WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 060910

Los Angeles County Fire Department rolled out their 'Ready, Set, Go!' program yesterday to heighten the awareness of Southern California residents to the fire danger, as told by our first two wildfire articles today (1)(2). CAL FIRE will be conducting controlled burns in the Inland Empire tomorrow (3); as will firefighters in Central California's Eldorado National Forest, weather permitting (4). A vegetation fire in Merced County burned 270 acres before firefighters brought it under control (5); and an Op-Ed piece examines the economic impact of Aero Union's relocation from Chico to Sacramento (6). Visitors to Arizona's Tonto National Forest could face a hefty $5,000 fine for unauthorized activities, including campfires (7); but a wildfire northeast of Flagstaff required the attention of some heavy equipment (8); and was apparently started by an improperly-extinguished campfire (9). A Colorado fire academy is finding this to be a busy time (10); while elsewhere in that state, firefighters got some live practice! (11) The Bureau of Land Management has provided a mixed bag of news for residents of Idaho: rains have made this a late-starting fire season but could cause a worse fire season due to the additional growth of fuels (12). In the aftermath of a wildfire, an Upstate New York community is considering invoking an arson watch program (13); but continued rainfall is helping firefighters contain blazes which had been burning out of control in Alaska's Interior (14). While some parts of the US are experiencing hot weather, states in the western part of the country are seeing below-average temperatures, along with low fire activity (15). A wildfire in British Columbia, Canada, which has burned over 2,000 acres is being allowed to spread in order to enhance the ecology of the area (16). The Lebanese Civil Defense Forces have unveiled a new helipad with water source intended for fighting wildfires in the northern part of that country (17); but people on the Pacific island of Fiji are having to learn to deal with bushfires as their forests continue to be drier than usual (18). The importance of Australian fire agencies having proper data retention was driven home by the case of the missing maps at the Royal Bushfire Commission hearings (19). Homebuilders in Nillumbik, Victoria, are redoubling their efforts to complete new homes as winter approaches (20). And finally, fire fighters in Central Michigan have found a new way to get their warnings about fireworks out to the public: rapping!

(1) Fire officials gear up for wildfire season

(2) LA County Fire Dept. announces plan to fight California wildfires

(3) Brush burning set for Thursday near Winchester

(4) U.S. Forest Service plans to conduct training fire today if wind favorable

(5) No injuries reported in 270-acre vegetation fire

(6) Editorial: Aero Union news adds to blues

(7) Fire restrictions begin Friday in Tonto Forest

(8) 6-acre wildfire burning northeast of San Francisco Peaks

(9) Abandoned campfire cause of Hostetter fire

(10) Wildfire training an economic boom

(11) Wildfires Contained Along I-25 Near El Paso/Pueblo County Line

(12) Wet spring could mean bigger wildfires this summer

(13) City considers volunteers for fire patrols

(14) Rain keeps Interior wildfires under control

(15) Spring fever hits the Northeast

(16) Wildfire near Atlin allowed to continue burning

(17) North projects aim to boost forest-fire response

(18) Bush fires trend worrying

(19) Not addressing data retention is playing with fire

(20) Builders pick up the pace

(21) Firefighters rap for safety