WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 052910

First up in Wildfire News Of The Day, tough financial measures taken by the city of Los Angeles to cope with the bad economy have impacted Los Angeles Fire Department's ability to deal with wildfires, according to union executives (1); but CAL FIRE firefighters were humping the hills in San Bernardino County in preparation for battling the inevitable wildfires of summer (2); and firefighters have stopped the advance of five small wildfires in eastern San Diego County (3). Residents of Winkelman, Arizona, were rattled by a small wildfire yesterday (4); and another snarled traffic on I-17 (5); while the Horseshoe Fire has expanded to 1,200 acres in size today (6). Firefighters near Silver City, New Mexico, are moving ahead with their planned controlled burns (7). A wildfire was reported in Jefferson County, Colorado, yesterday (8); while firefighters outside of Denver quickly brought a small blaze under control (9); but fire officials fear these are only the opening acts of a busy fire season (10). Three wildfires in New York State's Adirondack Mountains have now been brought under control (11); as a representative from the South Carolina Red Cross explained their new full-color book that covers the massive Horry County wildfire on this, the first anniversary of that blaze (12). An update on wildfires across Alaska is provided by the next item (13); where firefighters, with some help from bulldozers, managed to put a control line between a massive wildfire and the town of Tanacross (14). Some background material on the FireWise program, which helps homeowners better prepare for wildfires, is provided by the next item (15). A summary of wildfires in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, is provided by the next two items (16)(17); where blackouts occurred in the north-east and as many as 236 wildfires continue to burn (18). Fire officials hope the 40% chance of light rain turns out to be much heavier than expected as they continue to battle major fires in Quebec (19); where over 100,000 acres have been scorched so far (compared to 280 acres last year at this time) (20); and even though help was arriving from all across the continent, three Reservations were bearing the brunt of the wildfire onslaught (21); but at least some evacuees from the First Nations community of Manawan have been allowed to return home (22). A wildfire near Islamabad, Pakistan, scorching about 100 acres of timber (23). A Country Fire Authority fire captain and author of The Australian Bushfire Safety Guide reflects on lessons to be learned from the Black Saturday bushfires inquiry (24); while the motivations of the victims' advocate at the Royal Bushfire Commission are examined in the next item (25). And finally, what can you do with vegetation cleared out for control lines in Alaska? Why, heat schools of course!

(1) L.A. firefighters say proposed budget cuts threaten their ability to battle brush fires

(2) Firefighters prepare for fire season

(3) Firefighters contain East County brush fire

(4) Small wildfire causes scare for Winkelman AZ residents

(5) Wildfire temporarily shuts down northbound I-17

(6) Horseshoe Fire now at 1,200 acres

(7) Prescribed burn continues

(8) Wildfire Burning In Jefferson County

(9) Wildfire near Golden hasn't hit structures

(10) Wildfire Danger Higher Than Expected

(11) 3 Adirondack wildfires now under control

(12) South Carolina Forestry Commission releases Horry County wildfire book

(13) Wildfires grow across Interior Alaska as fire crews become stretched thin

(14) Local effort secures Tanacross as wildfire grows along Alaska Highway

(15) Tips For Saving Lives And Property From Wildfires

(16) 34 new forest fires in Northeastern Ontario

(17) MNR Update on Wawa Fire #18

(18) Forest fires cause blackouts in N.E. Ontario

(19) Firefighters looking to Quebec skies for rain as forests burn

(20) Crews are praying for rain

(21) Quebec fire situation remains critical

(22) Some Quebec wildfire evacuees return

(23) 100 acres of forest gutted in Margalla Hills’ fire

(24) No easy answers

(25) The fire within Jack Rush, QC

(26) Tok wildfire preparations yield wood for biofuels project