WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 061509

A letter from a fire expert with The Wilderness Society commenting on a recent Southern California fire article is the topic of our first wildfire item today; followed by an article from the Los Angeles Times about the hazards of improper vegetation clearance. San Diego County's perspective on the wildfire funding shortfall in Sacramento is up next; and a suspect in San Bernardino's Old Fire, which burned thousands of acres and caused a half-dozen deaths in 2003, has been identified. CAL FIRE has deployed aircraft to forward bases in anticipation of wildfires to come in California; none too soon, since CAL FIRE had a 100-acre blaze to contend with Sunday night near Hollister. It's criminal: over 4,000 inmate firefighters who only earn $1 an hour may be cut by California lawmakers to save the state money! Experts say that Yakima County, Washington, is overdue for a major wildfire; while a pair of Arizona wildfires have combined to form the Ruby Complex near Grand Canyon National Park; and elsewhere in Arizona, the Elk Horn Fire has surpassed 5,000 acres. A retrospective on how state and local fire officials clashed during South Carolina's wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes is provided; and a forest industry advocate responds to a New York Times article about the best policy for America's forests. Our next topic is familiar to Canadian firefighters and law enforcement alike: wildfire stay-behinds. A storm front passing through Alberta, Canada, ignited over 100 wildfires this weekend. An update on wildfire preparations on the Italian island of Sardinia is up next (for non-Italian speakers reading this, copy and paste the link into Google's translator to read it). A wind-driven wildfire burning near Athens, Greece, is causing problems for firefighting aircraft struggling to put it out. More wildfires continue to crop up in the Pacific island nation of Brunei, many due to negligent burning by residents. A fire spotter testified at the Royal Bushfire Commission hearings in Melbourne, Australia, about how he tried warning residents of one community threatened by the Black Saturday bushfires about the oncoming flame front, but was stymied by overwhelmed communications. Australian technology is highlighted in our last three items today: a mobile-mapping company that made a significant contribution to mapping bushfire burn areas has won a lucrative contract in the US; an in-depth look at the Phoenix wildfire simulation software used effectively on Australian bushfires is up next; and an innovative website helps people left homeless by the Black Saturday bushfires find lodging.

Hot wildfire prep story

Brush clearance and landscaping -- and accidental fires

Lawmakers wrestle with how to fund firefighting

Police ID Suspect In 2003 San Bernardino Wildfire

Fire officials deploy tankers throughout NorCal

Hollister Wildfire Demands Full Response

Inmate Firefighter Force May Shrink After Budget

Major wildfire waiting to happen in WA?

Ruby, Game Reserve fires now Ruby Complex

So. Ariz. Wildfire At 5,400 Acres

Turf battles marred firefighting efforts

A Smart Forest Policy

Wildfire stay-behinds trouble police, firefighters, create ethical dilemma

Lightning sparks rash of Alberta wildfires

SARDEGNA: REGIONE, AL VIA PIANO ANTINCENDI (2)

Greek firefighters battle to contain bush fire near Athens

Fire & Rescue blames open burning

Bushfires hearing told fire spotter warned of Marysville blaze

US deal puts tech company on map

A new front in fighting fires

Emergency accommodation website for bushfire homeless