National Public Lands Day: enjoy public lands fee-free this Saturday

National Public Lands Day is tomorrow! In celebration of this special day, we invite you to enjoy public lands fee-FREE! On Saturday, September 26, you can connect with thousands of outdoor enthusiasts across the country to celebrate America's public lands. Whether volunteering in-person or virtually, this day showcases the breathtaking beauty and cultural significance of America's public lands. (BLM CA Facebook)

BLM releases proposed plan for Cotoni-Coast Dairies that includes fire prevention

The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office has released its Cotoni-Coast Dairies proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment for the California Coastal National Monument that will provide management direction for Cotoni-Coast Dairies public lands in Santa Cruz County. Today’s announcement begins a 30-day protest period and 60-day Governor’s consistency review. (BLM CA News Release)

Successful online horse adoptions

The Bureau of Land Management California took part in the Wild Horse & Burro Online Corral Sept. 1-8, which is a national program where inmate-trained saddle horses find new homes. The Online Corral provided a better way to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro on the Internet and have them delivered to a pick-up location near you. For more information on how you can adopt a wild horse, please visit the Wild Horse & Burro website  (BLM CA Facebook)

Park in approved areas

Don’t be like these visitors! Not only does parking on vegetation and sensitive areas destroy those plants and leaves bare areas. It is also a serious fire hazard as the exhaust pipes from vehicles can start a wildfire. When arriving at a recreation area, please park in approved areas without blocking emergency access or roadways (BLM CA Facebook)

New BLM virtual series for K-6th graders!

Check out this fantastic program from Bureau of Land Management Alaska designed for K-6th graders to participate in a virtual series and learning opportunity! The Alaska Explorers program is held every Wednesday through zoom where they will be teaching a different topic to any K-6th student that registers. To learn more about their virtual series, please visit BLM Alaska's Activity Calendar.

Desert View Conservation Area:
Joshua Tree, California

This hidden mountain biking and hiking destination is located just outside of Joshua Tree National Park. The Desert View Conservation Area, also known by the Bureau of Land Management as “Section 6,” is currently managed by the San Bernardino County Special Districts Department. The area was originally intended to become a robust recreation park area similar to Joshua Tree National Park. Read more: Atlas Obscura

Right time, right place: Woodward garners lighthouse honors

Jim Woodward’s phone call in early August to Mike Vogel, president of the U.S. Lighthouse Society, was perfectly timed. When Vogel answered the call and heard it was Woodward, he said “I was just about to call you.” The reason: Vogel wanted to tell Woodward that he and two others were being honored with the 2020 F. Ross Holland Lifetime Achievement Award by the U.S. Lighthouse Society and U.S. Lighthouse Council that was established 20 years ago. Only 13 individuals have previously been honored with this award, which is considered the lighthouse preservation community’s highest honor. (Green Valley News)

Practice water safety!

If going out on the water this #weekend, be sure to use proper safety gear! Wear a Coast Guard approved life vest at all times when you are on or near the water. Kayakers and canoeists should wear helmets at all times. Please remember to #RecreateResponsibly!  (BLM CA Facebook)

Firefighter killed while battling El Dorado fire is identified; ‘Charlie’ Morton called a respected leader

A crew boss with the Big Bear Hotshots has been identified as the firefighter who died Thursday while fighting the El Dorado wildfire, started by a smoke bomb ignited during a gender-reveal event in a Yucaipa park.

Charles Edward Morton, 39, died Thursday while battling the blaze in the San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino National Forest officials said. He had worked as a firefighter for 18 years, 14 with the U.S. Forest Service. (The Sun)

Crews quickly put out Highway 395 vehicle fire with BLM assist

Thanks to a quick response, a vehicle fire that spread into some vegetation on Highway 395 near Dripping Springs Ranch was quickly extinguished Tuesday, Sept. 22. Crews quickly put out a vehicle fire that spread onto the shoulder and up to a fence on Highway 395 Tuesday, Sept. 22. According to a post from the Susanville California Highway Patrol, at about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday a pick up truck being towed by a motorhome suddenly caught fire for unknown reasons on Highway 395. (Lassen News)

National Fire News

The National Interagency Fire Center mobilized Mexican fire crews and additional fire support from Canada and the U.S. Military today. For over 35 years, the U.S. has maintained arrangements for efficient resource sharing during peak fire activity with both Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has also been a key wildland firefighting partner for decades, providing aircraft and personnel to serve as wildland firefighters. Since 1987, active duty military personnel have been mobilized to serve as wildland firefighters a total of 38 times. (NIFC Facebook)

Why are they wrapping that house in tin foil?

This group of firefighters was tasked with a special project to protect a historical building. To protect structures from potential fire threat, there are many tools that firefighters can use, including the use of a protective wrap that looks like tinfoil to cover a structure. The wrap is specially designed to reflect radiant and convective heat away from the structure. By surrounding the building completely there is nowhere for embers to make contact and ignite the protected surface. (BLM CA Facebook)

Thank you to our Alaska partners for the wildfire assistance

Members of the Type 1 Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team board a plane in Fairbanks headed for Anchorage, then Redding, Calif. on Sept. 16, 2020. The team is slated to take over managing the northern zone of the August Complex in northern California on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. We appreciate the help! (BLM CA Facebook)

For the latest info on current wildfires in CA, visit these helpful websites:

- Inciweb 
- Cal Fire
- National Fire Situational Awareness Tool 

Remember to follow your local fire & law enforcement agencies on social media for updates specific to your area and heed all evacuation warning & orders.

While fire activity remains high, please visit our social media pages to get the latest fire map every day:

Facebook or  Twitter

Wildland fire outlook

Check out the latest #WildlandFireOutlook! Available here. (BLM Fire Facebook)

Previous closure of the Pacific Crest Trail due to Valley Fire lifted

The Bureau of Land Management Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office has rescinded a closure order restricting access to a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail managed by the BLM in the vicinity of the #ValleyFire in the Lawson Valley and Japatul areas in San Diego County. (BLM CA News Release)

What is the average resting heart rate for a hummingbird in beats per minute (bpm)?

1. 120 bpm
2. 250 bpm
3. 450 bpm
4. 600 bpm

Keep scrolling to find out!

National Public Lands Day is September 26th!

Volunteers are welcome to help spruce up the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail when the Bureau of Land Management and Lassen Land & Trails Trust host a National Public Lands Day project, this Saturday. Volunteer teams will work on improvements at the Depot, the adjacent Susanville Trailhead and caboose, and at the Hobo Camp Day Use Area and trailhead. Precautions associated with Covid-19 prevention will be in place, and projects will be designed with social distancing in mind. To find out how to volunteer, please visit this website. 

Public comments for the oil and gas lease sale in Kern County are due by September 25th

The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office is seeking public comment on an Environmental Assessment for a December 2020 oil and gas lease sale. There are seven parcels totaling approximately 4,330 acres of Federal minerals proposed for lease. All parcels are located in or adjacent to existing oilfields in Kern County. (BLM CA News Release)