WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 051509

NASA once again provides photos of the Jesusita Fire from space, in our first wildfire item today; followed by proceedings in which fire officials were grilled over the recent wildfire in Santa Barbara. In the wake of the Jesusita Fire, a volunteer group that supports Santa Barbara firefighters will redirect their efforts to helping firefighters with wildfire-fighting gear. Colorado is bracing for summer fire season; followed by an update on fire conditions in Texas. Firefighters in South Dakota are receiving wildland firefighter training in preparation for the fire season. Florida is on fire (140 wildfires at last count) as the governor declares an emergency; and firefighters look on incoming storm fronts with mixed emotions, as they wonder whether they'll bring helpful rain or harmful lightning. A trio of stories convey the saga of a 1,000+ acre wildfire on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. A wind-driven wildfire is quickly burning through the woods near some homes in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Fires burning in Ontario province, Canada, are summarized in the next article; while air-tankers provided much-needed assistance to firefighters on the ground trying to prevent one of those fires from reaching a lumber mill. Even the Russians have interagency squabbles over fire jurisdictions, as the next item discloses. The harrowing account of bushfire survivor testimony in Melbourne is next up. Aiming to spur rebuilding rates in bushfire-ravaged Victoria state, government officials have decided to waive the usual permit process. Discussion of off-season control burns to minimize fuel for bushfires is summarized in the next item. Another day, another bushfire scam - this time one in which a man was acting as middleman on a cars-for-bushfire-victims deal. In a success story, five wallabies that were injured in the Black Saturday bushfires are going back into the wild. And finally, in another example that no good deed goes unpunished, an Australian man who donated bagged clothing to bushfire victims was fined for littering when he left the bags outside a relief center!

Santa Barbara Fire: As Seen from Space

Jesusita Fire: Officials Field Questions About Response

SB Firefighters Alliance Refocuses Fundraising Goals

As summer nears, forest fire concerns simmer

Dry Weather Fuels Fires

Area Firefighters Get Hands-On Wildland Training

Emergency declared because of wildfires

Wildfires threaten state

Firefighters getting Mile 17 fire under control

Crews keep Alaska wildfire from advancing on settlements

Wildfire displaces residents: Community steps up to help East End Road evacuees

Forest fire forces evacuation of homes in eastern N.L.

Forest fire season begins in earnest

Water bombers called in to tackle forest fire

As Agencies Argue, Volunteers Swat Out Fires

Blocked exit: Survivor recounts bushfire horror

Fast track for building plans is Boost for bushfire survivors

Inaction increases megafire risk: MP

Man sold cars in bushfire aid scam: police

Fire-hit wallabies going back to bush

Mindless red tape makes us a nanny state