Dave and producer Matt Fidler were the first two journalists allowed into Lassen Volcanic National Park after the Dixie Fire, the largest single fire in California history, burned through a large swath of the park in August 2021.
Dave has been visiting the park and serving as a volunteer there for decades and both he and Matt have spent many a happy time camping at Juniper Lake with its Tahoe blue waters lapping right up to the campground.
Joined by Ranger Kevin Sweeney, Fire Operations Officer Mike Klimek, and pyrogeographer Zeke Lunder, the team spent a day investigating the fire's impacts at Juniper Lake and the Drakesbad/Warner Valley area outside of Chester, CA.
On the following day, Dave and Ranger Sweeney drove the then-closed park road, Highway 89 to view the iconic views of one of California's crown jewels. Dave also visits Mill Creek Resort and chats with one of the owners and takes a hike in a forested area that is verdant and intact just a few miles from the burn zone.
Contrary to what some major media outlets had reported, rumors of utter destruction in the park were at times greatly exaggerated.
