WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092510

Wildfire News of the Day subscriber Tony Morris, Communications Director for Wildfire Research Network, passed along an article sent to him by Jet Propulsion Laboratory Meteorologist Bill Patzert about the wildfire danger in Southern California this weekend (1); while Mercury Insurance Company offered some suggestions to homeowners to better prepare for wildfires (2). CAL FIRE is increasing staffing as the threat of weekend wildfires settles into San Diego (3); which is probably a good idea, considering that a wildfire along Interstate 15, apparently sparked by a vehicle fire, caused a bit of a traffic tie-up yesterday (4). A pair of construction companies based in Ventura County will have to pay millions for a wildfire started by their workers in 2003 (5). U.S. Forest Service has given Oregon Department of Forestry more than $9 million and the Washington Department of Natural Resources over $7 million in grants to help with forestry projects (6). Firefighters in Colorado were close to roping in a wildfire near Lake George (7); while a pair of wildfires outside of Greeley provided an early morning wake-up call for firefighters (8); but a wildfire that has been burning in Routt National Forest should be contained by Monday (9). Bureau of Land Management firefighters battled a 450-acre blaze sparked by a RV fire near Mountain Home, Idaho, yesterday (10); while more favorable weather conditions are helping firefighters battling a 38,000-acre blaze in Utah's Fishlake National Forest (11). Firefighters in Herriman, Utah, declared victory as the Machine Gun Fire was 100% contained (12); and what better way to celebrate than with a parade! (13) A Texas volunteer firefighter has been accused of setting a pair of wildfires, one of which burned a friend in 2005 (14); and a firefighter battling a wildfire in Ross County, Ohio, was killed by an exploding pressure cylinder, and another firefighter was injured (15). Having already battled six major blazes so far this week, firefighters in Kentucky are warning homeowners of the fire danger in that state (16); while a meteorologist warned that the fire danger in Arkansas, which has had several major blazes lately, is also high (17). A wildfire in Virginia's George Washington National Forest scorched around 30 acres (18); and a hog farm in Halifax County, North Carolina, was endangered by an oncoming wildfire this afternoon (19). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dennis Hulbert, former USFS Regional Aviation Officer for California/Hawaii, sent along a nifty video of the Coulson Aircrane S-76 tracking one of their S-61 air-tankers doing night operations in British Columbia, Canada, something which he will be speaking about at 'Wildland Fire Canada 2010' in Kitchener, Ontario, October 5-7 (20); but with the official end of Ontario's fire season not due until October 31, residents are being reminded of a daytime burn ban (21). One of Italy's CL-415 Super Scoopers shared the spotlight with other aircraft at the Malta International Air Show in the Mediterranean (22). Heading to Australia, budget constraints are forcing New South Wales to reduce personnel in the Department of Environment, Climate Change, raising fears that this move could result in higher bushfire danger to communities (23); while a bushfire that briefly threatened homes in Walpole, Western Australia, has been brought under control (24). And finally, firefighters in North Vancouver, British Columbia, proved to be a dog's best friend!

(1) Hotter days, wind could mean fire

(2) Plan Ahead to Help Minimize Wildfire Risk

(3) REGION: Additional firefighters to be on duty for hot weather

(4)Rainbow-Area Brush Fire Snarls I-15 Traffic

(5) Companies to pay $5.4M for Piru blaze

(6) Forest Service: more than $16M in NW grants

(7) Grass fire burning near Lake George

(8) Firefighters battle early morning wildfires

(9) Small wildfire on Routt National Forest land almost contained

(10) RV catches fire, ignites wildfire northeast of Mountain Home

(11) Cooler temperatures help keep Twitchell Canyon Fire at bay

(12) Machine Gun Fire 100% Contained

(13) Students rally to thank Herriman firefighters

(14) Texas firefighter accused of setting 2 wildfires

(15) 1 Firefighter Dead, 1 Injured In Ross County Fire-Related Incident

(16) Firefighters Busy Battling Fires During Dry Conditions

(17) Meteorologist says fire danger high in Arkansas

(18) Forest Fire Consumes About 30 Acres in Augusta County

(19) Wildfire threatens Halifax County hog farm

(20) Coulson Aircrane Night Operations Test Rev. 1

(21) Friday forest fire update

(22) Aircraft display graces Malta's skies

(23) Environment fears as jobs axed

(24) Bushfire warning at Walpole as fire rages through coastal scrub

(25) Firefighters come to aid of dog