WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 052009

First up in wildfire news today, Congressional Fire Services Institute Executive Director Bill Webb will be moderating a webinar in which Glenn Gaines, the Acting Administrator for the United States Fire Administration (USFA), will be discussing USFA's work in addressing fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and response, as well as the agency's role within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A Marine who was horsing around with friends at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California, started the Juliet Fire last year, which eventually cost almost $10 million to extinguish. Reforest California has raised $600,000 to replant fire-stricken forests in Southern California; while a small blaze in the proximity of Santa Barbara was quickly extinguished. Some people just can't win for losing - a wildland firefighter who survived the most horrific wildland firefighting air crash in history ended up losing his Rogue River, Oregon, home to a blaze! A couple of wildfires in northern Michigan are keeping firefighters busy; and with winds clocked at over 50 mph, Minnesota fire agencies have raised a red flag warning for some parts of that state. Texas Forest Service had a couple of wildfires to deal with in Crane County; but a comprehensive study of fire departments across the country revealed that those in parts of Georgia lack even basic PPE for wildland firefighting. Vegetation clearance has been performed by Baruch Institute in Clemson, South Carolina, to stave off a similar fate from nearby Horry County, where a wildfire destroyed thousands of acres; and a 100-acre wildfire brewed up in a Florida state park. Alaskan firefighters have a new wildfire forecasting website to access. A wildfire in Canada's Yukon was the first of the season, but fire authorities expect a quiet year. Turkey's Antalya province is preparing to fight wildfires as the season approaches. The New Zealand Salvation Army has made a generous contribution to its Australian counterpart to help with bushfire relief. In Australia, a tale of confusion and incorrect information that plagued firefighters in one Victoria community was told to the Royal Bushfire Commission in Melbourne; one Country Fire Authority captain testified to the commission in regards to civilian safety; and some testimony showed that residents of a town threatened by the approaching bushfires broke into a decommissioned fire shelter, a move that probably saved their lives. Nearly $700,000 will be spent on a renewed tourism campaign in Victoria, a plan that had been put on hold for several months following the devastating Black Saturday bushfires. And finally, a Michigan man got more than he bargained for when he tried to burn out an ant hill!

CFSI Webinar Series: The United States Fire Administration

Marine admits starting Calif. wildfire

Reforest California Campaign Exceeds Goal to Raise 1 Million Trees for State Parks Impacted by Wildfires

Small Wildfire in the Mountains

Man who survived fire chopper crash loses home - to fire

Wildfires break out in northern U.P.

Red flag warning issued as wildfires break out around state

Two Fires Burn Over 30 Acres in Crane County

Georgia Firefighters Lack Tools for Wildfires, Hazardous Materials

Clemson’s Baruch Institute helps reduce risk of wildfires in Georgetown County

Wildfire in Walton County State Park

New wildfire forecasting tool unveiled

Yukon's 1st wildfire of season reported near Haines Junction

Antalya ready to fight forest fires

$NZ166,000 for Vic bushfire victims

CFA gave 'mixed messages' at Boolarra

'Hindsight is a wonderful thing' Kinglake CFA captain tells commission

Kinglake residents broke into decommissioned shelter on Black Saturday

Vic tourism campaign renewed after bushfires

Man trying to burn anthill scorches acre in Mich.