WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100209

In our first wildfire article today, the Los Angeles Times reports that an internal US Forest Service memo (available at this link) restricted local fire officials from calling in external agencies and contractors to help fight blazes such as the Station Fire (and since the Martin Mars was a contractor to the USFS, it fell into the category of resources not to be tapped immediately, perhaps explaining its absence early on and its lack of utilization during the fires). Another look at the woes of the US Forest Service in the wake of the Station Fire is provided by the next article; followed by one which announces that portions of the Angeles National Forest burned in the Station Fire are being reopened to the public, but some areas will remain closed as the fire continues to burn. A wildfire that burned in the Inland Empire shows the importance of early air attack in delaying a fire until the ground firefighters could arrive; while the next two articles give more details on wildfires in that region yesterday. Several firefighters suffered injuries battling a 15 acre blaze in Fremont; and CAL FIRE was able to contain a small blaze in central California fairly quickly yesterday. The crash of a firefighting transport helicopter in Northern California last year continues to generate controversy; and an Op-Ed piece dumps on California's governor for what is perceived as fiscal irresponsibility for first cutting state firefighting funds, then paying even more when the fires came. A wildfire in Nevada burned over 600 acres on a game ranch; while a wildfire that has burned over 200 acres in northern Colorado should be fully contained today. A benefit will be held to raise money to rebuild a fire tower in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest that was damaged by arson; but Massachusetts is considering some severe cutbacks to state forestry personnel. An article from New York state argues for support of a bill in Congress to separate fire suppression and fire prevention funding so that the former doesn't deplete the latter. Firefighters in Northern Ireland had a small gorse fire to deal with; and a Spanish man has been sentenced to one and a half years in prison for sparking a large wildfire near Valencia by burning letters from an estranged lover. Government officials in East Java, Indonesia, have declared an emergency due to wildfires in the area, but are in a bit of a dilemma because limiting burning could undercut the economy. A former Country Fire Authority analyst disputes the agency's claims that it was unable to develop a viable fire prediction model before the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia. City officials are under fire from residents of Kinglake, Victoria, over a "monstrosity" that has been constructed at the entryway to their area; while Tasmania's fire agency has a new fire chief, but the same mission. West Australia has banned the sale of sky lanterns, a popular item in that state, due to the extreme fire danger. And finally, California Highway Patrol in Placer County pursued a car thief a little too hotly, sparking a wildfire!

Before the Station fire, a cost-cutting memo

Fires & Environmental Violations: U.S. Forest Service Under the Microscope

Large Area of Angeles National Forest Closed due to Station Fire Now Open to the Public

UPDATE: Highland fire out, ruled accidental

Crews quickly put out fire in Cajon Pass

Scattered fires keep firefighters busy

Four firefighters hurt at Fremont grass fire

Penn Valley fire controlled

Firefighting copter crash controversy continues

Arnold: Firefighting Budget Fumble

Game Ranch Fire reported as largest in history of fire district

Northern Colorado Wildfire 75 Percent Contained

Help restore fire tower

No help for Smokey

Changes in federal wildfire policy

Firefighters tackle gorse blaze

Heartbroken Spaniard causes wildfire when burning love letters

Governor declares fire alert after heavy damage

CFA ignored fire prediction model: analyst

Kinglake outrage at 'industrial monstrosity'

New fire chief prepares for challenging season

Bushfire risk sees sky lanterns banned

Placer Co. Fire Sparked By Police Chase