WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 063010

First up in wildfire news today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich has renewed the lease for a pair of CL-415 firefighting aircraft, which will arrive from Canada on September 1st (although, with the Quebec fire season projected to last through October 1st, it may be difficult for the planes to arrive in Southern California on schedule) (1). A wildfire in San Diego County, which prompted a call for air tankers, was quickly snuffed out by firefighters on the ground (2); a pair of wildfires burned 250 acres in Kern County on Tuesday (3); and firefighters in Petaluma had a number of small blazes to fight along Highway 101, apparently started by a backfiring vehicle (4). CAL FIRE is expecting a busy weekend in the Eldorado National Forest, where the fire danger is a concern (5); but despite the fact that California and Nevada have Wildfire Awareness weeks, now Lake Tahoe is declaring one of its own (6). Firefighters in Washington state managed to corral a wildfire that had exceeded 100 acres in size (7); while helitack teams were practicing in preparation for the fire season (8). Crews working Arizona's Schultz Fire are collecting the estimated 19 miles of fire hose around the blaze, which is now said to be 90% contained and has cost over $8 million to suppress (9); even as lightning strikes have been blamed for a new wildfire that has burned 540 acres in the Chiricahua Mountains (10); and as if Flagstaff, Arizona, didn't have enough wildfires already, three more broke out within the city limits! (11) Arizona public land managers are reminding residents of that state about the fire danger this weekend (12); as have fire agencies in Larimer County, Colorado (13). Colorado politicians are requesting more federal assistance in preparing for and battling wildfires (14); while a small wildfire was reported in Boulder County (15); but the Cow Creek Fire, which has burned nearly 1000 acres in Rocky Mountain National Park, is having little effect on tourism (16). Several wildfires were reported in Idaho, including one that threatened areas around Mountain Home Air Force Base, as described by the next two articles (17)(18). Residents of Central Texas are being warned about the fire danger in that region (19); however, Wisconsin has been able to dispatch more fire crews to help Canadian firefighters battle blazes in Manitoba (20). The annual call from the Ad Council's Smoky Bear to prevent forest fires was issued in Washington, DC, today (21). Despite a bit of rain, the 900 acre wildfire burning in New Jersey was still considered out of control (22); so in response to this and other blazes in the area, police will be enforcing no trespassing laws throughout the region (23); even as the weather service is forecasting ideal wildfire conditions for today (24). Fire agencies in North Carolina are warning residents of the fire danger from fireworks (25); but although summer thunderstorms have arrived in Florida, fire officials are still cautioning residents about the fire danger with Fourth of July approaching (26). Firefighters in the UK had to get down on their hands and knees to locate hotspots from an underground wildfire reported in Kingston Hill (27); while a video associated with the next article shows the ferocious wildfires thousands of Chinese firefighters are battling in northern China (28). A program to help children who were traumatized by the Black Saturday bushfires has been unveiled in Victoria (29). And finally, we've all heard about firefighters performing extrications of survivors of automobile crashes, but a crew in Oregon had to perform one to get the homeowner out of the bathroom wall!

(1) Super Scooper Planes Ordered For Fire Season

(2) RANCHO SANTA FE: 3 acre brush fire halted quickly

(3) Fire: 250 Acres Burned By 2 Fires

(4) Cotati fire burns 75 acres

(5) Fourth Of July Expected To Be Busy In Eldorado National Forest

(6) Lake Tahoe gets its own week dedicated to wildfire awareness

(7) Firefighters knock down wildfire southeast of Ephrata

(8) High-flying approach to fighting state's wildfires

(9) Flagstaff wildfires: Schultz Fire update, 90% contained, mop up continues

(10) Lightning started fire in Chiricahua Mountains, 540 acres burned

(11) Firefighters Extinguish Three Fires on Interstate 40 in Flagstaff

(12) Fire restrictions in place around the state

(13) Fire danger moderate for holiday

(14) Sen. Mark Udall calls for more federal wildfire help

(15) Tiny wildfire breaks out south of Jamestown

(16) RMNP Wildfire Burns 903 Acres

(17) Wildfires flare up in western valley

(18) Wildfire scene calms after lightning

(19) Central Texas residents urged to use caution as wildfire danger increases

(20) Wis. sends crew to battle Canadian fires

(21) Smokey Bear Returns to Remind Americans ... “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires”

(22) Barnegat forest fire contained but still burning, not under control

(23) Barnegat forest fires lead to strict enforcement of tresspassing laws

(24) WEATHER: Wildfire alert issued; sunny with temperatures around 80s

(25) State forestry officials urge fire safety this weekend

(26) Don't let summer rainfall fool you, wildfire threats very much out there

(27) Firefighters work through the night to tackle bush fire in posh Kingston Hill

(28) Hot weather threatens to intensify China fire

(29) Help for bushfire kids

(30) Firefighters rescue homeowner stuck in wall