WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082609

San Diego Regional Fire Safety Forum's Rick Halsey weighs in on the issue of chaparral and wildfires once again in our first wildfire article today. A wildfire erupted in Azusa Canyon yesterday afternoon (Bill Ward, President of Exit Safe Products, called me to report this, and the smoke plume was visible from my dining room window); as the fire expanded to over 750 acres in size, firefighters were still battling it in steep terrain today; and students from two Southland communities, who had just returned to school after a long summer vacation, were forced to stay inside during class due to excessive smoke in the air. An artist in Ventura County is using the debris from a recent wildfire in a new exhibit that is a cautionary tale for homeowners in the area. Monsoon rains have helped dampen several wildfires burning in New Mexico's Gila National Forest; but although Wyoming's forestry officials will be receiving over $6 million in federal money to help their forests, the governor and forestry officials claim to need more. FireWise communities in New Jersey are showcased in the next article. A wildfire has burned over 1000 acres on British Columbia's Vancouver Island. Spain is having some recurring problems with wildfires in the eastern part of that country; and a wildfire in Bulgaria closed the road to a Black Sea resort for a time. As the Greek wildfires abate and a multi-national firefighting force extinguishes the last embers, many are seeking the source of some of the more suspicious blazes, as the next two articles show. With NOAA satellites identifying over 600 hot spots in Indonesia this month, fire officials were thankful for the return of rain, but cautioned that fires could occur again as plantation land is cleared. New Zealand is trying to learn some of the painful lessons the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia, have to offer before it's their turn. Australian experts debated reports of homes spontaneously combusting during the Black Saturday bushfires before the Royal Bushfire Commission meeting in Melbourne, Victoria; but other testimony indicated that even bushfire-proof homes may not be enough to save lives in future bushfires. A roundtable discussion tackles the issue of what's ahead for Victoria and New South Wales when bushfire season begins again. Several bushfires threatened structures in Queensland yesterday; while a pair of helicopter air-tankers on a training mission ended up getting involved in the real thing as an arson-set bushfire broke out in that state. And finally, we all know that firefighters save lives, but how many of them do you know who save hawks, bobcats, and coyotes?

Drought, Not 'Old Chaparral,' Aiding Wildfires

Helicopters, tanker fight Angeles forest fire until dusk

Wildfire continues to burn in Angeles National Forest [Updated]

San Marino, San Gabriel students to be kept indoors from wildfire smoke

Artist uses charcoal, ashes from wildfires to show their horror

Rains ease Gila fires, flood canyon

Governor Says Wyoming Forests Need More Attention

Area communities fight fire with fire plans

Wolf River forest fire allowed to keep burning

New wildfire threatens village in eastern Spain

Wildfire Closes Bulgaria Black Sea Road, Threatens Top Resort

Massive wildfire in Greece nearly extinguished

Greek wildfires contained, but search begins for cause

Rain helps douse forest fires

NZ could learn from Victorian bushfires, expert says

New bushfire rules lacking, commission hears

Bushfire-proof houses may not save lives

Eastern states brace for a severe bushfire season

Bushfires threaten homes in southern Qld

Arson suspected for bushfire

FDNY veteran rescues all kinds of wildlife in spare time: hawks, bobcats, coyotes