WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 072210

Wildfire News Of The Day subscriber Brad Tuttle, General Manager of the Southern California-based DC-10 VLAT, sent along a press release about their Call When Needed availability (1); while Ventura County Fire Department chiefs will be on hand to answer the public's questions on protecting their homes from wildfires at an upcoming meeting August 2 (2). A rare lightning strike sparked a wildfire in eastern San Diego County yesterday (3); and firefighters from CAL FIRE and the US Forest Service tackled a 75-acre blaze near Visalia yesterday (4). Multiple fire agencies managed to contain a wildfire on the Tule Indian Reservation in central California (5); while residents of a Marin County fire protection district took part in a wildfire drill over the weekend (6). Oregon's Douglas Forest Protective Association, which has reported 15 wildfires so far this season, is imposing fire restrictions as the wildfire danger increases (7). Fire officials in Washington state commented on their outlook for the wildfire season, which has been slow to get started (8); but in the wake of a massive wildfire near Spokane, an Op-Ed piece reminds homeowners of steps they can take to better protect their homes (9); something Burlington Northern Santa Fe is trying to do around their tracks, as well (10). The next article takes a look at the Mill 2 Fire, which is being allowed to burn in Arizona's Pinal Mountains to benefit the ecosystem (11). The Colorado State Forest Service has unveiled their 2011 Wildland-Urban Interface Grants, which fund homeowners' efforts to better prepare their property for wildfires (12); while firefighters in the northwest part of that state have made progress on nearly a dozen wildfires (13). In a follow-up to a Wildfire NOTD article yesterday, a total of 10 suspicious wildfires have now been reported from two locations in Utah (14); but a wildfire south of those has burned nearly 400 acres (15); even as firefighters across the state are expecting a busy time when Pioneer Day is celebrated with fireworks on the 24th (16). The high fire danger in Montana was emphasized by several small wildfires caused by a passing train (17); followed by an article in which the new Flathead National Forest Supervisor discusses his plans for the future (18). Firefighters continued to battle a wildfire in Yellowstone National Park that has burned past the 500-acre mark (19); but although the park has seen five wildfires already this season, officials consider this to be a 'normal' fire season (20). Lightning also ignited several small fires in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest (21); and the wildfire danger in Florida is going up (22). With a nod towards climate change, the US Forest Service is adapting its conservation efforts to address this issue (the report can be seen here) (23). British Columbia, Canada's, North Island is having to cope with more wildfires than they did in the past (24); but fire officials in Nova Scotia have unveiled a new high-tech weather station that can be used to determine the forest fire index for the area (25). The UK's Ashdown Forest was in the news again, as a second blaze broke out yesterday (26). Greek Special Forces were dispatched to the Aegean island of Samos when a wildfire broke out (27); while firefighters on the mainland appear to have the upper hand on wildfires they have been battling (28). A wildfire in the western regions of Iran has burned through hundreds of acres of timber (29). Heading to Australia, Victoria's Country Fire Authority is looking for a few good... women (30); but the double whammy of first losing his house in the Black Saturday bushfires, then having to cope with all the new building restrictions has sapped the enthusiasm of a bushfire survivor (31). The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service has unveiled numerous neighborhood safer places throughout the state (32); even as authorities are warning residents to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season (33). Officials in New South Wales are requesting public comment on the Eurobodalla Bushfire Risk Management Plan (34). And finally, could an all-electric firefighting helicopter be in Sikorsky's future?

(1) 2010 Call When Needed Status

(2) Fire officials to share prevention tips

(3) Brush Fire On Volcan Mountain Contained

(4) Reservation Road fire has been stopped at 75 acres, 60 percent contained, road still closed

(5) Crews contain 108 acre fire on Reservation

(6) Emergency drill held Sunday in Pacheco Valley

(7) Public fire restrictions now in place across Douglas County

(8) Wildfire Sparks Along I-82

(9) Firefighters avert disaster, homeowners can do their part

(10) Investigators: Railroad pledges more fire safety following investigation

(11) Mill 2 Fire serving a purpose

(12) Forest service helps protect properties with grants

(13) 8 Of 12 Wildfires In Northwest Colorado Contained

(14) 10 suspicious fires set in Provo, Ogden

(15) Southern Utah wildfire grows to 397 acres

(16) Firefighters expect busy week during Pioneer Day holiday

(17) Train sparks fires along Highway 12

(18) New forest leader oversees busy summer

(19) Yellowstone fire grows to 515 acres

(20) Parts of Yellowstone drier than normal, but fire season so far normal

(21) Lightning Sparks Small Fires In Wyoming Forest

(22) Fire Danger Increases

(23) Forest Service Shifts Strategy to Address Changing Climate

(24) Fire warning

(25) High-tech station determines forest fire index

(26) Firefighters tackle second fire in Ashdown Forest

(27) Fire rages on Greek island

(28) Greek firefighters win a battle in inferno war

(29) Massive fire in western Iran forests

(30) CFA call to Sunbury women

(31) Battle never ends for Humevale fire survivor

(32) Neighbourhood Safer Places rolling out across Queensland

(33) Landholders urged to prepare

(34) RFS calls for input on Euro fire plans

(35) Sikorsky Will Fly Electric Helicopter This Year