Sierra Pacific Industries Donates 50 Acres in Shasta County to the Northern California Burn Foundation

Business Wire, August 2, 2002

Business Editors

REDDING, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2002

NCBF Will Use the Land to Establish the Nation's First

Retreat for Firefighters and Emergency Response Personnel,

As Well As Burn-surviving Children

In a significant move toward establishing the first-of-its-kind retreat for firefighters and emergency responders across the country, the Northern California Burn Foundation and forest products company Sierra Pacific Industries today announced an agreement for the donation of 50 acres near Lassen Park in Shasta County.

The Foundation, which has coordinated two-week summer camps for burn-surviving children since 1986, has been working with Sierra Pacific Industries to identify a suitable piece of land to accommodate what will be called "Camp Eagle Flight" -- a year-round recreation camp for children and retreat for traumatized firefighters and other emergency first responders.

"We've seen a great need to expand our services to the emergency personnel who may receive physical aid but do not have a place to go for social, emotional and spiritual recovery," said Ed Ballantine, executive director of the Foundation. "Sierra Pacific's generosity to provide us with a prime piece of forestland to create this year-round facility is a real blessing to our effort," he continued.

According to the Foundation, for children ages 5 through 18 who have survived burn incidents, Camp Eagle Flight will provide a socially comfortable environment for developing self-esteem and building friendships with other burn survivors. Horseback riding, stargazing, sports, and arts and crafts will be among the many recreational activities offered.

For traumatized firefighters and emergency responders, the camp will provide a retreat-like setting for trauma counseling and social healing services. It also will provide an opportunity for firefighters to work and play with burn survivors.

"Being able to play a role in this extraordinary project is a great privilege," said A.A. "Red" Emmerson, president of SPI. "The work the Foundation is doing to help alleviate the physical pain and psychological trauma for thousands of children and emergency personnel is truly commendable," he said.

Camp Eagle Flight will be free to participants and the Foundation relies solely on private contributions. It expects to raise the needed $5 million to build the camp facilities within the next four years and to be fully operational by 2006.

"We don't always appreciate the potential long-term affects of the trauma and human pain we see everyday," said Red Bluff Fire Chief, Michael J. Damon. "I can tell you that the compassion of the people behind this effort will go a long way towards helping release the unspoken suffering of our emergency personnel."

Sierra Pacific Industries is a third-generation, family-owned and operated forest products company based in Anderson, Calif. It employs approximately 3,600 employees and operates 13 sawmills and four wood products plants in California.

The Northern California Burn Foundation (NCBF) was founded in 1986 to provide loving support and care for burn-surviving children and their families and to create and distribute through every possible means effective burn-prevention educational materials.