Two Kidnapped Forest Service Workers Freed in Northern California

The employees were taken hostage on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest before being rescued early Friday.

Two U.S. Forest Service employees who were taken hostage in rural Northern California were freed early Friday morning, the agency said.

The workers had been held by two captors on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, according to the Washington Examiner. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz confirmed their release in a statement.

"I'm grateful beyond words that both of our Forest Service employees taken hostage on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest are home safe," Schultz said.

Further details on the circumstances of the kidnapping, the identities of the captors, or any arrests were not immediately available.

— Compiled from reporting by the Washington Examiner.