Forest pests (insects and diseases) annually destroy 10 times the volume of timber lost due to forest fires. Native bark beetles took hold in Southern California forests following severe drought years and caused unprecedented tree mortality. The introduced Pitch Canker Disease has attacked Monterey pine along the central coast. Sudden Oak Death, caused by Phytophthora ramorum, has been found in 14 counties in California and has killed thousands of oaks. CAL FIRE's forest pest specialists help protect the state's forest resources from native and introduced pests, conduct surveys and provide technical assistance to private forest landowners, and promote forest health on all forest lands.

 

Contact Information

Dr. Curtis Ewing - Cascade and Northern Sierra Region

6105 Airport Rd., Redding, CA 96002
Curtis.Ewing@Fire.Ca.Gov
(916) 201-7032

Chris Lee - North Coast Region

118 S. Fortuna Blvd., Fortuna, CA 95540-2705
Christopher.Lee@Fire.Ca.Gov
(707) 726-1254

Tom Smith - Central and Southern Sierra Region

P.O. Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94266-2460
Tom.Smith@Fire.Ca.Gov
(916) 599-6882

Kim Corella - South Coast and Southern CA Region

635 N. Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Kim.Corella@Fire.Ca.Gov
(805) 550-8583