Two US Forest Service employees who were conducting routine fieldwork in California's remote Shasta-Trinity National Forest were rescued early Friday after being held hostage for more than 15 hours, CNN reported, citing US authorities.

Two U.S. Forest Service workers were held hostage for hours by a man with a gun in a California forest before they were freed, authorities said.

The employees were taken hostage by two armed individuals on Thursday while conducting fieldwork in Shasta-Trinity National Forest.