WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 122010

A metal thief was apprehended while stripping homes damaged by Boulder, Colorado's, Fourmile Canyon Fire (1); while authorities in southwestern Oklahoma are warning residents of the extreme fire danger in that area today (2); and despite burn bans in half of Texas' 254 counties, Gillespie County is allowing residents to conduct debris burns outdoors (3). Delaware has announced that it will begin training wildland firefighters in January to work with the Delaware Forest Service during the wildfire season (4); but in the wake of freezing temperatures, Southwest Florida is bracing for more wildfires (5); even as a wildfire that burned 2,200 acres near Jacksonville over the weekend reached 85% containment (6). Thousands of Israelis got their first look this weekend at the areas burned by deadly wildfires near Haifa (7); while the next two stories discuss what was lost and the rebuilding effort in burn areas (8)(9). Fearful that recent rains will breed complacency in New South Wales, Australia, the Rural Fire Service Association is calling for an audit of bushfire preparation plans in that state (10). Zoologists are warning that Victoria's planned acceleration of controlled burns could be disastrous for fragile wildlife living in the bush (11); while a conservationist warned the Moorabool Council that excessive burns could actually promote fires in the future (12). The new Victorian government discussed the disbanding of the Victoria Bushfire Recovery Authority during their first tour of the Black Saturday burn areas (13); even as authorities asked for the public's help in solving bushfire arsons, which constitute 30 to 50% of all the bushfires in that state (14); and firefighters in Melbourne worried about urban bushfires through the coming spring and summer (15). Residents of Victoria's Latrobe Valley are being warned to be prepared for bushfire season as well (16); but the Erickson Air-Crane helicopter, affectionately dubbed "Elsie", has arrived in Ballarat to begin firefighting operations (17); while some smaller fry will also be available to help (18). And finally, a family that lost their home to bushfires in Victoria just can't seem to win for losing as their new home in New Zealand caught fire!

(1) Man accused of looting homes that were burned in Boulder wildfire

(2) Wildfire danger this week

(3) Commissioners Hold Off On Burn Ban

(4) Annual wildfire training courses offered by Delaware Forest Service

(5) Freeze-dried vegetation could set stage for bad 2011 wildfire season

(6) Westside wildfire: 85% contained

(7) Good weather brings thousands of Israelis to the fire-ravaged Carmel forest

(8) UJA donates $100,000 to youth village destroyed in fire

(9) Israel’s Yemin Orde Youth Village Rises from the Ashes

(10) Audit needed for bushfire hazard plans

(11) Bushfire proposal threatens Mallee wildlife: scientists

(12) Burns-offs 'add to risk' of future fires

(13) New Victorian Government visits bushfire zone

(14) Call to stop arsonists

(15) Urban bushfires - is your street at risk?

(16) Think about bushfire season

(17) Welcome firebomber Elsie, to be stationed in Ballarat

(18) Firefighters take to the sky

(19) Family hit by fire again