WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100708

There was an abundance of wildfire news today, starting with a story about how NASA will pair up with USFS to do a detailed study of the 747 and DC-10 Very Large Air Tankers (formerly known as Supertankers) as aerial firefighting assets. The Cedar Fire is back in the news today as plaintiffs try to blame the federal government for the 2003 conflagration that did so much damage in San Diego. Autumn is coming to the Sierras, as indicated by the fact that fire restrictions are being relaxed around Lake Tahoe. In Utah, restoration is underway by USFS of over 800 acres of fire-ravaged wilderness. Allstate Insurance is partnering with The Forest Foundation in a wildfire public education campaign through a publication from Tom Bonnicksen. Fire crews in Kentucky are hoping rain tonight will help dampen a wildfire that's been burning there for some weeks now, and Virginia forestry personnel will be getting some pointers on how to nab arsonists through forensics. The Chalk Fire is still expanding near King City, California, and is less than 40% contained at this time, while air power saves the day as CL-415s pounce on a small brushfire in Rolling Hills, outside LA. Air pollution officials are checking to see how much smoke from wildfires contributed to pollution in the San Joaquin Valley, and another story appeared today about lookout towers, this time on the West Coast. Texas is also reminding its citizens to be firewise this fall, as the next article shows. Moving overseas, there were a number of articles out of Australia today, some composing contrasting stories. First up, two stories about fire predictions, one for an above-average bushfire season in South Australia, one for a below-average bushfire season in Victoria. Next in line, two stories about the good and the bad of civilian populations: the first about how homeowners helped stave off disaster in southeast Queensland; the second about children starting the very same blazes! The first glimmers of a fixed-wing air-tanker fleet is appearing, as an AT-802 takes to the air to fight bushfires. And finally, another cautionary tale on firefighter situational awareness: first it was landmines in Lebanon, then it was Russian anti-aircraft fire in Georgia, now it's unexploded ammunition in Dry Canyon, California (near Ventura, in the Los Padres National Forest).

NASA Partners With Forest Service On Air Tanker Safety Study

Homeowners Seek Damages Against Government for California Wildfire

Fire restrictions lifted in forest

Plan released to restore wildfire-scorched land in Draper

Forest Foundation, Allstate Foundation Partner to Educate Californians on Wildfire Issues

Rain May Help Forest Fires

Va. foresters use science to nab arsonists

Firefighters tackle Chalk Fire: 11,189 acres burned

SuperScooper Helps Extinguish Rolling Hills Estates Fire

Air quality officials studying impact of wildfires

On the lookout

Forest Fire prevention week

Bushfire potential up, report says

Experts predict lower bushfire risk

Praise for Sunshine Coast residents' firefighting efforts

Children blamed as fires threaten Sunshine Coast homes

Water bomber to take aim at north coast bushfires

Officials warn of possible WWII weaponry in Calif.