WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 011210

First up in Wildfire News Of The Day, LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich has announced that they will be looking for an automated wildfire detection system to protect areas in Southern California (hmmm, sounds a lot like The Water Cache Project) (1); but homeowners in Breckenridge, Colorado, are less than enthusiastic about USFS plans to clear-cut beetle-infested forest near their homes (2). North Carolina Forest Service will be torching 15-20 acres as part of a prescribed burn program (3); while firefighters in Florida made short work of a 10-acre wildfire yesterday (4). A pair of men who admitted setting a fire in a Spanish forest have been charged with the deaths of five firefighters who perished battling the blaze last July (5); but quick work by heli-tankers and firefighters on the ground is credited with knocking down what could have become a major wildfire in South Africa (6). An Op-Ed piece from India comments on the recent wildfires in an eastern valley that demonstrate a lack of preparedness by the government for natural disasters (7). Debate is still raging over the language used in the new bushfire warning system, as the next article from New South Wales demonstrates (8); and power lines are apparently at fault for sparking a bushfire there (9). The Salvation Army appeal raised nearly $500,000 to help bushfire survivors in West Australia (10); but more may be needed as arsonists are at work in that state (11). Ty Bonnar of Flexible Alternatives sent along an article about the difficulties of South Australia's volunteer firefighters, as pointed out in a letter from the CFS Volunteers Association (12); however, a welcome change in the weather is helping firefighters in that state cope with local bushfires (13). Firefighters in Tasmania were enthusiastic about acquisition of a new heli-tanker for the northern part of the state (14); something which may see some action if arsonists continue to operate in the area (15); but as if people in Tasmania didn't already have enough to deal with battling bushfires, destructive wind storms are also lashing the region (no doubt making the fire danger even worse)! (16) Victoria's capital registered the hottest night in 100 years as the bushfire threat increased accordingly (17); even as residents of Eastern Gippsland prepared to evacuate when a bushfire roared towards their homes (18). And finally, Victoria may have an upscale answer to the need for bushfire refuges: shopping malls!

(1) L.A. County considers automated wildfire detection system

(2) Forest Service plans for fire mitigation near Breckenridge

(3) Prescribed fire scheduled for Wednesday

(4) Report: Wildfires burning in Volusia County

(5) Two people arrested for setting the forest fires that killed five firemen in Horta de Sant Joan

(6) Firefighters' quick action saves Chappies

(7) Forest Fire Ready?

(8) Fire chief to the defence of catastrophe warning

(9) Powerlines suspected in Corowa bushfire

(10) Funds from Toodyay will support long term needs

(11) Arsonists thought behind Success bushfire

(12) CFS left unprepared

(13) Rain, cooler weather help quell SA fires

(14) New weapon for bushfire frontline

(15) Arson probe into bushfire

(16) Strong winds and bushfires disrupt traffic

(17) Melbourne Swelters Through Hottest Night in a Century

(18)Gippsland towns on alert for 'fast-moving' fire

(19) Shopping centre a refuge from killer bushfires