WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 040511

A summary of wildfires in Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico is provided by our first item today (1). Colfax County, New Mexico, is bracing for a busy wildfire season due to minimal snowfall this winter (2); while a metal grinder has been identified as the cause of a wildfire which burned 2,700 acres, forcing the evacuation of a boys ranch and a nearby racetrack outside of Ruidoso (3). NASA was in the news today: their Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) provides a striking photo of some of New Mexico's wildfires (4); while their scientists are weighing in on the impact of climate change on Colorado wildfires (5). People who lost homes in Colorado's Crystal Fire have returned to survey the damage (6); but the Colorado Water Quality Control Division is concerned about sediment fouling the water from burn areas near Fort Collins when rains arrive (7). Meteorologists are warning 43 counties in Oklahoma of the high fire danger due to increased wind coupled with warm temperatures (8); and those conditions could remain in force all week long (9); nevertheless, residents of Texas County were allowed to go home as wildfires abated (10). A wildfire that burned 6,000 acres in Garza County, Texas, was 95% contained Monday night (11); but after responding to 67 fires in the past week that burned 23,349 acres, Texas Forest Service issued more wildfire warnings in several parts of the state as wildfire conditions continue to be extreme (12). A wildfire that burned 9,600 acres in Haskell County, Kansas, has finally been extinguished (13); however, Alabama Forestry Commission is concerned about budget cuts severely impacting their ability to battle wildfires in a year which has already seen 1,500 blazes burn 30,000 acres (14). Although rains helped to reduce the incidence of wildfires in Virginia, two blazes burned 600 acres between them (15); and the winds didn't help with wildfires in Franklin, Henry, and Montgomery counties, either (16). Wildfires in North Carolina are the topic of the next item (17); while a wildfire that burned 2,000 acres near McClellanville, South Carolina, is being labeled an arson job (18). Wildfires in Russia's Khakassia region of Siberia are threatening several cities (19). Australia's CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) has published a new study titled "Climate Change: Science and Solutions for Australia" which forecasts that there could be a 25% increase in bushfires by 2020 (the full study can be downloaded from here) (20). The contentious issue of cattle grazing to reduce the bush fire danger in Victoria's Alpine National Park is revisited in the next article (21); while Fire and Emergency Services Authority battled a three-acre bushfire that destroyed a home outside of Perth, Western Australia (22). And finally, for those interested in knowing what life as a wildfire lookout entails, a new book entitled "Fire Season: Field Notes From a Wilderness Lookout", gives you a taste of the solitary life in the wilds of New Mexico!

(1) Wildfires Fueled by Wind, Dry Conditions Spread Through Several Southwest States

(2) After scant snow, high winds, Taos preps for tough irrigation, fire season

(3) New Mexico Boys Ranch residents who were evacuated from wildfire able to return to ranch

(4) The White Fire in Southern New Mexico

(5) NASA scientist to discuss wildfire and climate change at CWA

(6) Crystal Fire victim: 'We've got nothing now'

(7) Wildfire causes concern for water quality

(8) Warning: Wild Fire Danger for OK

(9) Windy, warm and dry conditions mean wildfires are possible all week in Oklahoma

(10) Guymon residents returning home after wildfires

(11) Justiceburg fire burns 6,000 acres

(12) Forest Service warns of fire danger across Texas

(13) Firefighters extinguish Haskell County fire

(14) Bentley's Proposed Budget Fuels Forest Fire Fears

(15) Brush fires burn more than 600 acres in Va, 2 firefighters recovering from injuries

(16) High winds fan flames in Franklin, Henry, Montgomery Counties

(17) Firefighters battle three massive wildfires

(18) County line wildfire now investigated as arson

(19) Wildfires threaten Siberian cities

(20) Warning of huge rise in risk of bushfire

(21) Alpine graziers defiant

(22) Suspicious bushfire destroys Perth home

(23) Review: Fire Lookout Writes Ode to Solitary Life