WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100509

Having burned past the 7,500 acre mark, the Sheep Fire has been stopped outside of Wrightwood, California, with the decrease in winds that had caused the fire to "blow up" over the weekend; followed by a story about the CL-415 Super Scoopers from a French Canadian perspective (apologies to non-French speakers, the translated article can be viewed here). An artist whose last name means "fire" in German is making art out of debris from wildfire burning areas; even as a wildfire that broke out in Ventura County was contained after burning only a few dozen acres this weekend. An article about wildfires in California likens the situation to past wildfires on steroids. Despite the California Public Utilities Commission ruling against their shutting off power in rural parts of San Diego County, San Diego Gas & Electric vows to do so "if they feel it's necessary"; probably inevitable, considering that powerlines apparently sparked a 6 acre wildfire in Central California on Saturday. CAL FIRE is suing a logging company to reimburse them for over $200,000 in fire suppression costs from fighting a wildfire caused by one of their employees; but a small wildfire in Central California was quickly doused by firefighters from several jurisdictions. Although Central California's Ventana Wilderness has been reopened, authorities have issued precautions to visitors. Evacuees are returning home in Arizona after firefighters were successful in their efforts to stop a wildfire's advance towards their homes. A summary of major wildfires in Montana this year is provided in the next article; followed by an article about the impact of beetle-killed trees affecting Montana's wildfires. A small wildfire that broke out near a hydroelectric dam in British Columbia, Canada, over the weekend is under investigation. A summary of wildfire damage in southern Europe so far this year shows an alarming increase over 2008. Despite rain, smoke from nearby wildfires shut down a regional airport in Indonesia that serviced remote areas; but amid complaints from neighboring nations about the wildfire haze from Indonesia, the government there insists it is serious about eliminating the problem. China has issued fire warnings for several regions of the country due to the drought-induced fire danger (increased by people who are burning paper and incense as part of religious observances). Commercial radio stations in Australia are reluctant to enter into a memorandum of understanding with government agencies over broadcasting bushfire warnings; and as Victoria's bushfire season begins again, there is concern within government circles that not all of the Royal Bushfire Commission's recommendations will be implemented in time. Since New South Wales has initiated the new bushfire warning system early, Victoria's government is coming under pressure to do so as well. Although the Black Saturday map belonging to Victoria's fire commander is still missing, one belonging to a subordinate has been found. Even though there are still millions of dollars in unclaimed bushfire relief money, many local survivors are not receiving it. An inquest into a West Australian bushfire incident that resulted in the deaths of three "road train" drivers has begun; even as the editor of a Queensland newspaper appeals to the general public to help find an arsonist who's at work in their area.

Mild winds aid firefighters in Calif. blaze

Charest patrol the skies of L.A.

Art from the Ashes' creative answer to wildfires

Small brush fire contained in Ventura County

Expense of firefighting soars

San Diego utility pushes rural shut-off plan

Small fire burns along High Valley Road

Cal Fire sues to recover firefighting costs

Wildfire burns 40 acres in Aromas

Ventana Wilderness reopened to public

Evacuation ends for people near Arizona wildfire

A look at western Montana's major wildfires of 2009

Beetle-ravaged trees change wildfire behavior in western Montana

Weekend bush fire still under investigation

Mediterranean forest fires up by two-thirds

Samarinda Airfield Shut Down After Forest Fire Haze

Indonesia Serious In Reducing Forest Fires In Sumatra And Kalimantan

China's forest fire authority warns of fires

Bid fails for commercial radio bushfire warnings

Some bushfire changes delayed: Vic govt

Victoria lags NSW in fire readiness

Missing bushfire map 'may have been destroyed'

Bushfire aid 'not finding way to local victims'

Inquest begins into fatal WA bushfire

Recent suspicious bushfires a concern