WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 070310

A small wildfire in Santa Cruz County, California, led to the discovery of thousands of marijuana plants, in our first wildfire story today (1); while a grass fire near Folsom was extinguished by Sacramento Fire Department (2). Air-tankers were dispatched from Columbia Air Attack Base to deal with a pair of wildfires in Tuolumne County (3); and fire officials in Shasta-Trinity National Forest cautioned visitors about fireworks and campfire safety (4). A mobile home fire in Northern California sparked a wildfire which closed a local highway (5); and a summary of wildfires that have burned recently in Nevada is provided by the next item (6). A wildfire on the North Rim of Arizona's Grand Canyon is being allowed to burn to clear out vegetation in the understory (7); elsewhere in that state a wildfire which was apparently started by sparks from a trailer chain burned about 65 acres (8); but lightning-sparked wildfires in the southern part of that state have had their activity tamped down a bit by the onset of monsoons (9). New Mexico's Carson National Forest is raising the fire danger level as Fourth of July weekend unfolds (10). A wildfire which burned nearly 1,000 acres of rugged terrain in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park has finally been contained (11); prompting fire officials in that state to point to recent wildfires as warnings of the danger posed by fireworks (12). An Op-Ed piece from Utah councils residents of Salt Lake City on the dangers fireworks pose in regards to wildfires (13); but the unusually wet spring in Idaho may allow fire managers to let wildfires burn to improve ecological health of the forests in that state this summer (14). A wildfire in Montana has exceeded 600 acres burned (15); while visitors to the Helena National Forest are being reminded of a ban on fireworks within the forest (16). A 25 acre wildfire that was reported in New Jersey has been fully contained (17); even as fire officials reiterated their warnings about the fire danger over the Fourth of July weekend (18). Firefighters in Virginia quickly knocked down a 1 acre wildfire (19); and, echoing other states, Florida Division of Forestry issued warnings about the wildfire danger throughout that state over the Fourth of July weekend (20). Air attack proved crucial in battling a blaze that's been burning in Manitoba, Canada, for two weeks already (21); while one shire in Victoria, Australia, has gone as far as filing lawsuits to prevent residents from clearing defensible space around their properties, fearing that developers will use the laws allowing land clearance to their benefit (22). And finally, a cautionary tale comes to us from Marin County, California, about dealing with incendiary rodents!

(1) Santa Cruz County officials find 11,000 pot plants

(2) Firefighters try to extinguish Folsom grass fire

(3) fires quickly contained

(4) Forest officials urge caution with fireworks

(5) UPDATED: Mobile home fire near Hat Creek closes Highway 89

(6) BLM officials revise estimates of Moapa wildfire

(7) North Rim wildfire being allowed to burn

(8) Wildfire burns 65 acres near Mayer

(9) Lightning fires kept tame by humidity

(10) Carson forest to enforce fire restrictions

(11) Rocky Mountain National Park wildfire fully contained

(12) Fourth of July poses fire danger

(13) A Safe Fourth

(14) Idaho forest officials could let wildfires burn

(15) Crews battle wildfire near Fromberg

(16) Fireworks Banned From all Helena National Forest System Lands

(17) Brush fire contained in Vineland

(18) Be warned: Conditions perfect for brush fires

(19) Firefighters work brush fire in Roanoke County

(20) Plan for a Safe Wildfire-Free 4th of July Holiday Weekend!

(21) High temperatures flare forest fire

(22) Shire 'backsliding' on bushfire policy

(23) Complaint lodged after firefighter tosses rat into burn area