WILDLIFE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100309

A New York Times article follows along with fire scientists examining Southern California's Angeles National Forest after the devastating Station Fire which burned over one quarter of the forest, our first wildfire story today; but fire spotters in the San Bernardino National Forest are complaining that they can't see the forest for the trees! A wildfire in the Lytle Creek region of the San Bernardino National Forest was up over 500 acres at the time of the next article (and has since passed the 1,000 acre mark, according to televised news reports); and another that had already burned about 20 acres near Banning this morning had the potential to expand to hundreds of acres, causing fire authorities to call in a quartet of air-tankers. A lightning strike in northern San Diego County worried residents when they saw a smoke plume; while CAL FIRE grappled with a grass fire which rapidly spread to over 1500 acres near Sacramento. A control fire in Arizona's Kaibab National Forest got out of control when the wind shifted, requiring fire officials to call in nearly a dozen air tankers from California, as the first two articles in the set show; followed by an article from that state which examines how prescribed burns have to be carefully planned for. Firefighters in Horry County, South Carolina, contend that there was nothing more they could do about a major wildfire sparked there earlier this year by a resident burning trash, so they have no intention of changing their practices, despite the lack of a review of the impact of that fire on the area. Trouble in paradise, as Honolulu firefighters battle a remote blaze. Firefighters on the British Channel Island of Jersey had a wildfire to deal with; and a wildfire on the Pacific island of Fiji caused a two-car accident yesterday. Heading Down Under, a bushfire near Coolum on Queensland's Gold Coast raised fears of an evacuation order at a retirement community there; even as a rural fire brigade executive stated that Queensland was the most under-resourced state in Australia in regards to firefighters.

After a Devastating Fire, an Intense Study of Its Effects

Trees blocking the view of fire lookout tower

Wildfire broke out near Lytle Creek

Brush Fire Ignites South Of Banning

Lightning Strike in Pauma Valley Raises Wildfire Concern

Wildfire burns near Dunnigan

Update: 10 air tankers called in for fire burning SW of Williams

Winds turn prescribed burn into wildfire

Prescribed Burns: Preparation before Ignition

Months later, no review of SC fire in tourist area

Firefighters battling brush fire in remote area of Pupukea

Firefighters start to halt spread

Bushfire accident

Evacuation fear after bushfires

Queensland's rural firefighters under-resourced