WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 122310

Wildfires in Arizona have contributed to a serious reduction in the red squirrel population (1); while another article warning of a devastating fire season across Texas also provides a link to the Texas Forest Service's firestorm webpage (2); this at a time when two Texas counties have battled wildfires, as demonstrated by the following photos (3). With an estimated 72% of West Virginia's firefighters being volunteers, a shortage of these firefighters could have a serious impact on their wildland firefighting force (4). A wildfire was reported in St. Johns County, Florida (5); while firefighters battled another in Jackson County (6); as well as a 90-acre wildfire in Pasco County's Big Cypress Swamp (7); and a fast-moving blaze, dubbed the Burnt Island Fire, in Marion County, all of which reinforced the feeling that this was a portent of things to come this winter (8). British Columbia's Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative, which has provided $37 million to Canadian communities to help them prepare for wildfires since 2005, has run out of money (9); while French scientists at the University of Corsica have unveiled a new fire simulator to help them better understand wildfires on that Mediterranean island (10). Firefighters battling bushfires outside of Canterbury, New Zealand, brought in heli-tankers to help them rope in the blazes (11); and they received some assistance from local volunteer firefighters (12); but continued high winds are making for nervous firefighters (13); as is the case with a fire near Dunedin (14). The next article provides more details on Victoria's trial plan to use Canadian-based Convair air-tankers to fight Australian bushfires (15); while additional bushfire refuges have been unveiled in northeastern Victoria (16). The trial of a hiker accused of starting a bushfire in South Australia's Englebrecht Reserve at Bridgewater last March is underway (17). And finally, firefighters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, have unveiled their answer to police cruiser dash-cams: the helmet cam!

(1) Biologist: Red squirrels face high risk of extinction

(2) Disastrous wildfires could sweep across the Southern Plains this winter

(3) Wildfires Burn in Johnson, Wise Counties

(4) Volunteer firefighters sought in W.Va.

(5) Fire burns 2 to 3 acres of woods

(6) Wildfire Threatens Several Structures

(7) Wildfire consumes 90 acres at Big Cypress

(8) Officials: Fast-moving fire likely small preview of upcoming season

(9) Wildfire prevention program coming to end

(10) Simulate forest fires with ForeFire

(11) Fires continues to blaze

(12) Fire fighters assisting with Canterbury bush fires

(13) Strong winds keep crews on high alert

(14) Battle to contain forest fire

(15) Firefighting aircraft touches down at Avalon

(16) More bushfire safer places named

(17) 'Boy scout' walker lit SOS fire

(18) Helmet Cam Provides New Training Tool for Cedar Rapids Firefighters