WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 111809

Kristina Hajjar, Director of Communications for LA County Fire Department, passed along an executive report from Chief Freeman (available for viewing on the Los Angeles County website) on the Station Fire that advocates a 'vastly different approach' to fighting wildfires in the Angeles National Forest, incorporating water dropping helicopters using night vision capabilities to attack the fires after dark, as summed up in our first wildfire article today. Firefighters expect to have the wildfire burning near San Juan Capistrano fully contained some time today; but a vehicle fire on nearby Ortega Highway no doubt caused them some concerns for renewed fires in the area. A 329-acre blaze which burned in Central California in September was apparently caused by a careless teenager; while a runaway debris burn elsewhere in that region provided a bit of excitement for CAL FIRE firefighters. Arson investigators are scrutinizing a small grass fire that erupted near a high school in Wisconsin. Fire agencies are indicating that nearly 2 dozen wildfires have been deliberately set in Kentucky in the past few days; but at least one arsonist, a 61-year-old woman, was caught in the act of setting fires. A small wildfire that burned in Vermont over the weekend was quickly corralled by firefighters; and a Georgia first grader won a national fire-prevention contest. Despite the popular image of Florida as a tropical paradise, the state is actually entering its fourth year of drought, in which vegetation will be especially vulnerable to wildfires during the dry season which runs from December through April. An article from South Africa explores that country's use of AFIS (Advanced Fire Information System) data from orbiting satellites that could help alert residents by phone of approaching wildfires. The South Korean president is moving forward with plans to help re-forest parts of North Korea that were perceived by satellite to have been burned by massive forest fires. As bushfire warnings circulate across Australia, a Radio Australia segment discusses just how prepared the continent is for bushfires; even as weather and fuel conditions in Victoria are combining to create a firefighter's nightmare in parts of that state; and the problem of power poles as potential fire sources in the rural areas is examined by the next article. Fire managers in New South Wales say that residents are more motivated towards fire prevention in light of what happened in Victoria on Black Saturday. Residents of central Queensland have been put on alert but they may be forced to evacuate as two fast-moving bushfires approach; followed by a story about the anxious debate among residents over what to do. And finally, a story out of Queensland tells of a new wish fire hazard to beware of: leaping kangaroos!

County fire recommends brush clearance, reinstituting aerial water drops at night in Station Fire executive report

SoCal wildfire 95 percent contained

Vehicle fire prompts highway closure

Teen suspected of starting Power Fire

Firefighters Douse Escaped Debris Burn

Fire near Nekoosa High School called suspicious

Forest rangers say 23 fires were intentionally set

Police make arrest in Harlan County fires

Mount Mansfield fire contained

Chatsworth first-grader wins national Smokey the Bear contest

Wildfire danger is on the rise

Fires: Spotted from satellites, warned by phone

Action plan underway for N.K. forestation

How well prepared is Australia for 2009 bushfire season?

Firefighters brace for toughest day

Power lines 'still vulnerable to spark'

Residents are bushfire ready

Fire may force Central Qld evacuation

Flight or fight as fires take hold

'Kangaroo started bushfire'