WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 011610

Matt Levesque of Los Angeles County Fire Department passed along an article about the arrival of that department's Heavy Rescue Task Force in Haiti to help with cleanup after their earthquake (1); followed by an update on the condition of the hiking trails in the Angeles National Forest, provided by an LA Times article (2); but with rain on the way, residents are bracing for mudslides, which could further alter the trails in the ANF (3). Containment of a wildfire burning in the Cleveland National Forest is nearly complete (4); while Ventura County Fire Department has opened the competition for a few seasonal firefighter jobs and the response has been overwhelming, no doubt helped along by the poor economy (5). It's a sad state of affairs when officials in Colorado and Montana are optimistic that the bark beetle infestation that has killed millions of trees in their states may finally be waning due to a lack of remaining beetle food, i.e. trees (6). Repairing the damage caused by recent wildfires in the South American nation of Colombia will cost an estimated $40 million (7); while officials in the African nation of Gambia have kicked off a week-long campaign to educate citizens on the importance of reducing wildfires in order to preserve the forest canopy (8). A forest fire in India's Kashmir destroyed several structures (9); but the Indian Army is remaining silent about details over an incident in which shellfire from the Pakistani side of the border apparently ignited some wildfires, a sign of the continued tension between those two Asian neighbors (10). Although the Rural Fire Service website had recorded no bushfires yet, firefighters in New South Wales, Australia, were sweating out severe conditions in parts of that state (11); with Western Australia also bracing for hot temps that could fuel bushfires (12). And finally, Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade's high-tech mobile command post will have to go on a diet before it's allowed out of the garage!

(1) L.A. County Fire CA-TF2 Rescue Team Arrives in Haiti

(2) Checking in on Angeles National Forest trails

(3) 'Unrelenting' rainfall to hit Southern California next week

(4) LAKE ELSINORE: Firefighters surrounding mountain fire

(5) Hundreds apply for a few seasonal jobs on fire crew

(6) Officials hopeful that pine beetle infestation has peaked

(7) Colombia needs $40 million to for forest repair

(8) Gambia campaigns against bushfires

(9) Fire in forest, 4 shops, house gutted in Kashmir

(10) Jungle catches fire after firing on Army outposts in Poonch

(11) Southwest NSW on severe bushfire warning

(12) Bushfire warnings issued for hot Perth

(13) Brigade's new bus sidelined for fire season