Firefighters Gain More Ground Against Deadly California Wildfire

Firefighters continued gaining ground Friday against the Camp Fire in Northern California. The potential magnitude of the wildfire disaster escalated as officials raised its death toll to 63 -- increasing the statewide total to 66 -- and released a missing-persons list with 631 names on it. (CBS News)

California Gov. Jerry Brown, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Visit Woolsey Fire Area

California Gov. Jerry Brown and U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke visited Woolsey Fire areas Thursday, a week after the blaze erupted in fierce winds. In the days since, Woolsey has burned a wide path through the Santa Monica Mountains, destroying more than 500 structures, and is thought to have taken three lives. (VC Star)

Winds that Fanned Southern California Wildfire Diminish

Winds that fanned a deadly, destructive Southern California firestorm were fading Thursday and more areas were reopening to residents as firefighters extended containment lines around the vast burn scar. “It’s the new abnormal: fires, dryness, lack of moisture, winds,” Gov. Jerry Brown said during a visit to a command post in Camarillo, where he also spoke about the transition from firefight to recovery. “That recovery will happen,” he said. “The state will help. The federal government is helping. President Trump told me on the telephone yesterday that he’s completely behind California.” Brown was joined on the visit by U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. In addition, the White House announced that President Donald Trump will travel to California on Saturday and meet with fire survivors in Paradise, where at least 63 people were killed in a separate wildfire — the nation’s deadliest in a century. (The Washington Post)

BLM Urges King Range and Public Land Visitors to be Careful with Fire During Dry Fall Conditions

Abnormally warm and dry weather conditions across California are contributing to high fire dangers, and the Bureau of Land Management is asking visitors to be extremely careful with campfires. The BLM said conditions are worrisome along the Lost Coast Trail on California’s Lost Coast. Rain gauge data dating to 1992 shows that the King Range averages almost 19 inches of precipitation from August through November. This year the area has received only 1.5 inches of rain during the same time. This light fall rain total follows a warm, dry summer. (BLM news release)

The WWII Legacy of a Retired Oregon Cow Pasture

A quiet oak savanna in southwest Oregon has a World War II story to tell.
It was the summer of 1942 when thousands of young American troops started arriving in Oregon to prepare for battle. Only months prior, immediately after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into WWII, the U.S. Army broke ground on Camp White, a massively ambitious training ground for troops north of Medford. The national war effort was ramping up, and from the rationing at home to the drill sergeants yelling at new draftees, the task at hand was unified: Get America prepared for war as fast as possible. (BLM Oregon Facebook)

Veterans Find Healing and Hope on Public Lands

A visit to America’s public lands is more than an opportunity to see an epic vista, learn about history and experience wildlife. It’s also good medicine. (DOI news release)

Happy Veterans Day from Interior!

America honors all the men and women who have served in the military this Veterans Day, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke honors Retired US Army Senior Master Sergeant Harry Miller, veteran of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, and all the veterans who serve at the Department of the Interior. (DOI video)

Thank You, Volunteers

Earlier this month the BLM Bishop Field Office hosted 48 climber volunteers from The American Alpine Club Fall Highball at three sites on the Volcanic Tablelands. Volunteers improved access trails at the Happy and Sad bouldering areas, removed microtrash and repainted signs and picnic tables at the Pleasant Valley Pit Campground. Thanks to everyone who participated and the partners who helped make this event possible! (BLM California Facebook)

Following the People's Tree

The tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree, or "The People’s Tree," began in 1964 when Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John W. McCormack (D-MA) placed a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn. This tree lived three years before succumbing to wind and root damage. In 1970, the Capitol Architect asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide a Christmas tree. Since then, a different national forest has been chosen each year to provide "The People’s Tree." This national forest also works with state forests to provide companion trees that are smaller Christmas trees for offices in Washington, D.C. The Willamette National Forest in Oregon will provide the 2018 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Capitol Christmas Tree website)

Related: Track the Tree (SkyBitz)

Related: A 'Noble' Decision in Oregon: Selecting the Capitol Christmas Tree (Architect of the Capitol website)

BLM Will Improve Bridges on Bizz Johnson Trail

A project to replace decking on three Bizz Johnson Trail bridges gets underway the week of Nov. 11 and will continue through December. Construction crews will work on the Hobo Camp bridge on the Susan River, near Susanville, and on two bridges about five miles west of Susanville (BLM news release)

Economic Impact of Public Lands Increases by $400 Million in First Year Under President Trump

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke released the Department's Economic Report for Fiscal Year 2017 that shows for the first time in several years, economic growth and jobs supported by federal lands both increased. According to the report, under President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Zinke's first year in office, the economic output of Interior's federal lands and resources increased by $400 million to $292 billion and the number of jobs supported increased by 230,000 to 1.8 million jobs. Gains are due to increased energy production and revenues, regulatory reform, changes to land uses and access, infrastructure projects, and other factors. (DOI news release)

BLM Recognizes Mustang Heritage Foundation's Contribution

In recognition of the contributions of the Mustang Heritage Foundation, the Bureau of Land Management is recognizing MHF during a Nov. 2-3 wild horse and burro event at Meadowood Recreation Area in Lorton, Virginia. The BLM’s partnership with the MHF began in 2007 and since then the organization has been responsible for the placement of more than 11,200 wild horses and burros in good homes. (BLM news release)

Which animal will call this home?

Keep scrolling to find out!

November 17 and 18: Special Pheasant Hunts Set for Sacramento River Bend Wetland Areas

Special pheasant hunts designed for beginner hunters will be offered in the Bureau of Land Management’s Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17 and 18. (BLM news release)

November 17 and 25: Alabama Hills film, geology and natural history hikes offered this November

The Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office, Alabama Hills Stewardship Group and Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association will be hosting two-hour, guided hikes about the film, geology and natural history of the Alabama Hills. Hikes will begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 17 and 25 and leave from the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at the intersection of U.S. Route 395 and California State Route 136 in Lone Pine. (BLM news release)

December 4 and 13: BLM to Host Cotoni-Coast Dairies Public Access Workshops

The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office will host two public workshops to explore recreational access opportunities at the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the California Coastal National Monument in Santa Cruz County. (BLM news release)

Now - 2019: Bring Home a Wild Horse or Burro

The BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program is excited to announce nearly 70 events this year as part of BLM's efforts to find good homes for our nation's wild horses and burros. Known for their intelligence, endurance and loyalty, wild horses and burros, with the right training, are outstanding for trail riding, packing, working and have successfully competed for awards in numerous fields from endurance riding to dressage. With more than 81,000 wild horses and burros on BLM-managed public lands, these wild icons of our American history need your help more than ever. Without any natural predators that can control population growth, wild horse and burro herds grow rapidly on the range and can quickly overcome the land's ability to support them. The BLM works to maintain healthy wild herds by gathering excess animals and placing them into good homes. (BLM website)