WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092909

First up in wildfire news today, Rick Halsey, of the San Diego Regional Fire Safety Forum, will be giving a seminar to residents of Montecito on living in wildfire-prone areas of Southern California. Anger by people who lost homes in the Station fire is being directed at both US Forest Service and LA County Fire officials who, in an LA Times article, admitted that they underestimated the danger posed by the blaze and cut back the air attack early on; and although US Forest Service scientists agree the Angeles National Forest is sick after the recent wildfires, they feel that the foliage will come back quicker than expected, but the animals suffered terrible losses due to the fires and their populations will undoubtedly require more time to recover. A suspicious wildfire in Escondido yesterday has sparked an arson investigation; while half a dozen wildfires broke out in Kern County, all but one being quickly snuffed out. With 80% of its wildfire budget expended, California may soon have to dip into its $500 million firefighting reserve fund. Unseasonable winds worsened the wildfire burning near Oakridge, Oregon, but it's hoped that some rain may come with the storm to help quell the flames; while one that has burned in eastern Oregon since August continues to grow; and all of them show up in a striking satellite photo from NASA. The executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology argues for less expense in fighting backcountry wildfires in Oregon (and elsewhere). Like their southern neighbor Oregon, Washington state has been blessed with a light wildfire season this year (however Oregon's has heated up considerably over the last couple of weeks); but nevertheless, Yakima was choked with smoke emanating from controlled burns nearby. Las Vegas, Nevada, is bracing for more winds, with a potential for wildfires; but a wind-driven wildfire is already burning on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. A total of $4 million will be spent on restoring areas burned in Colorado's Hayman Fire; even as their governor lobbies federal officials to allow them to build roads into wilderness areas for better access during fires. Fire managers in Helena, Montana, are taking advantage of the scare put into people by an encroaching wildfire to remind homeowners of their responsibility in clearing defensible space around their property; but in addition to the natural fires, firefighters are also setting some of their own! A wildfire burning in Yellowstone National Park has already surpassed 14 square miles in size; but firefighters are in hopes that a weather system will quench both this one, and several others burning across Montana and Wyoming. Canadian firefighters were battling yet another blaze in British Columbia, but appeared to be getting a handle on it. With an estimated population of 7 million people living on the fringes of forested areas in Turkey, that Mediterranean country has a serious problem with human-caused wildfires. An abundance of fires on Indonesia's portion of Borneo has sent an abundance of smoke into neighboring Malaysia; and on Sumatra, wildfire smoke has closed an airport. An Op-Ed piece from Australia argues that an ombudsman should be appointed to ensure that the government follows through with bushfire reforms spelled out in the Royal Bushfire Commission's report; while political leaders are getting on the bandwagon lobbying for the easing of restrictions on clearing out vegetation around homes in bushfire-prone areas of Victoria. Nearly three dozen blazes were reported across Queensland yesterday. Incursions by humans into koala habitats, along with bushfires devastating the groves where they live, is stressing out the little animals, opening the door for a deadly disease that is decimating the population. And finally, Alice Springs has rolled out the welcome mat to bushfires survivors looking for a place to live away from bushfire-prone parts of Australia (where they could take part in such stellar events as the Regatta!)

‘Living with Wildfire in Montecito’ Focus of Community Forum

Station fire victims call for U.S. probe into Forest Service's response

With care, the forest will live

Arson team investigating Escondido grass fire

6 wildfires break out near Keene

About 80-Percent of State's Wildfire Fighting Budget Spent

Weather Hurts, Helps Firefighters Near Oakridge

Eagle Cap fire grows

NASA MODIS Image of the Day: September 29, 2009 - Wildfires in Oregon

GUEST VIEWPOINT: Most forest fires ought to be managed, not extinguished

Summer fire season a light one

Smoke chokes Valley

Red flag wildfire warning, wind advisory issued for Las Vegas Valley

Firefighters Battle Small Wind-Driven Blaze Near Stateline

Vail Resorts, Forest Service, others to spend $4M to restore Hayman fire area

Vilsack appreciates ‘unique situation’ driving Colorado on roadless rule wildfire mitigation

Officials urge city-dwellers to make defensible space

Forest Service burns 80 acres near Red Lodge

Latest from Yellowstone: Firefighters square off against low humidities as wildfire races across 14.5 square miles

Snow may dampen park fires

Forestry crews battle wildfire on east side of Skaha Lake

Turkey's forest fires: a recurring problem

Indonesia spot fires sending haze into Malaysia

Forest Fires Smoke Shut Down Jambi Airport

Call for watchdog over fire reforms

Knox residents surveyed on tree removal rule

More than 310 firefighters battle 35 blazes across Qld

Stress disease kills Australia's koalas

Alice entices homeless bushfire victims