WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 041511

The US Forest Service plan to plant 3 million pine and fir trees in the Angeles National Forest areas burned by the Station Fire drew some criticism from Wildfire NOTD subscriber Jon Keeley, a Research Ecologist with US Geological Survey (1); but a Colorado firefighter accidentally allowed a debris fire to reignite and burn 5 acres (2). A summary of wildfires across Texas is provided by the next item (3); which destroyed 30 homes and forced the evacuation of dozens of others (4); leading to the evacuation of everyone in Rotan (5); killing one volunteer firefighter (6); the devastation prompting a 105-year-old cowboy to comment that they were the worst fires he had seen in his entire life (7); and the smoke prompting homeowners to call 911 in a panic (8); even as an insurance company offered some tips to Texans on how to keep their homes from burning (9); and community leaders in Lubbock worried about the impact on their water supply (10); nevertheless, the American Red Cross of Southwest Texas reported that it received $98,000 in donations to help people affected by the West Texas wildfires (11); but at the height of the fires, three Aero Union P-3 firefighting aircraft were grounded in West Texas while battling wildfires there, something of a mystery to the locals (12); but the mystery is resolved to some degree by the following item which points to airworthiness paperwork problems (13). Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources has declared next week to be Wildfire Prevention Week (14); while National Park Service investigators are checking out a wildfire that burned in Arkansas' Buffalo National River as a possible arson job (15). A wildfire that burned between 80 and 100 acres was kept away from homes in Cherokee, Alabama (16); but Brevard County, Florida, residents are still uncertain of what caused the 17,000-acre "Iron Horse" wildfire last month (17). Portugal's Civil Protection Authority has been granted €13 million with which to hire fire crews and aircraft, although this is a 20% cut from what they had hoped to receive (18). Heading to Australia, a bushfire arsonist caused quite a tussle in Victoria's Melbourne Magistrates' Court after he was denied bail (19); and the difficulty of pinning blame on a power utility is underscored by the following story about the commencement of a class-action suit against Western Power for responsibility in sparking a bushfire in Toodyay, Western Australia (20); while a bushfire in Guildford was kept away from several homes which it briefly threatened (21).

(1) 3 million trees to be planted in Station fire burn area

(2) Firefighter charged with starting Soda Creek Fire

(3) Wildcat fire forces evacuations in northern Tom Green County

(4) At least 30 homes destroyed as fire rages on

(5) Wildfire causes 4-hour evacuation of Rotan

(6) Firefighter dies while battling Texas wildfire

(7) 105-year-old Texas cowboy loses houses to wildfire

(8) Smoke from wildfires swamps local 911

(9) Amica Offers Tips to Help Protect Your Property from Wildfires

(10) Weather, wildfires could affect water supply

(11) Red Cross announces nearly $100,000 in wildfire relief donations

(12) Air power dips in wildfire fight

(13) Aero Union P-3s grounded

(14) Wildfire Prevention Week is April 17-23

(15) Arson Suspected in Buffalo National River Fire

(16) Wildfire consumes more than 80 acres; homes spared

(17) Cause of wildfire in north Brevard undetermined

(18) Govt releases almost €13m to fight forest fires

(19) Court guards battle accused arsonist as he jumps from the dock at Melbourne Magistrates' Court

(20) Western Power 'won't be prosecuted' over Toodyay fire

(21) All-clear for Guildford blaze