WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 062309

In our first wildfire story, CAL FIRE threw 224 firefighters and three air-tankers into the fight as a fast-moving wildfire scorched 100 acres in Southern California yesterday; while a fast-moving wildfire drew the attention of several air-tankers and dozens of firefighters on the portion of Southern California's Interstate 5 known as the 'Grapevine'. CAL FIRE assisted on a wildfire in a Central California park over the weekend; but one of the more unusual causes of wildfires was demonstrated by a drunk driver in Central California whose vehicle ignited almost two dozen small wildfires due to driving on a wheel rim when the tire went flat! Tom Bonnicksen was once again on the stump, promoting forest thinning as a means to prevent wildfires in Central California; even as a US Congressman discusses a bill designed to thin vegetation to reduce fire danger in this state. With an average of 44 people killed and thousands of acres burned each year by lightning in Colorado, the governor has declared this Lightning and Wildfire Awareness Week. Firefighters in El Paso, Texas, learned an important lesson after a thief visited their station: keep those doors and windows locked! Montana fire officials are reminding residents of the danger of wildfires this week; the following article providing some background on Montana's wildfire preparedness in the midst of 3 million acres of beetle-killed trees. County officials are blaming the South Carolina Forestry Commission for the damage done by a massive wildfire there earlier this year. With over three dozen wildfires reported in Canada's Yukon so far this year, a new one has started near Whitehorse. Helicopter and fixed-wing air-tankers mobbed a wildfire burning north of Izmir, Turkey, yesterday. Yet another Indian religious procession was interrupted by a wildfire. Distressing testimony from a woman whose son died in the Black Saturday bushfires was heard at the Royal Bushfire Commission hearings in Melbourne, Australia. Residents of a Victoria community serviced by only one road have submitted a petition for better fire protection to the government. An Op-Ed piece lambasts codified government responses to the Black Saturday bushfires; even as fire officials are projecting a worse-than-usual bushfire season in western Queensland when fire season returns. And finally, another unusual 'Watch Out' from a Louisiana fire station where a firefighter got a painful greeting from a cottonmouth!

Fire scorches 100 acres between Redlands and Moreno Valley

700 acres burn near Grapevine

Grass fire covers six acres at park

Firefighters battle 20 blazes in Forbestown

TuCARE summit focuses on fire prevention, forest thinning

Herger Fights to Reduce Threat of Catastrophic Wildfire

Colorado Lightning and Wildfire Awareness Week 2009 - 22 Jun 09

El Paso firefighters robbed during emergency call

Wildfire Awareness Week observed

Pine beetle damage could fuel wildfires

Horry County leaders blame Forestry Commission in wildfire

Wildfire starts near Whitehorse

Fire in Foça threatens residents

Forest fire stops Vaishno Devi pilgrims

Mum relives anguish of son's Black Saturday death

MP pushes for Nelson bushfire protection

Self-serving know-alls fuelled fires

Western Qld bushfire threat 'worse'

Firefighter Hospitalized for Snake Bite: UPDATE