WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 011510

First up in wildfire news today, a 150-acre wildfire burning in Southern California's Cleveland National Forest is expected to be contained by tomorrow (1); while another burned in the Santa Ana River bed in Riverside (2). Officials in Eastern Oregon are considering moving ahead with a forest thinning plan in a burn area (3); even as politicians are deliberating about adding forest thinning jobs to a stimulus funds bill in the state capital (4). The 302nd Airlift Wing will be dispatching a training team to Thailand from their base in Colorado to prepare Thai crews to use MAFFS units on C-130 aircraft, the first time the Air Force has undertaken such a mission in a foreign country (5); but South Dakota tourism advocates are crying foul over yesterday's announcement that the National Park Service will cancel this year's July 4th fireworks display at Mt. Rushmore due to wildfire concerns (6). The Texas Forest Service is lowering the wildfire risk indicators for Central Texas as fire season gets off to a slow start (7); while two firefighters from South Carolina have been arrested in regards to arson wildfires set years ago (8). Heading Down Under, bushfire warnings have gone out to Australians in parts of New South Wales (9). As firefighters brought a small bushfire under control in Western Australia, money was still being collected to help bushfire victims (10); and a bushfire near a power station resulted in a brownout and 20,000 customers losing their internet connections in that state yesterday (11). A South Australia woman whose campfire sparked a 2007 bushfire outside of Adelaide has avoided jail due to poor health (12) ; while a family in the Adelaide Hills is jousting with local officials over what they perceive to be a fire hazard that could trap them there in the event of a bushfire (13). And finally, red-legged frogs (like Mark Twain's famous "Jumping Frog of Calaveras County") that survived the Station Fire are now threatened by mudslides and politics!

(1) 150-acre fire burns near Ortega Highway

(2) Fire fighters battle flames, winds

(3) Thinning project proposed for Canal Fire area

(4) Wyden-Merkley press forest thinning in jobs bill

(5) Colorado crew to train Thai fliers in firefighting

(6) Without Rushmore fireworks, tourism loses thousands in free advertising

(7) Wildfire danger low across Big Country

(8) 2 Abbeville Co. Firefighters Accused Of Arson

(9) Residents urged to prepare for bushfires

(10) Mindarie bushfire under control

(11) Bushfire cuts WA internet link

(12) Woman escapes jail time over bushfire

(13) Family fears vegetation will block escape in a fire

(14) Famous Frogs That Escaped California Fire Threatened by Mudslides, Red Tape