WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 022811

Medford Fire Department will inspect property within the city limits for free with an eye towards wildfire survivability from now until Oregon's wildfire season begins in a few weeks (1). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Ware, Public Relations Coordinator/Fire Information Officer for New Mexico State Forestry, sent along some info on wildfire activity in that state (2); where at least one blaze near Lovington that burned 30,000 acres has been contained (3); and another burning in Dog Canyon is now 70% contained after scorching nearly 3,500 acres (4). Wildfires that were believed to have been sparked by power lines have charred 120,000 acres, destroyed at least 60 homes, and resulted in one death in Texas, according to the Texas State Lone Star Incident Management Team (5); one near Colorado City destroying 13 homes while burning over 20,000 acres (6); while homeowners were being allowed to return home in Matador after being evacuated due to one wind-driven wildfire yesterday (7); all of which has prompted U-Haul to offer 30 days of free storage and help moving belongings in West Texas (8); but as firefighters bring wildfires in the Panhandle under control, they fear that the danger may move south (9). Alabama Forestry Commission provided some statistics on over 600 blazes battled by firefighters across the state in the last 30 days (10); while fire authorities in Virginia expect that it could be two more weeks before wildfires in Rockingham County are extinguished (11). A wildfire in New Hanover County, North Carolina, burned within feet of nearby homes before firefighters gained the upper hand (12); and residents of East Charlotte had a tense time Sunday as a wildfire threatened homes in their area as well (13). National Weather Service has unveiled a new wildfire warning protocol for Florida which will take into account not only meteorological phenomena, but also soil moisture in affected areas (14); while smoke from a 30-acre wildfire burning in Lake George Forest and Wildlife Management Area combined with fog to create hazardous driving conditions in Volusia County (15); another wildfire being reported in the Matanzas State Forest in St. Johns County (16). Thirty-six European nations worked together to create a document called the FIRE PARADOX which aims to find a happy medium between letting fires rage and suppressing them entirely (to see more on this project, go to the following website) (17). A press release from the Israeli Defense Forces outlines their plans for fulfilling an aerial firefighting mission to prevent disasters like the Carmel Forest fire late last year (18); more details being provided in the following article (19). Three wildfires in the Himalayan nation of Bhutan scorched 2,000 acres over the past few days before finally being extinguished (20). Residents of a Western Australian community are concerned about bushfire conditions as fuel builds up in their area (21). And finally, Michigan taxpayers are scrutinizing a firefighting training exercise in which volunteer firefighters ended up hanging drywall!

(1) Firefighters want to protect your home from wildfire

(2) New Mexico Fire Info

(3) Blaze Under Control In Southeast New Mexico

(4) Dog Canyon Fire near Carlsbad now 70 % contained

(5) One person dead, 120,000 acres burned in Texas wildfires

(6) More than 20,000 acres and 13 homes burn in Colorado City wildfire

(7) Matador re-opens; wild fire continues burning

(8) U-Haul Offers 30 Days of Free Storage to West Texas Wildfire Victims

(9) West Texas fires contained as danger moves south

(10) Rainfall provides short-term relief for wildfires

(11) Va wildfires still going a week later

(12) Firefighters battle brush fire near houses

(13) Wildfire off Independence Blvd

(14) Wildfire warnings get stricter for Florida

(15) Smoke, fog from wildfire forces closure of State Road 40 near State Road 17

(16) Wildfire burning in St. Johns County

(17) The red-hot art of forest fire management

(18) Israel's Firefighting Unit

(19) Private Firms to Help IDF Fight Forest Fires

(20) Doused after 2000 acres destroyed

(21) Creek a tinderbox

(22) Firefighters drywall project prompts questions