CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit

06/19/2026

FRIENDLY REMINDER!
CAL FIRE MEU in collaboration with CALTRANS will be starting work on the Highway 101 Prescribed Burn on Monday, June 22nd around 5 pm. The project will start near mile marker 17 and crews will be working their way north. Please drive with an abundance of caution for the safety of all involved. Please be aware that smoke could potentially impact visibility as well. Thank you for your support!

06/16/2026

🚨 Now Hiring: Equipment Operator II – Fuels Reduction – CAL FIRE

📍 Location: Willits, CA
💼 Classification: Equipment Operator II – Fuels Reduction
🆔 JC-521664
💰 Salary Range: $4,883.00 - $6,127.00 per month
📆 Final Filing Date: 06/26/2026

This is a great opportunity to join CAL FIRE and contribute to supporting the department’s mission and day-to-day operations.

🔗 Apply here: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=521664

If you’re interested, we encourage you to apply early.

Looking to make a difference? Join our strong and mighty workforce. We offer benefits and growth opportunities and impact the lives of millions of Californians.

06/15/2026

COYOTE VALLEY DAM PRESCRIBED BURN SCHEDULED
Mendocino County, CA–The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Mendocino Unit, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, will be conducting a vegetation management prescribed burn at the Coyote Valley Dam.

This prescribed burn will treat approximately 23 acres of grass along the face of Coyote Valley Dam, to facilitate the annual geological survey and required earthquake inspection of the dam structure. This reduction of vegetation will also help reduce the chance of catastrophic wildfires in the future, while providing firefighters with live fire training opportunities.

Coyote Dam and the fish Hatchery near the base of the dam will be closed to the public while this prescribed burn occurs. Burning will take place on Sunday, June 28th, 2026, starting at approximately 6 p.m. and conclude at approximately 11 p.m. Smoke will be visible throughout the entire Ukiah and Redwood Valley areas.

This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer towards meeting state fuels reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. To track the progress being made, both in your community and throughout California, visit the CAL FIRE fuels reduction dashboard at
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/fuels-reduction.

This project burn will be conducted under strictly controlled weather and fuel conditions. Smoke and aircraft may be visible in the area.

06/15/2026

Every dollar spent on forest fuels treatment saves about $3.75 in wildfire damages, according
to new research from (tag) UC Davis that analyzed nearly 300 wildfires across the western United
States.
We’re working alongside our partners to increase the pace and scale of landscape resilience projects
across California. Through strategic fuels reduction, prescribed fire, and cultural burning, we’re
helping reduce wildfire intensity, protect communities, and improve the long-term health of our
forests.
👉👉 Read the full study at: https://bit.ly/ForestFuelUCD
WildfirePreparedness

06/12/2026

Howard Forest Headquarters Prescribed Burn Scheduled

Mendocino County, CA–The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Mendocino Unit will be conducting a prescribed burn on the Howard Forest Headquarters property. This prescribed burn will treat approximately 100 acres of grasslands, within oak woodlands, creating a mosaic of variously burned vegetation and islands of unburned habitat.

Howard Forest is in the central portion of Mendocino County, along Highway 101, south of Willits and north of Ridgewood.

Burning will begin on Monday , June 15th, 2026 and may continue through June 21st, 2026. Burning will start at approximately 8 a.m. and conclude at approximately 3 p.m.

This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer towards meeting state fuels reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. Additionally, these projects provide excellent training opportunities for our personnel. To track the progress being made, both in your community and throughout California, visit the CAL FIRE fuels reduction dashboard at https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/fuels-reduction.

This project burn will be conducted under strictly controlled weather and fuel conditions. Smoke and aircraft may be visible in the area.

06/08/2026

🚁🚁 MEET THE HELITORCH.
The helitorch is one of the specialized tools CAL FIRE uses to safely ignite prescribed burns in steep
or hard to reach terrain.
During the Bridges Prescribed Burn in Mendocino County, this aerial ignition tool helped firefighters
complete a 650-acre project designed to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen the health of the
surrounding landscape.
Prescribed fire projects like this one clear excess brush, improve wildlife habitat by removing invasive
plant species and overgrowth, and lower the intensity of future wildfires. Carefully planned, safely
executed — and proven to protect communities.

06/05/2026

fire.ca.gov is YOUR official source for wildfire information in California.
Active incidents across the state, evacuation orders and air resources in flight, are all updated in real
time by CAL FIRE.
Get your information directly from the source. Accurate information saves lives.
fire.ca.gov is YOUR official source for wildfire information in California.
Active incidents across the state, evacuation orders and air resources in flight, are all updated in real
time by CAL FIRE.
Get your information directly from the source. Accurate information saves lives.

06/05/2026

🚁🔥 What an amazing day at the Cal Fire Ukiah Air Attack Base

We were thrilled to welcome back a local preschool class for a special behind-the-scenes tour.

Students got an up-close look at our aircraft, learned about aviation and wildfire response, and met members of the Cal Fire team. It was a fun day of learning, exploration, and lots of smiles.
Thank you to our young visitors for spending the day with us—we loved sharing what we do!

-opNurserySchool 🚁✈️🔥📚👨‍🚒👩‍🚒

06/04/2026

U.S. Highway 101 Prescribed Burn Scheduled Mendocino County, CA

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Mendocino Unit, working with the California Department of Transportation (CAL Trans) as well as surrounding Local Government Fire Agencies, will be conducting a vegetation management prescribed burn along U.S. Highway 101. This project will start at Nelson Ranch Road south of Ukiah, and finish at the top of Ridgewood Grade south of Willits.

This prescribed burn will treat approximately 400 acres of grass within Cal Trans’ Right-of-Way along U.S. Highway 101. This project will contribute to fuel reduction along the highway, providing safety of motorists and emergency responders from roadside fires. This reduction of vegetation will help reduce the chance of catastrophic wildfires in the future, while providing firefighters with live fire training opportunities.

U.S. Highway 101 will be under controlled traffic during burning operations. Emergency vehicles will be patrolling the area heavily, so please be aware of emergency vehicles along the highway.

Burning will begin on Monday, June 22nd, 2026, and continue as favorable weather conditions exist, concluding on, or about July 9th, 2026. Burning will start at approximately 6 p.m. and conclude at approximately 11 p.m. daily with smoke visible in the area. Burning operations will take place Monday through Friday.

This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer towards meeting state fuels reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. To track the progress being made, both in your community and throughout California, visit the CAL FIRE fuels reduction dashboard at https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/fuels-reduction.

This project burn will be conducted under strictly controlled weather and fuel conditions. Smoke and aircraft may be visible in the area.