WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 011909

The economy leads off wildfire news today, as the Nevada County (California) FireSafe Council confronts falling state revenue that will impact both the Council's operation and a popular wood chipping program. An Op-Ed article from Redding, California, calls into question expert opinions on forest thinning, principally those of forestry advocate Tom Bonnicksen, while an article from Nevada recounts the shift in official stance towards 'stay and defend' as a policy for homeowners. Like Southern California, Oklahoma is experiencing warmer, drier weather, something that has fire managers there worried (many remember the devastating grass fires that swept across that region in January 2006). In Chile, fire managers are alarmed at an attack on a firefighting helicopter fighting wildfires there. Australians in Queensland state are on high alert as the bushfire danger continues, and the next two articles chronicle a persistent blaze in one of their national parks. Firefighters in West Australia received a commendation from the government for their work on recent bushfires, but many persist in that state, as recounted by the following article. Remembrance of a deadly series of fires around Australia's capital that claimed four lives and nearly 500 homes was made on Sunday, and South Australia fire authorities dispatched water bombers to deal with a spate of bushfire outbreaks in the area. Finally, CAL FIRE responded to reports of firey falling objects in San Diego, but the objects were not immediately located by an air-tanker (time to start checking the National Enquirer about extraterrestrial visitors to San Diego?)

Budget woes endanger wildfire protection efforts

Forests are too important to leave to the 'experts'

No. Nevada residents could fight wildfires

Warm, dry conditions bring fire danger to Oklahoma

Director of CONAF condemns attack on helicopter as it fought to extinguish forest fires in the south

Firefighters keep watch on southern Qld bushfires

Bushfire rages in Burleigh national park

Huge blaze heads for Coral Bay

Minister gives thanks for firefighting efforts

Bushfires continue burning around WA

Canberra marks deadly bushfire anniversary

Crews water bomb Robe bushfires

Falling Objects Spotted, But Not Found