WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 080109

In a tale of two cutbacks, LAFD is cutting back on services within the city, something which will undoubtedly have an effect on wildfire response in neighborhoods that border wildland areas, like Griffith Park; while areas throughout the state of California are feeling the pinch from cutbacks to CAL FIRE's resources, wondering how they'll pay for future fire support. Fire crews quickly jumped on a wildfire that broke out near Santa Paula; but a firefighter had to be helicoptered to civilization for medical treatment from heat exhaustion suffered while fighting a wildfire in Central California. Timing is everything, even in firefighting, as this story from Mammoth, California, demonstrates. The second in a series of articles from Ukiah discusses the legal imperative of clearing defensible space around property in California and the importance of scoping out a site for wildfire danger before building there (for more on this topic, these two links might be useful: Your Home Is Your Castle and What's Wrong With This Picture). Favorable winds and the quick response by firefighters is credited with quelling a wildfire on the California side of Lake Tahoe; while a wildfire in Oregon has over 100 firefighters and about half-a-dozen aircraft working it. Anyone planning to venture to Rogue Valley, Oregon, (for instance, to visit the Erickson Air-Crane facility) had better plan to take along some breathing filters due to wildfire smoke. A big fight on a little island in Washington state is chronicled by the next article; and a pair of wildfires is burning in Washington's Kitsap Peninsula. A detailed tally of wildfires in Arizona is up next; but as Colorado's mild weather continues, campfires are a concern for fire officials in that state. Tips for homeowners in Wisconsin tell how to protect a home from wildfires. Despite making two drops at no charge to Alaskan fire agencies, the 747 was unable to halt the spread of the Railbelt Complex. A summary of wildfires to date (and those still burning) in British Columbia, Canada, follows. Spain's Canary Islands are once again on fire, burning thousands of acres and forcing the evacuation of 4,000 citizens. As the African nation of Ghana embarks on a tree-planting campaign in conjunction with World Vision - Australia, there is concern that bushfires could impact the program. Complaining that Victoria, Australia's, Country Fire Authority leadership was using volunteer firefighters as 'human shields' against criticism of the handling of the Black Saturday bushfire response, two decorated volunteer captains pointed out the flaws in CFA's approach to fighting those bushfires. And finally, firefighters in Arkansas were called to a very familiar address to deal with a gas leak: their own!

Cuts Planned to L.A. City Firefighters and Paramedics

Calif. firefighters scramble after state fund raid

Small wildfire breaks out near Santa Paula

Firefighter with heat exhaustion helicoptered to safety

In the right place at the right time

Defending defensible space: Cal Fire Air Attack Base

Lightning quick: Fast response snuffs out South Shore wildfire

Firefighting intensifies on Long Prong fire

Forest Fire Pumps Smoke Into Rogue Valley

Firefighters battling stubborn blaze on Lake Ballinger island

Olympic National Park Fire Builds to 270 Acres

Lightning Strikes Spark Multiple Wildfires

U.S. Forest Service: Abandoned Campfires Causing More Wildfires

Protecting yourself and your home from wildfires

747 Supertanker drops on Alaska fire

Fire risk worse than disastrous 2003: B.C. premier

4,000 evacuated as forest fire sweeps across La Palma in Canaries

Ghana: World Vision-Australia Launches Tree Planting Project

Volunteer captains blast CFA leadership

Firefighters called twice to own building