WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 093009

In our first wildfire story today, homeowners in Southern California are complaining that the California Fair Plan underinsured their property, leaving them with substantial costs to pick up on their own. CAL FIRE quickly squelched a 30 acre wildfire burning above a tunnel in Central California; but some juveniles may face a hefty fine after starting a fire near Auburn with fireworks that cost $1 million to extinguish. Arson inspectors are combing the origin point of a wildfire that's now 100% contained in Montana; quick work with a bulldozer by a property owner helped firefighters get a handle on a 2 acre wildfire elsewhere in that state; but an angry letter to the editor of a local newspaper castigated the US Forest Service for allowing a wildfire in the Bitterroot Range to burn unabated until it was threatening homes. Fire officials in Kentucky are cautioning residents about an increased fire hazard beginning this week; while controlled burns in parts of Florida are being performed ahead of the fire season there. Now that the fires in Greece have abated, Burn Area Emergency Recovery teams are preparing flood barriers; but India's Kashmir was hit with another wildfire that destroyed several structures. Greenery amongst the ashes is prompting a photographic competition as bushfire-ravaged Victoria recovers from the devastation; but the head of the Royal Bushfire Commission warned Victorians not to become complacent since bushfires have always been a factor in that state; and he also complained that officials should have used better terminology in their bushfire guidelines. With the advent of fire season in New South Wales, fire agencies are banning all outdoor blazes by residents; and at least a dozen bushfires continue to burn across Queensland, threatening property in their path. We close today with a trio of technology articles: communications software to improve the wildfire-tracking capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles was announced in a press release; while a new tool in the toolbox for US Forest Service, a Climate Sensor Network, promises to provide timely climate data from multiple locations in a forested area, something which could be extremely useful during a wildfire; and an examination of biochar as a means to address the problems of invasive species and an abundance of biomass is provided by our last article in the set.

Homeowners in Wildfire Zones Say State Should Offer Them Better Fire Insurance

Wildfire Near Caldecott Tunnel Fully Contained

600-acre forest fire started by fireworks

MacDonald Pass fire 100 percent contained; cause of fire is still under investigation

Wildfire burns three storage trailers, two acres on Bonita Ranger Station Road

Fire in Bitterroot grossly mishandled

Ky. forest fire hazard season begins Thursday

GTM Reserve fighting fire with fire

Anti-flood barriers...

Fire in forest compartment in Kashmir, six structures gutted

Photos capture return of life

Bushfire commissioner warns Victorians

New bushfire terms adopted by state 'fails to resonate'

Total fire ban issued for NSW

Fire crews battle to save several central Qld properties

StockSource.us Reports Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Wildfire Search and Rescue

Voltree Power Announces First Contract with USDA Forest Service

Biochar: A better, greener way to fight forest fires