WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 070910

Leading the wildfire news today, Mike Padilla's seminal article on the future of the air-tanker industry in the US received replies from two Wildfire News Of The Day subscribers, Britt Gourley, CEO of Aero Union, who said: We agree with many of his points, but, wanted to add some clarification, and Walt Darran, Associated Aerial Firefighters' Safety Committee Chairman (their responses are at the very end of Mike's article, so you'll have to scroll down towards the bottom of the webpage to read them) (1); and Walt also sent along an article that looks at the intrepid crews at Grass Valley Interagency Air Attack Base (2). Riverside County Fire Department dealt with a small, 2-acre wildfire near Cabazon in Southern California's Inland Empire (3); but over 500 volunteer firefighters in that county may be turned into reserves if a plan currently before the Riverside County Supervisors is approved (4). A couple of fires were started by lightning strikes in the Tahoe National Forest (5); and another small one was extinguished yesterday afternoon near Stateline, Nevada (6). The National Weather Service provided warnings to a power utility and Oregon Department of Forestry about potential lightning strikes Thursday night (7); and said lightning strikes did arrive as predicted! (8) Fire agencies in Nevada are going to begin clamping down on fire activity next Friday, according to the next article (9); followed by a summary of wildfires in New Mexico (10). The Cow Creek fire, burning in a remote portion of Rocky Mountain National Park, will probably burn until snowfall extinguishes it (11); a small wildfire near Durango was contained Thursday (12); but although Loveland got socked with a $17,000 firefighting bill for a recent wildfire, it could've been much worse, since the total suppression cost was over $500,000! (13) A number of wildfires were reported in two counties in Utah yesterday (14); while several were also reported in eastern Idaho (15). A unique fire academy which draws in Spanish-speaking firefighters from 18 countries will be kicking off on the grounds of Texas A&M on July 11th (16). Fire crews emerged weary but victorious after battling both a wildfire and high temperatures on Mt. Major, New Hampshire (17); but high temperatures coupled with a water shortage are making wildfire-fighting difficult for firefighters in Massachusetts (18); as is the case in parts of Virginia (19). Smoke from a wildfire along South Carolina's coast is being blamed for a multi-car accident (20). A Canadian wildfire in Cumberland, British Columbia, was reported earlier this week (21); and Kamloops Fire Centre reported some fire activity on British Columbia's Lower Nicola (22); but homeowners near the Canadian Forces' Esquimalt Damage Control Training Facility mistakenly thought that firefighting exercises were a wildfire! (23) An update on wildfires in Ontario is provided by the next two articles (24)(25); and the Canadian Boreal Community Fire Smart Project, which aims to use the latest technology for firefighting, is profiled by the next item (26). Mexican wildfires translated into smoky skies for residents of Southern Arizona (27). Human-caused wildfires in the UK may threaten the habitat of some rare birds (28); even as fire chiefs warned residents of Norfolk of the danger from wildfires in Thetford Forest (29). Meanwhile on the Continent, wildfires were reported in Horta das Figueiras, Portugal, and in Sommatino, Delia, Sant'Angelo Muxaro, and Enna, Italy (30); and fire authorities in Holland have issued alerts for forest fires in several areas (probably best to keep those wooden shoes indoors for a while!) (31) Vietnam is once again under siege, as dozens of wildfires have been reported across the central provinces of that Asian nation (32). Although there's been some speculation in Australia about logging in Victoria's Wombat State Forest, the Department of Sustainability and Environment has ruled out that possibility for now (33). And finally, firefighters in Illinois may start demanding combat pay after being pelted by fireworks during a call to a dumpster fire!

(1) Is the Airtanker Industry Dying?

(2) Bombers for blazes: Air Attack pilots rise to occasion in firefight

(3) Wildfire near Cabazon Outlets contained

(4) Volunteer firefighters weigh proposed program changes

(5) Two small fires spotted as lightning hits Tahoe National Forest

(6) Small wildfire near Kingsbury Grade extinguished

(7) Pacific Power, ODF prepare for possible S. Oregon lightning storm

(8) Lightning storm keeps S. Oregon fire crews busy

(9) Fire restrictions in western Nevada start July 16

(10) Fire forces closure of forest road

(11) Wildfire in northeast corner of Rocky Mountain National Park expected to burn until the snow flies

(12) Wildfire burning south of Mancos

(13) City’s wildfire bill: $17K

(14) Firefighters battle small brush fires in Salt Lake, Davis counties

(15) Agency: Chances of wildfires are rising in area

(16) One-of-a-kind Fire School draws firefighters from 18 countries

(17) Tired fire crews descend Mt. Major

(18) Dryness, limited water hamper brush-fire fight

(19) Water shortage could make firefighting tough in Hanover

(20) Forest fire continues to smolder along coast

(21) Forest fire threatened homes

(22) Wildfire sparked in Lower Nicola

(23) Navy fire training confused for brush fire

(24) One new fire reported

(25) Forest fire update

(26) Forest fire research conducted

(27) Sonora wildfires cause hazy sky

(28) Forest fires pose threat to rare birds

(29) Fire chiefs issue Thetford Forest warning

(30) EFFIS - Current Situation

(31) Red alert for Dutch forest fire risk zones

(32) Central provinces struggling with forest fires

(33) Wombat State Forest logging ruled out

(34) Ill. mob shoots fireworks at police, firefighters