WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101309

In our first wildfire article today, more details on the homeless man from Nigeria who is wanted for questioning about the origins of the Station fire are provided in an article from the Los Angeles Times; while law-enforcement officials in San Diego County indicated that they are better prepared to evacuate populations threatened by wildfires than they were in 2007. A report on wildfires burning in Northern California is up next; followed by an update on a wildfire in Washington state that burned 60 acres which is just about out. The US Forest Service is planning some controlled burns in parts of Colorado later this month; but volunteer firefighters in West Virginia are falling prey to a malady that has sparked an unprecedented number of firefighter-caused fires in that state: boredom. Firefighters from Alabama discuss the vicissitudes of fighting wildfires in Texas this past summer, including encounters with illegal aliens and killer bees! Spain is having problems in some wetlands with underground peat fires; while a wind-driven wildfire on the Greek island of Evia forced the evacuation of hundreds of guests from a Club Med resort. Heading Down Under, an Op-Ed piece from Victoria castigates the Royal Bushfire Commission as a 'smokescreen'; while a Member of Parliament's suggestion to locate portable cell phone towers in northwestern Victoria areas which do not have good cell coverage to aid in bushfire evacuations is running into some official resistance. A resident of Victoria, Australia, who is accused of igniting a bush fire that destroyed 30 homes has had his bail extended. The limitations of forcibly evicting citizens from towns threatened by bushfires in Victoria was discussed at the Royal Bushfire Commission hearings; but those who stay could be faced with a lack of water with which to fight the fire. And finally, Australians have been warned that there is no such thing as an approved bushfire bunker design, contrary to claims by some vendors.

Homeless man wanted for questioning in Station fire

SD County: Fire plans upgraded since 2007 disaster

Wilson, Mill Creek fires still burning

Firefighters get upper hand on Clark County wildfire

Forest Service begins prescribed burns

Arson Arrests Up Among Firefighters

Fighting Texas wildfires

Underground fires raging in Spanish wetlands: expert

Greek island fire forces evacuation of hotel

Fire commission a smokescreen

MP suggests temporary phone towers in bushfire areas

Bail extended for Gippsland bushfire accused

Forced bushfire evacuations 'not practical'

Water supplies may fail in fire

Be aware of false bushfire bunker claims