WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092609

First up today, Wayne Colson, owner of the Martin Mars, had an announcement today:

Good Afternoon Mike,

I am down with the Mars in Lake Elsinore right now and it is hot! The Mars is being featured on the Discovery Channel on a show called "X Machines, Heavy Metal Task Force" on the Science channel on Oct 23rd at 10:00pm. They spent a week with us this spring so there should be some interesting footage of our program.

Cheers,
Wayne.

In wildfire news, Rick Hatton, of Ten Tanker LLC, discusses the importance of the DC-10 in fighting California's wildfires this year; and the Station Fire in Southern California's Angeles National Forest is now 98% contained, but full containment will probably require winter rain storms, due to the fact that it's burning in wilderness areas inaccessible to firefighters on the ground. Volunteers will be cleaning up about a two-mile stretch along the perimeter of the area burned by the Station Fire; while the wife of one of the firefighters killed on that fire has given birth to their daughter, amid an outpouring of gifts to the grieving family. The wildfire burning near Moorpark is almost contained, but has cost over $6 million to suppress; and some tamarisk trees caught fire and threatened homes in Cathedral City yesterday. Firefighters, assisted by the Super Scoopers, battled a small blaze in Lancaster; while a wildfire burning in Central California has nearly been contained. The National Park Service is moving forward with an ambitious $85 million forest restoration program in Sequoia National Park. Mendocino National Forest plans to conduct controlled burns of up to 2,500 acres; and as fire crews contain the Happy Valley Fire, firefighters and apparatus were able to be released. Wildfires in Oregon are making for smoky skies in Northern California. After a milder than expected wildfire season, Bureau of Land Management officials feel that Nevada may have "dodged a bullet" for a second fire season; but at least one wildfire in Mason Valley continues to burn. In the wake of a report from California about the benefit of beetle-killed trees in the San Bernardino National Forest, Colorado foresters doubted that the data applied in their area where millions of beetle-killed trees are still viewed as a problem. As high winds arrived at the Kootenai Creek Fire in Montana, authorities warned residents to prepare to evacuate; even as arson investigators are checking out a wildfire that broke out in MacDonald Pass and had covered about 75 acres by Friday night. Over 100,000 acres of a national forest in Florida will be burned off by firefighters. Firefighters had to battle a wildfire near Kauai's Lihu'e Airport yesterday and again this morning. Another human-caused wildfire has broken out in British Columbia near Ladysmith; as did one near Kelly Creek. An Australian bushfire burning in the northern part of Sydney, New South Wales, has been contained by firefighters, but danger from flying embers remains; while firefighters in New South Wales had a tough fight of it with a wind-driven bushfire yesterday. Dust storms struck Brisbane for a second time this week while bushfires continued to burn in several parts of Queensland, as recounted in the next four stories. And finally, a Massachusetts firehouse is going to the dogs - literally!

When SB County firefighters need help, they call in 'the big gun'

Station fire containment delayed indefinitely

Hundreds expected for cleanup effort near Station fire burn area

Fallen firefighter's daughter born, doing well

S. California wildfire almost fully surrounded

Cathedral City firefighters on scene of tamarisk tree fires

Firefighters battle small brush fire west of Lancaster [Updated]

Crews expect to contain Plumas forest fire

Giant Forest restoration in Sequoia National Park balances tourism, preservation

Mendocino National Forest begins prescribed burning season

UPDATED:Air tankers, some fire crews released from Happy Valley fire

North state haze caused by Oregon wildfires

Fire restrictions lifted in western Nevada, but danger remains high

Firefighters hope to contain Mason Valley fire Monday

Forest health logging debate rages on

High winds hit Kootenai Creek wildfire, residents on pre-evacuation warning

Wildfire breaks out on MacDonald Pass

Prescribed Fire Season Begins on Apalachicola National Forest

Lihue firefighters respond to rekindled brush fire

Forest fire burns near Ladysmith

East Flank of Kelly Creek Fire Focus Today

Bushfire in Sydney's north contained

Firefighters battle on NSW north coast

Second dust storm hits Brisbane on Saturday night

Firefighters brace for another tough day in Qld

Fire burns at Pacific Pines

Tamborine fire under control

Fire crews battle eight bushfires

Bourne firefighters object to animal clinic at station