WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 012909

We're trying a new format today suggested by a reader of NOTD. See how you like it!

In a bizarre turnabout, San Diego Gas & Electric is suing residents for damage caused by a wildfire sparked by SDG&E gear: SDG&E might sue burned-out residents over fires' spread

A seminar will be held at Heli-Expo in February for those wishing to contract with the Department of the Interior and US Forest Service: Attention Firefighting Operators: DOI/USFS Vendors Seminar at Heli-Expo

Angeles National Forest is hiring on 1/31/09, as detailed by the following dispatch: Angeles Forest officials hold job fair

Volunteers packed some 40 pines up into rugged terrain above Glendale, California, to replant burn areas: Damaged forest gets some help

The city of La Canada, California, has prepared a brochure for homeowners to educate them on good evacuation practices: A new tool to help prepare for evacuation

Arson investigators in Northwest Florida are on the trail of a serial arsonist in that area: Investigators: Blackwater Forest fires were arson

The drought in Florida is causing fire managers to burn off vegetation ahead of wildfires: Prescribed burns control threat, nourish forest habitats

Emergency services that have been busy with floods in Malaysia now have to switch over to firefighting (and snake capture!): Kelantan fire dept set to fight forest fires

A small wildfire, apparently caused by a heatwave, was quickly extinguished in Malaysia: Forest Fire Near Penang National Park

Additional firefighters are being dispatched to fight blazes on the island of Tasmania, Australia: More manpower as fire threat warms up

The Bushfire Cooperative Research Center in Australia has published some worrisome figures about CO2 from bushfires: Bushfires 'to burn up climate efforts'

Call it a trickle-down effect, as bushfire damage in Australia may cause a water source to dry up: Fires to cut Murray-Darling flows

New South Wales, Australia, is battling bushfires in the northern part of that state: Two bushfires in north NSW

Homeowners in Victoria state, Australia, were being warned to prepare to defend their homes from oncoming bushfires: Gippsland residents called on to help defend homes

And finally, a careless firefighter in Scotland caused a bit of a stir at his fire station: Firefighter's lunch sparks alarm