WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 041710

Three years after the Angora Fire devastated parts of Lake Tahoe, California, residents reflect on efforts to rehabilitate burn areas (1); even as US forest service conducts controlled burns on the east shore (2). An editorial from Montana takes another look at the contentious "roadless wilderness" debate raised by a bill in Congress (3). The importance of completely extinguishing wildfires is demonstrated by a story from Wisconsin in which embers reignited 10 days after the original fire had reportedly been snuffed (4); a wildfire was reported near Rome's City Hall (5); and the remainder of the state continues to be under a wildfire warning as well (6). A fleet of air tankers battled blazes across Minnesota today (7); but with Wildfire Prevention Week kicking off tomorrow, Michigan State University's extension is offering a program to help homeowners protect their property from wildfires (8). Fire investigators are probing a wildfire that burned 355 acres in the vicinity of Chillicothe, Ohio (9); even as a wildfire in Rowan County, Kentucky was nearing the 300 acre mark (10). After a busy wildfire week, fire agencies in Massachusetts are warning residents that the fire danger is still high (11). Although the North Carolina Forest Service has responded to far fewer spring wildfires this year, at least one county fears that the lack of rainfall could change that (12); this coming on a weekend in which the greatest fear is for mountain areas in that state (13). Having battled over one hundred wildfires on Oahu so far this year, firefighters will get cold comfort from a forecast that rainfall will be below average for the spring and summer throughout the Hawaiian Islands (14); and although only a few small spot fires have been spotted in Ontario, Canada, conditions are still perfect for wildfires (15). Students got an early release for the weekend in a community on the Bahamas Islands due to a wildfire near their schools (16); while fire officials in nearby Jamaica are up in arms about people practicing slash and burn agriculture, something which sparks numerous wildfires (17). A gorse fire near Belfast, Northern Ireland, burned 60 acres (18). As residents of northern India suffer through unusually high temperatures, even for summer, fire agencies are on high alert (19); but in Uttarakhand, over 1000 acres have already burned (20). The ripple effect from former Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon's actions on Black Saturday may be affecting her speaking schedule in the future (21). And finally, firefighters in Victoria are having trouble even agreeing on the type of bushfire alert sirens they should be using!

(1) Tahoe fire restoration focuses on long term

(2) Forest Service burning on east shore Sunday

(3) Rule, forest plans still apply to roadless lands under Tester bill, supporters say

(4) Small wildfire caused by 10-day-old embers

(5) Firefighters on scene at Rome wildfire

(6) Wildfire Warning In Effect For Most Of Wisconsin

(7) Crews Battle Wildfires Across The State

(8) MSU Extension Offers Program To Protect Homes From Wildfires

(9) Tar Hollow wildfire claimed total of 355 acres

(10) Forest fire burns nearly 300 acres

(11) Brush fire danger high

(12) Dry weather means increasing risk of wildfires

(13) Wildfire potential "critical" this weekend

(14) HFD Prepares For Busy Fire Season

(15) Friday forest fire report

(16) Bush fire causes early dismissal of two government schools

(17) Lock them up

(18) Gorse fire tackled near Tollymore Forest Park

(19) Forest fires: HP on high alert

(20) Hill fire on, 500 ha lost

(21) Kerferd rethink may be needed

(22) Siren discord