Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (August 29, 2013) – Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce responded to the devastating California Rim Fire with the following statement:

“My thoughts and prayers are with the people of California and the heroic firefighters working to contain this monstrous fire,” said Pearce. “The improper management of the Stanislaus National Forest, where the blaze first started, has put national treasures at risk. Our majestic Sequoia trees, some of which are thousands of years old, have prevailed over smaller fires in the past. However, the Rim Fire is proving to be far more destructive and we just might find that in the end these Sequoia trees survive all but U.S. Forest Service policy.”

The Rim Fire has already consumed over 192,000 acres and is at just 30% containment, with 86% of the fire’s total acreage on land managed by the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service.