WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082809

An update on wildfires burning in California is provided in our first six articles today; concluding the set with the governor's emergency declaration for counties hard-hit by these wildfires. A Russian-made BE-200 firefighting aircraft will be arriving in Santa Maria in late September to begin a campaign to get the aircraft licensed to fight wildfires in the US, with comments by DC-10 operator Rick Hatton. A quartet of federal air-tankers lifted out of Fresno airport yesterday to head east to fight wildfires in Yosemite National Park. Storage giant U-Haul is extending a special offer for free storage to people who've been evacuated due to wildfires in California. A 500 acre wildfire burning near a microwave tower in Oregon brewed up overnight; and another one in a wilderness area of central Oregon was being fought primarily by aircraft. A congressman from Oregon plans to introduce a bill that he hopes will help reduce forest fires in that state; and Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters engaged a wildfire that was reported by a passing aircraft. A wildfire in Nevada which cost the life of an air-tanker pilot has finally been fully contained after passing the 10,000 acre mark; but a small wildfire in Colorado's Rocky Mountains was burning in terrain inaccessible to fire trucks. Trouble in paradise, as a small wildfire in Hawaii was brought under control and an investigation into the cause was begun. A wildfire in British Columbia quickly grew from 4 acres to over 80, forcing evacuations of some residents. Some videos of the 747 Supertanker making drops in the US, Canada, and Spain are provided by the next article (for non-Italian speakers, the translated article can be found here). An assessment of the damage done in the Greek wildfires includes 65 homes destroyed and over 100 square miles of vegetation burned. Much-needed rain is dampening drought conditions and wildfires in parts of Southeast Asia. Residents along New South Wales' southern coast are being advised to be prepared to evacuate if a bushfire being monitored by Rural Fire Service aircraft heads their way; while firefighters in Queensland have finally contained all the bushfires burning in that state this week.

Homes evacuated as fire burns in central Calif.

Three Brush Fires Burning on Camp Pendleton

Fire burns about 10 miles east of Hemet

UPDATE 7 a.m.: Fire doubles to 5,000 acres, threatens Soledad

Calif. firefighters wage fierce wildfire battles

Wildfires are dramatic events for people and wild animals

California governor declares wildfire emergency

Air tanker may be the answer to fight fires from above

Yosemite Wildfire Forced Road Closure

U-Haul Offers 30 Days of Free Storage to California Wildfire Victims

Wildfire near Mosier blows up to 500 acres, more wind expected

Helicopters & Air Tankers Battling Canal Creek Fire

Walden pitches plan to help control forest fires

Firefighters battle blaze east of Sweet Home

Fire fighters contain wild land blaze NE of Fallon

Crews gain on fire in Poudre Canyon

Firefighters control 12-acre brushfire, investigate cause

Fast moving forest fires in B.C. force more residents from their homes

Summer fires: sticking with a Boeing 747

Greece Says 65 Homes Destroyed In Athens Forest Fires

Rain slakes thirsts and douses wildfires

RFS aerial crews monitor Tilba bushfire

Crews contains bushfires across southern Queensland