comments Requested for South Big Bear Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Project - The San Bernardino National Forest is preparing an Environmental Assessment for proposed treatments for the South Big Bear Fuels project and is open for public comment until July 11, 2005  (06/02)
   
• State Highway 18 detour near Big Bear Dam - Highway 18 from the Big Bear Dam to Boulder Bay for hazard tree removal.  Detour Via Hwy 38 and Stanfield Cutoff.  Map included in press release. (05/20)
   
• State Highway 38 subject to delays near Big Bear Dam - Between May 2nd and May 13th, expect delays up to 20-30 minutes along State Route 38 in between the Big Bear Dam and Fawnskin. Loggers from Pacific Slope will be removing dead and dying trees near the highway between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm on Monday-Thursdays and from 9 am to 1 pm on Fridays.  (04/29)
   
• San Jacinto Ranger District Hosts Field Trip - On May 10th from 4pm to 6pm, the San Bernardino National Forest will host a field trip to view the proposed North Fork Fuel Project (04/27)
   
• Big Bear Showing of the "The Greatest Good" film - On May 20th at 6:30pm the Big Bear Discovery Center presents the US Forest Service Film "The Greatest Good". a film telling the 100 year story of the Forest Service.  The showing is free (04/22)
   
• Fireshed Assessment Process for Oak Glen and Banning areas 42/6 through 4/28-   The San Bernardino National Forest is hosting a Fireshed Assessment.  The workshop will be held at the Oak Glen Christian Conference Center, the  workshop is scheduled to take place on April 26 through April 28th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  (04/19)
   
• Forest Service seeks comment on Fuels Project - The San Jacinto Ranger District is seeking public comment on the Highway 243 fuels reduction project. (04/18)  Scoping Letter (PDF File) Scoping Package (PDF File)
   
• Forest Service Centennial Event in Lake Arrowhead April 30th - The Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce and the San Bernardino National Forest are hosting an event to celebrate the 100 years of the US Forest Service.  The Event will be at the Lake Arrowhead Village on April 30th from 10am to 4pm.  (4/18)
   
• Large Trees to be Protected by Spraying -Selected trees in campgrounds, picnic areas, near fire stations, and at Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers will be sprayed in the next few weeks with a chemical called Carbaryl,  . The spraying will begin on April 13 and will prevent loss of high value trees to attack by bark beetles. Up to 1,000 trees may be sprayed at as many as 35 locations. (04/06)
   
• Juniper Point Improvements -  The San Bernardino National Forest has started construction of a permanent restroom at the Juniper Point parking area. This project will begin today and continue for two to four weeks. (04/05)
   
• Switzer Park Fire Restoration Project - On April 9th, a community based fire restoration project in Switzer Park is planned for 10:00am to 4:00pm  (03/22)
   
• Tree Removal Project on Highway 173 - As part of the North Lake Arrowhead fuels reduction project, Highway 173 from Grass Valley Road to Kinley Creek will be closed intermittently for two weeks April 8th. (03/17)
   
• 2005 Final Bald Eagle Count - Volunteers documented Bald Eagles nesting in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains over the winter months (03/12)
   
• North Fork of the San Jacinto Field Trip -  Field trip planned for March 19th to view proposed project on the north fork of the San Jacinto River (03/11)
   
• Angelus Oaks Pile Burning - Residents of Angelus Oaks and other mountain communities noticed more smoke and flames than predicted from the pile burning operation south of Angelus Oaks on Tuesday, March 8, 2005. (03/09)
   
• Cajon Greenthumbs Native Plant Restoration Program Schedule - The Greenthumbs have expanded to the Lytle Creek area this year, and offer a full schedule of events for 2005. (03/08)
   
• Millionth Visitor to Big Bear Discovery Center - Marilyn and Tony Vecchio brought their family to the Discovery Center on March 5th to become the millionth visitor since the center opened in May 1998. (03/07)  (Photos)
   
• Bald Eagle Count March 7th Update - Volunteer Bald Eagle count data and volunteer information for March 12, 2005 Eagle count (03/07)
   
• February 12 Bald Eagle Count Update - Volunteer bald eagle count data and information for the final count on March 12th (02/12)
   
• Volunteers needed for Eagle Count  -  Volunteers needed for Annual Bald Eagle count on February 12th. (02/07)
   
• Forest Service Green Thumbs 2005 Schedule - Greenthumbs seek volunteers to assist with native plants and fire restoration projects (01/23)
   
• Pile Burning near Angelus Oaks - With favorable weather conditions crews will be burning slash piles in the Angelus Oaks area.  Smoke and flame will be visible for the next few weeks. (01/12)
   
• Volunteer Eagle Count Update - Update on Bald Eagle counts in Big Bear (01/08)
   
• Pile Burning Continues on Mountaintop District - In Conjunction with Crest Forest Fire District, San Bernardino National Forest crews will begin burning slash piles in the Cedar Pines Park and Valley of Enchantment communities. (01/04)

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US Forest Service - San Bernardino National Forest
Last Modified:  Friday, 19 December 2008 at 14:48:54 EST