WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 112009

In wildfire news today, a Nigerian transient accused of starting wildfires in Southern California's Angeles National Forest around the time of the Station Fire, has been remanded to a mental institution after being deemed incompetent to stand trial; even as investigators still sift through the Station Fire debris trying to collect enough evidence for a court case; but the Indiana welder who started a wildfire on Santa Catalina Island in 2007 will be responsible for $4-$5 million in restitution, however he will not be required to register as a convicted arsonist. Broadcasters on Mount Wilson are laying plans for the next wildfire, collecting suggestions from such groups as the Mount Wilson Fire Safe Council; and in a follow-up to an article earlier this week, USGS researcher Jon Keeley's discussion of living with wildfire in Southern California, which was presented in Rancho Palos Verdes Tuesday night, is reviewed in a local paper. An artist is inviting residents and firefighters in Santa Barbara to help complete a mosaic that will be displayed at the headquarters of Santa Barbara County Fire Department; while Helicopter Association International held its second annual Helicopter Firefighting Safety Forum yesterday in Idaho. A volunteer firefighter from West Virginia has been accused of setting a debris fire; and another from Maine admitted that he set a pile of leaves on fire deliberately. Volusia is the first county in Florida to declare a total burn ban, but based on conditions in that state probably will not be the last. Earth Policy Institute has published a report that offers a comprehensive look at wildfires across the world in the age of climate change; and researchers in Europe have concluded that greenhouse gas emissions must reach zero by 2100 to avoid dire consequences on the continent. The next article provides a comprehensive summary of the bushfires currently burning across parts of Australia; even as Country Fire Authority scrambled aerial assets to help corral a bushfire burning near plantations in Cobbobonee National Park in Victoria. Despite extensive vegetation clearance earlier this year, a professor warns that forested areas around Sydney, New South Wales, still present an extreme bushfire danger; while Rural Fire Service has warned that the bushfire threat in that state remains extreme as at least one bushfire nears containment. Western Australia's Environment Department has been blamed for the death of several truck drivers caught in a firestorm that swept across a major highway; and a report from Tasmania indicates that at least one home has been lost to bushfires on the East Coast. Despite over 25,000 lightning strikes and a very busy week battling blazes across the state, South Australia appears to have weathered the storm in good order. And finally, we have an inspiring story about a USFS Hotshot, paralyzed by a falling tree during an incident, who has found a second career as an entrepreneur offering useful gadgets to his fellow wildland firefighters!

Angeles Forest wildfire suspect in mental institution

Detectives still far from arrest in Station fire arson

Man who started Catalina wildfire won't have to register as arsonist

L.A. Broadcasters Plan for Next Time

Next steps in the wake of the wildfires

Artist seeks help with fire mosaic

HAI Holds its Fall Helicopter Firefighting Safety Forum in Boise, Idaho

W.Va. volunteer firefighter faces arson charge

Firefighter admits setting leaves on fire

Only Volusia bans burning as drought conditions worsen

Environment: Wildfires Spreading As Temperatures Rise

EU Research Shows Greenhouse Gases Must Zero Out by 2100

Fire-weary residents too terrified to sleep

Water bombers sent to fire near Casterton

Hazard reduction blitz fails to dampen risk

RFS warns of deadly bushfires threat

Foolhardy decision led to truckies' deaths

House lost in east coast bushfire

South Australia dodges bushfire disaster

Injured Oregon firefighter now entrepreneur