WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 040911

The Executive Director of the Earth Island Institute's John Muir Project is meeting stiff opposition from US Forest Service and homeowners in Lake Tahoe, California, over his proposal not to salvage log an area burned in a wildfire (1); the Deputy U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary For Natural Resources and Environment weighing in on the issue in the following article (2). Firefighters feel they finally have the upper hand on wildfires that have burned a collective total of over 13,000 acres in New Mexico (3); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Ware, Fire Information Officer for New Mexico State Forestry, weighing in on his agency's efforts to work with landowners to reduce the wildfire threat in a state where those who start wildfires do not have to pay the full suppression costs (4); while another article provides information on a 12,000-acre blaze burning near Tucumcari (5); even as New Mexico Senator Tom Udall worries that a government shutdown could impact wildfire fighting in his state (6); current conditions prompting US Forest Service to impose Stage One fire restrictions on the Cibola National Forest beginning April 11th (7). A 40-acre wildfire in Jefferson County, Colorado, prompted the evacuation of nearly 300 homes Friday afternoon (8). Homeowners in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, are beginning to rebuild in the aftermath of wildfires last month (9); but with the National Weather Service forecasting temperatures in the 80s, wind gusts up to 55 mph, and humidity below 20%, firefighters across the state are bracing for a very busy weekend (10); while the impact of recent wildfires on the budgets of rural Oklahoma fire departments is examined in the next item (11). Texas Forest Service responded to six wildfires yesterday that burned 3,957 acres (12); including a grass fire that burned 750 acres south of Odessa, and which is now 75% contained (13); and another one on the grounds of Camp Bowie rekindled, burning an additional 300 acres (14); but one blaze burning in Stonewall County has scorched 71,786 acres, drawing the attention of air-tankers which have dropped 58,000 gallons of retardant so far trying to rope it in (15); while two wildfires were reported south of Lubbock in the Texas Panhandle this afternoon (16); and worse may be yet to come, as wildfire conditions for Sunday are expected to be extremely bad (17). The state of New York has mounted a major recruiting campaign to bring more volunteer firefighters into the fire service (18); but as he heads into retirement, a firefighter with the Florida Division of Forestry recalls what it's like to fight wildfires (19). A wildfire that burned 10 km² of Killarney National Park in County Kerry, Ireland, has been contained (20); and a moor fire that burned outside of Marsden, UK, appears to have been deliberately set (21). Wildfires were reportedly still burning in Spain at Coristanco, Carrocera, and Cabrales (22); while the next item takes a look at wildfires in the Eastern European nation of Croatia (23). A contentious court case between the residents of Toodyay, Western Australia, and Western Power is being moved to the scene of the 2009 bushfire which destroyed several homes (24); two new blazes being reported in WA: a 12-hectare bushfire outside of Wilberforce (25); along with another outside of Kiara (26). And finally, a story from London, England, shows how a thief was apprehended by the long arm of the... fire service!?!

(1) Burned forest value central to Tahoe logging fight

(2) AP Interview: Deputy in charge of USFS talks fire

(3) Officials: No problems on New Mexico wildfires that forced evacuations last weekend

(4) Wildfire starters seldom have to pay

(5) Wildfire near Tucumcari prompts evacuations

(6) Udall: Government Shutdown Could Impede New Mexico Wildfire Prevention and Containment

(7) Fire restrictions in place for Cibola National Forest

(8) Jeffco wildfire spurs evacuation calls for 271 homes

(9) OKC metro-area residents rebuild after March wildfires

(10) Oklahoma wildfires: Crews prepare for extreme danger this weekend

(11) Wildfires Burn Up Budgets For Rural Oklahoma Fire Departments

(12) Friday wildfire update

(13) Fire Crews Contain Grassfire in Sanderson

(14) Brownwood fire rekindles but reduced hot spots late Friday night

(15) Homes burned, threatened by massive fire in Texas

(16) Fires across the panhandle

(17) Wildfire weather imminent for Sunday

(18) Wanted: Volunteer Firefighters

(19) Monday Chat: Ranger looks back on 30 years and fighting forest fires

(20) Major Kerry gorse fire brought under control

(21) Second moorland fire near Marsden thought to be deliberate

(22) EFFIS - Current Situation

(23) Forest Fire Breaks Out Near Pitve on the Island of Hvar

(24) Bushfire compensation case to be heard in Toodyay

(25) Bushfire burns near York

(26) Swan Valley fire under control

(27) Firefighters free thief stuck in bin