WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 081908

In our first wildfire story today, a glider club at Hemet-Ryan Airport in San Diego County, California, is being evicted due to expansion plans by CAL FIRE and safety concerns. Firefighters made quick work of a small wildfire north of Los Angeles; but California's famous Brookdale Inn was badly damaged by a fire to which CAL FIRE dispatched two air tankers. The next article gives a brief summary of California wildfires; while a small wildfire in central California required an assist from air-tankers to finally bring it under control. A marijuana farm, whose crop would probably have a street value in excess of $675 million, has been found in the vicinity of the La Brea Fire in Central California. As evacuees return to their homes, firefighters are anticipating having the Yuba fire fully contained by the weekend; and a look at wildfires burning in the Sierras is up next. The Taylor fire continues to burn in Arizona; but a small wildfire in Colorado's San Juan Mountains was quickly brought to heel by firefighters assisted by an air-tanker. An elite team of smokejumpers is helping out firefighters in Utah; and Arkansas will get a $5 million windfall to fund vegetation cleanup ahead of wildfires. The benefits of a recent wildfire in South Carolina for the ecosystem is discussed in the next item. The cooperation between provincial firefighters and national park firefighters in British Columbia, Canada, is examined; even as wildfires in British Columbia that cost over $210 million to suppress have far exceeded the $62 million budget the province allocated for firefighting this year. Lloyd's of London has completed a study on the impact of wildfires financially, not only in Europe, but elsewhere. Firefighters in Italy are battling a blaze on the slopes of Sicily's Mount Aetna; and even alpine haven Austria is facing an increased threat from wildfires, according to one scientist. Estimating that wildfire smoke has cost them $9 billion in lost tourism, Southeast Asian countries are discussing the problem. Philippine fire officials are investigating a suspicious forest fire that burned over 100 acres of timber. Among the 52 Australian communities most at risk from bushfires in Victoria, almost a dozen are located in Melbourne's suburbs. And finally, make sure your vehicle is secure the next time you head out to a wildfire, otherwise you may come back to find your vehicle gone like firefighters who were battling blazes in Alaska did!

Glider pilots want to keep sharing the air at Hemet-Ryan Airport

Firefighters put out fire northeast of Los Angeles

Fire causes heavy damage to Brookdale Inn, famed for celebrities, ghosts; Responding Lockheed firefighters helped contain flames

Firefighters make progress against Calif wildfires

Fast-moving grass fire burns 15 acres in Hamilton

Calif. wildfire blamed on Mexican drug cartels

All evacuations to be lifted in Yuba Fire

8-18 Southern Sierra fires contribute to smoky skies

Taylor Fire Incident Fact Sheet

Hermosa wildfire contained to 1.5 acres

Nevada Firefighters Helping with Utah County Fires

Ark. to get $5.2M in forest-work stimulus money

Unique ecosystem flourishes after wildfire

Wildfire management partnerships stretch resources

Cost of fighting B.C. fires tops $200 million

Lloyd's Assesses Impact of Heat Waves and Wildfires

Wildfire breaks out in southern Italy

Climate change will cause more forest fires

Indonesia tight-lipped as SE Asia braces for worsening haze

TFI investigates Minoyan forest fire

Fringe suburbs at high risk of bushfires

Troopers seek thieves who took firefighters' cars in Palmer