WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101110

On the eve of tomorrow's Station Fire Congressional Hearing in Pasadena, California, two articles address issues related to that landmark 2009 blaze: a Los Angeles Times article cites a study which shows that the US Forest Service failed to hit the Station Fire with a heavy air attack during the first two days due to cost concerns (the report can be viewed here) (1); and Jody Noiron, the Supervisor of Angeles National Forest at the time the Station Fire burned last year, has been reassigned as Supervisor of the San Bernardino National Forest, although her boss says it has nothing to do with her performance during that fire (2). A 3-acre wildfire in Newhall, north of Los Angeles, drew a sharp response from air-tankers and firefighters on the ground Saturday (3); but during mop up, firefighters found a badly burned body (4). Another illegal alien crossed the border from Mexico into southern San Diego County, but this one was a bit more destructive than most! (5) Firefighters in Arizona's Prescott National Forest plan to torch 1,700 acres, weather permitting (6). A 5-acre wildfire briefly forced evacuations of residents in Fort Collins, Colorado, yesterday (7); but the important role wildfires play in the health of that state's forests is examined in the next article (8). Transmission lines are being blamed for a 50-acre wildfire that burned near Prattville, Oklahoma (9); and wildfire conditions will be one of the topics of conversation at a meeting of the Orange County, Texas, commissioners later today (10). A new firefighting gel from Minnesota passed its initial airdrop tests from SEATS with flying colors (11); while a FireWise garden composed of fire-resistant plants is on display in Tustin, Michigan (12). A 500-acre wildfire which broke out in Traskwood, Arkansas, over the weekend displaced a wedding party when their reception hall was taken over for a firefighting command center (13); the fire apparently caused by an arsonist (14). After wildfires that have burned 16,000 acres in Tennessee to date, homeowners are being cautioned about outdoor burning during fall fire season (15); but a couple is under arrest in Knoxville after interfering with firefighters attempting to extinguish a wildfire (16). Officials in North Carolina, where 40% of wildfires are sparked by debris burns, are advising residents to try mulching during the fire season instead (17). Firefighters in South Africa fear that half of Marakele National Park may have been burned by wildfires that have scorched tens-of-thousands of acres (18); while wildfires in Asia, something which have cost $11.6 billion since the early 70s, are examined by the next article from the United Nations (19). A new Australian bushfire guide is designed to help 470,000 Victoria homeowners better prepare for the season and provide builders with a Bushfire Attack Level measure to aid in creating homes that can better withstand a bushfire (20); but Victoria's long-awaited Emergency Alert System is still on hold as the federal communications organization conducts negotiations with telecommunications carriers (21). Western Australia's government and Western Power utility are providing $10 million to homeowners in Toodyay who suffered losses from a bushfire last December (22); this announcement coming on the heels of another in which the state government stated that it will be spending $69 million for bushfire mitigation, including power pole maintenance (23); and although many consider that Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation is doing a good job, one expert is asking for a review of their bushfire management programs (24). Dozens of bushfire sanctuaries have been set aside by South Australia (25); new guidelines for farmers being welcomed by that group (26); while controlled burns in Belair National Park have already begun (27). And finally, the results are in - bushfires are worse for Global Warming than cows!

(1) Cost concerns weakened Forest Service's assault on Station fire, study says

(2) Angeles National Forest chief reassigned

(3) Three-acre fire torches Newhall ridge

(4) Burned Body Found After Small Brush Fire

(5) Firefighters Stop Blaze That Threatened Power Lines In Bell Valley Area

(6) Controlled burn set this week in Prescott forest

(7) Wildfire Near Ft. Collins Causes Brief Evacuations

(8) The positive side of wildfires

(9) Wildfire near Prattville extinguished

(10) Commissioners to consider wildfire conditions in county at meeting

(11) TetraKO Next Generation Class A Water Additive Conducts First Wildfire Airdrop Trials

(12) 4-H Kettunen Center gets fire-resistant garden

(13) UPDATE: Most of wild fire contained, residents return home

(14) Traskwood Fire Ruled Arson

(15) Outdoor burning caution is urged for Tennessee

(16) Knoxville firefighters face threats while putting out a fire

(17) Officials Warn About Wildfires

(18) Firefighters battle Thabazimbi blaze

(19) ASIA: Unquantifiable damage caused by wildfires

(20) Bushfire guide launched

(21) Bushfire warning upgrade on hold as carrier talks are delayed

(22) $10 million for Toodyay bushfire victims

(23) Electricity still suffers amid $69m injection

(24) Expert calls for fire management review

(25) Sanctuaries named as fire risk hits 20-year high

(26) Farmers welcome SA bushfire guidelines

(27) Belair national Park burn-off to shield against disaster

(28) Fires worse than rumens for CO2