WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 072309

As we start out wildfire news today, a brushfire in northern San Diego County, California, was limited to only six acres; followed by an update on lightning-sparked wildfires in Nevada. Lightning was also responsible for some Arizona wildfires, including in Kaibab National Forest; while a discussion about protecting livestock from the threat of wildfires will be the topic at a meeting in Colorado. A pair of smokejumpers ran into trouble after parachuting into a fire in Utah; but firefighters in Purcell, Oklahoma have a new weapon against wildfires: brushzilla! A heavy air-tanker will be based at East Texas Regional Airport in anticipation of wildfires, as that region has been starved of rain. Information about a couple of wildfires in Montana is provided by the next article; followed by the story of a wildfire in Michigan that was suspected of being caused by an arsonist. The wildfire near Kelowna, British Columbia, expanded today, forcing thousands more Canadians to flee; but not all evacuees from these wildfires have been two legged, as the next article shows. Another wildfire, this time a small one, has been reported in fire-scorched British Columbia; while elsewhere in that province, firefighters were able to quickly knock down a number of small wildfires this week. Some youngsters are being sought in Windsor, Ontario, in regards to an arson-caused wildfire. Spanish firefighters are currently battling over two dozen wildfires, losing a fifth member in the process; and a wildfire near Athens, Greece, has drawn the attention of air-tankers and firefighters on the ground, as temperatures crest over 40C (104F). Human-caused fires destroyed buildings and livestock on a few farms in Uganda, Africa; and Vietnam's Prime Minister is banning sky lanterns after a score of wildfires were sparked by them this year. And finally, French Foreign Legion troops started a wildfire outside of Marseilles when they used tracer ammunition in dry vegetation (so much for military intelligence!)

Pankey (Pala) Fire contained at six acres; mower said to be cause; mop-up underway

Lightning causes 30 brush fires

Kaibab National Forest fires

Wildfires, livestock: Silverthorne group prepares for worst

Two smoke jumpers hurt in fighting northeastern Utah blaze

Wildfires starting to kindle

Airport to house firefighting tanker

2 Montana wildfires each about 175 acres

DNR wildfire experts say arsonist started blaze in Roscommon Township

Fire near Kelowna doubles in size, thousands evacuated

Hundreds of horses rescued from raging Canadian forest fires

Small wildfire burns near Lillooet

Fire crews contain Shuswap blazes

Arson suspected in bush fire

Spanish forest fire claims fifth firefighter in a week

Forest fire burns near Athens

Mushega’s farm burnt down in Kiruhura bush fire

PM places ban on fiery sky lanterns after 20 forest fires

Hundreds flee as military drill sparks bushfire in Marseilles