Six Rivers National Forest Supervisor Ted McArthur announced that Josh Mathiesen has been selected as the new interagency fire chief for the Six Rivers National Forest and Redwood National Park.
“Josh brings a wealth of fire management experience to the forest,” said McArthur. He added, “We’re all looking forward to having him here on the Six Rivers.”
Josh grew up on the central coast of California and graduated from Atascadero High School in 1990. That same year, he became a firefighter with the Bureau of Land Management and the Kern Valley Hotshots based in Bakersfield, California. After 4 years there, he became a smokejumper with the California Smokejumpers based in Redding, California. Throughout his 25-year career as a smokejumper, Josh has been engaged in various detail opportunities—from forest aviation officer and deputy forest fire chief, to forest fire chief.