WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090710

In Southern California, Orange County Fire Authority provided useful wildfire prevention tips to homeowners (1); but despite cooler temperatures in the mountains, firefighters in Crestline warned residents of the continued fire danger (2). The next article takes a behind-the-scenes look at air traffic control on recent wildfires in Kern County (3). CAL FIRE snuffed a small blaze in San Luis Obispo County yesterday afternoon (4); and was also making progress on an 800-acre fire in Lassen National Forest (5). A wildfire burning in California's Stanislaus National Forest has reached the 288-acre mark (6); while $17 million later, firefighters in Oregon have contained the 7,494-acre Oak Flat Fire (7). High winds in Colorado delayed air-attack of a massive wildfire burning there (8); now the problem was low-lying smoke (9); the fire having destroyed a number of homes, including some belonging to firefighters on the line (10). A striking video of the wildfires outside of Denver is up next (11); this coming at a time when the National Weather Service is forecasting Red Flag conditions for that region (12); but fortunately FEMA will provide funds to help Colorado with expenses from the blaze (13). The same windy conditions vexing firefighters in Oklahoma and Colorado have spelled trouble for firefighters in Kansas as well (14); but the next article highlights the debate going on in Idaho over how much prescribed burning to do in Boise National Forest (15). A summary of wildfires burning in South Dakota's Black Hills is provided by the next article (16); while a fallen powerline was blamed for a wildfire in Northwestern Oklahoma which forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes (17); even as firefighters in Texas battled a 2,000+ acre wildfire near San Angelo (18). The increased wildfire danger across parts of Pennsylvania is examined by the next item (19); where a wildfire in Jenkins Township was keeping firefighters busy (20); this at a time when residents of Philadelphia were being cautioned about the fire danger after two weeks without any rain (21). A number of small wildfires were reported in New Hampshire (22); and a Massachusetts wildfire was still burning in rugged terrain as of yesterday afternoon (23). Although there are still nearly three dozen wildfires burning in Alaska, the fire season is nearly over (24); but the same can't be said about Hawaii, where officials have allowed Mauna Kea State Recreation Area to reopen after a 1,387-acre blaze on the Big Island (25); and firefighters on Oahu battled a small wildfire yesterday afternoon (26). Now that things are calming down in British Columbia, Canada, firefighters look back on a $190 million fire season (27); followed by information about Ontario's firefighting efforts both at home and abroad (28). A dozen air-tankers were assisting firefighters on the ground battling a blaze outside of Valencia, Spain (29). A hot topic for discussion in Russia's Duma will be the wildfires of this past summer (30); where the Emergency Situations Minister complained that local governments had not called in federal firefighting aircraft soon enough (31). In Australia, the Victorian government will be providing $1.5 million to help clear vegetation ahead of bushfire season (32); while Parks Victoria will be conducting controlled burns in the Plenty Gorge area (33). Firefighters in Queensland were admiring their new bushfire-fighting tankers (34); but residents of Perth, Western Australia, have been warned about smoke from controlled burns being conducted in the area (35). Farmers in South Australia are being asked to make bushfire preparations as summer approaches (36). And finally, firefighters in Rochester, Minnesota got a day off from cooking at the local Olive Garden Restaurant!

(1) Firefighters give prepping tips for fire season

(2) Fire Season Still Looms

(3) Calif. Pilots Keep Safe in Wildland Fires

(4) Small brush fire contained in rural San Luis Obispo Co.

(5) Windy Blaze grows to 100 acres

(6) "Pinecrest Fire" Grows To 288 Acres

(7) Crews surround Oak Flat Fire

(8) Air Battle Finally Under Way In Fourmile Firefight

(9) Low Lying Smoke Hinders Firefighting Planes

(10) Firefighters counting burned homes in Boulder County

(11) Stunning video captures nighttime burning of Boulder, Colorado wildfire

(12) Red flag warning issued for Front Range and eastern plains

(13) Fema Authorizes Funds To Help Fight Four Mile Canyon Fire

(14) Firefighters Battle Flames, Winds in Kansas

(15) Plan for Boise forest's big trees questioned

(16) Firefighters knock down area fires

(17) Wildfire in northwestern Oklahoma leads to evacuation of 500

(18) Grass fire contained after 12 hours

(19) Hot, Dry Weather Increasing Risks For Brush Fires

(20) Firefighters continue to battle brush fire in Jenkins Twp.

(21) Weather Service: No rain = increased risk of wild fires

(22) Brush fires keep firefighters busy

(23) Firefighters fight brush fire in Hadley

(24) Wildfire Season Coming to a Close

(25) Big Island park reopens after fire forces closure

(26) Firefighters battling Kailua brush fire

(27) Intense six weeks of wildfires marks near-record season

(28) MNR Fire Report

(29) Forest fire breaks out in the south of Valencia

(30) Duma to discuss consequences of summer fires

(31) Russian minister: Authorities were too slow to call firefighting planes to battle wildfires

(32) Victoria Launches Landcare Week 2010

(33) Grass burn-offs planned for gorge

(34) Tankers newest weapon for Wide Bay Firies

(35) Hills burn-off creating smoke

(36)Be fire-prepared this summer

(37) Firefighters Get Free Lunch