WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 110110

California has enjoyed an unusually mild wildfire season, although 62,049 acres have burned so far this year (1); and Nevada is having a range war, but it's not between cattle ranchers, it's with cheatgrass! (2) A small wildfire was extinguished in a field outside of Denver, Colorado, before it could threaten homes nearby (3); even as residents of Boulder returned from their evacuation and arson inspectors fanned out to determine the cause of the Boulder Dome Fire (4); something whose suppression costs, which are nearing the $500,000 mark, burned a huge hole in Boulder County's budget (5). Firefighters in Kentucky battled a blaze that has all the earmarks of an arson job (6); while firefighters in Virginia's George Washington National Forest fought fire with fire over the weekend (7); incendiary-dropping helicopters being pressed into service by US Forest Service to do the job (8). Dumped fireplace ashes are being blamed for a 1-acre wildfire that briefly threatened a home in North Carolina Sunday (9); while law enforcement officers in South Carolina investigated five wildfires deemed suspicious (10). A wildfire on Lookout Mountain, Georgia, was quickly contained by firefighters (11). Russia's Prime Minister is keeping a close eye on housing reconstruction in areas burned by last summer's wildfires (12). Residents of Dongara, Western Australia, received a bushfire warning as temperatures climbed (13); and firefighters in Beechina suppressed a bushfire that had threatened homes in the area (14); while a veterinarian provided some pointers on dealing with livestock injured in bushfires (15). As South Australia enters the bushfire season, six districts have imposed fire restrictions (16); and Country Fire Service has adjusted their bushfire warnings accordingly (17). Residents of one Otway shire complained that Victoria had yet to designate any bushfire refuges for their citizens (18); while fire authorities in New South Wales provide some useful tips for homeowners in the next article (19); where a solid fuel ban has been put in effect in some areas to reduce the bushfire danger (20). And finally, here's a unique use for controlled burns: transforming a forest to benefit woodpeckers!

(1) Flame out: wet weather, cool summer kept 2010 fire season to historically mild levels

(2) Program aims to restore Nevada's rangeland

(3) Wildfire extinguished in north metro field

(4) Boulder wildfire evacuees get OK to return home

(5) Back-to-Back Wildfires Burn County Money

(6) Crews battle wildfire that has been ruled arson

(7) Firefighters Battle Wildfire in George Washington National Forest

(8) Forest Service Doubles Fire Size to Put it Out

(9) Fire burns woods near Shulls Mill Road

(10) SLED investigates five suspicious fires in Goose Creek

(11) Lookout Mtn Wildfire Now Under Control

(12) Putin inspects post-wildfire reconstruction

(13) Hot conditions prompt bushfire warnings

(14) FESA gives Beechina homes all-clear

(15) Dealing with burnt stock

(16) Fire danger season underway

(17) CFS raises catastrophic fire day threshold

(18) Still no fire safer places for Colac Otway Shire

(19) Preparing for a bushfire

(20) Solid fuel ban to curb bushfire risk

(21) Bird release part of effort to preserve endangered woodpeckers