REDDING, Calif. (FOX26) — Two U.S. Forest Service employees were taken hostage Thursday while working in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California, but both were safely released early Friday morning, officials said.

Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said the agency is grateful the employees were returned safely and is supporting them and their families after the ordeal. Schultz said the incident drew a large, coordinated response from local, state and federal law enforcement, including the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, CHP, Cal OES, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said deputies first learned that Joseph Charles Hendrickson had two Forest Service employees zip-tied and held at gunpoint inside a trailer near Gumboot Lake. LaRue said negotiators worked for hours before the two hostages were released at about 1:50 a.m. Hendrickson and his son, Phoenix Hendrickson, later surrendered.

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Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson said his office sent 30 personnel to assist, including SWAT, snipers, negotiators, bomb techs and drone teams. FBI acting SAC Brian Tosh said the first hostage was released after hours of negotiation and the second was freed 15 minutes later. Tosh said the FBI also deployed its Hostage Rescue Team from Quantico.

U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said federal charges are being filed for the kidnapping of a federal employee. Officials said the investigation is ongoing and the public should submit any firsthand information to the FBI.