WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 022710

Despite the fact that it's been raining heavily in the foothills of Southern California off and on all day, authorities are allowing many who live below Station Fire burn areas to return home (1); but in the meantime, San Diego Regional Fire Safety Forum member Rick Halsey's Chaparral Institute has successfully stalled what environmentalists consider excessive vegetation clearance as part of San Diego County's wildfire preparations, something that could have ramifications for other parts of Southern California (2). The need to monitor outdoor burning is underscored by an investigation into last year's Lockheed Fire in Central California, just concluded by CAL FIRE (3); even as firefighters in Ashland, Oregon, begin controlled burns in parkland around the city next week (4). Some residents of Prescott, Arizona, turned out to praise US Forest Service for their wildfire preparations around the town (5); but a county sheriff in Colorado contends that the state is illegally delving into a wildfire fund to balance the budget (6). A wildfire was sparked by chimney emissions in Montana late yesterday (7); while firefighters carried out a pair of controlled burns in Southern Illinois' Shawnee National Forest (8). Although temperatures are relatively low, Central Alabama has been put on a Red Flag alert (9); while a small wildfire in South Carolina was believed to be caused by an electric fence (10). Firefighters in Florida credited meticulous landscaping by residents (which translated into defensible space) for saving their homes from a wildfire in Naples (11); even as much of that state remains under a Red Flag alert (12). Despite the fact that it's still officially winter in Canada, residents of one British Columbia community are considering wildfires of the future (13). Although firefighters in New Zealand are counting on rain to help them finally rope in a massive bushfire on the Otago Peninsula, the suppression costs have already exceeded $500,000 (14); and the bill will no doubt continue to increase as helicopters with infra-red scanners are used to search for any remaining hot spots that need quenching (15). There's been a tussle over the legality of fire brigade donors receiving a tax write-off for donations to some of the 6,200 volunteer fire brigades across Australia (16); and the accuracy of long-range bushfire weather forecasts is being called into question following a much quieter bushfire season in Victoria than predicted (17). As efforts continue to repair the damage done by bushfires to Toodyay, Western Australia, the next article lists some attractions they hope will bring in some tourist dollars (18). And finally, a story from New Jersey where there was a race for charity by firefighters unlike any you've probably ever heard of!

(1) Some Southern Calif. evacuation orders lifted

(2) Brush-clearing for fire safety faces a battle

(3) Unattended fire caused wildfire near Santa Cruz

(4) Controlled burns set for Monday above Lithia Park

(5) Citizens OK with forest thinning efforts

(6) Vallario calls ‘tea party’ against state fire fund

(7) Wildfire burns 50 acres near Livingston

(8) Two prescribed burns planned in Shawnee National Forest

(9) Metro Birmingham forecast: Mild and sunny through weekend

(10) Electric fence blamed in Pickens County brush fire

(11) Preventive measures limited damage from Estates wildfire

(12) Statewide Elevated Threat for Wildfires

(13) Dry weather fuels wildfire concerns

(14) Forest fire bill passes $500,000

(15) Forest fire hot spots being checked

(16) Fire brigade donors to get tax relief

(17) Victoria spared the summer that could have been hell

(18) Toodya's calendar of events

(19) Hidden Valley Club hosts firefighter ski race