WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082711

As the second anniversary of Southern California's Station Fire approaches, nearly 100 students who are part of the Student Conservation Association face the daunting task of helping rehabilitate 161,000 acres in Angeles National Forest (1); while a 30-acre wildfire was reported near the grounds of the University of California Riverside yesterday (2); and a two-acre wildfire sparked by lightning was burning in Anza (3); but on the 10th anniversary of a tragic midair collision between two CAL FIRE air-tankers, we look back at how that event forever changed the way air attack is mounted on wildfires throughout the state (4); where a 3,000-acre wildfire which ignited in Yosemite National Park after an RV's propane tank exploded is now being fought by 1,000 firefighters (5); and a seven-acre wildfire that broke out in Paradise has now been completely contained (6). Oregon Department of Forestry provides an update on wildfires burning in that state in the next item (7); where numerous lightning-sparked wildfires have been reported across its High Desert (8). Arizona's Tonto National Forest is allowing a 1,700-acre wildfire to burn through the forest for ecological purposes (9); while a fire historian and professor in Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences discusses how various groups in that state should work together to prevent more catastrophic wildfires like the Wallow Fire (10). Burned Area Emergency Recovery teams have begun their work rehabilitating areas ravaged by New Mexico's Las Conchas and Pacheco fires (11). Dry lightning sparked over three dozen wildfires near Cañon City, Colorado (12); but as fire season begins to wind down, three Colorado State University students who have been wildland firefighters all summer are preparing for fall classes (13). Evacuation orders at the Idaho National Laboratory have been lifted as firefighters gain ground on a 36,000-acre wildfire burning there (14); however, a volunteer firefighter has been charged with setting multiple arson wildfires in southeastern Idaho (15). Lightning sparked nearly a dozen wildfires in Central Utah yesterday (16); and at least five in the south (17). The Texas Forest Service reported a 100-acre wildfire burning in Palo Dura Canyon near Amarillo (18); and an 85-acre wildfire was reported in Trinity County, as well (19). An estimated 500 lightning strikes have sparked at least half a dozen wildfires across Wyoming (20). A pair of wildfires is burning in Montana's Lewis & Clark National Forest (21); as well as the White Sulphur region (22); the next article looking at the impact of mountain pine beetle infestations in the Bitterroot National Forest (23). U.S. Forest Service reported a dozen new wildfires that broke out in South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest yesterday (24); but although a 100-acre wildfire in Wisconsin's Marinette County is virtually out, dry peat under the ground continues to smoulder (25). As East Coast cities evacuate with the approach of Hurricane Irene, the same is happening along the fire line in Virginia's Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (26); while fire crews were released from battling a wildfire in North Carolina's Holly Shelter Game Lands due, in part, to the hope that rain from the hurricane will put out what remains of the fire (27); but wildfires in the Florida Panhandle have been keeping firefighters hopping (28). Heading to Europe, wildfires were reported in Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, and Turkey (29); while numerous wildfires raged across Greece yesterday (30); but Greek, French, and Spanish air-tankers helped bring wildfires burning in 22 areas under control (31). And finally, we've all heard about wildfires sparked by lightning strikes, debris fires, and arsonists, but when was the last time you heard about a wildfire started by a meteorite?

(1) Station Fire, two years later: Kindling a comeback

(2) Wildfire near UC Riverside contained

(3) Lightning Strike Sparks Fire in Anza

(4) Air tanker crash happened a decade ago

(5) Yosemite fire burns 3,000 acres; 1,000 firefighters on scene

(6) UPDATE: Fire Concow contained at seven acres

(7) Oregon Department of Forestry Daily Fire Update for Friday, August 26, 2011

(8) Smoke Streams From New, Older Wildfires

(9) Wildfire burning in Ariz.'s Tonto National Forest

(10) 'Fire is Inevitable' to Keep Arizona Wild, Forestry Expert Says

(11) Areas scorched by fires shaping up

(12) Wildfire Burning On Tanner Peak

(13) Colorado State University Students Finish Busy First Season as Wildland Firefighters

(14) Firefighters gain ground at Idaho nuclear lab

(15) E. Idaho volunteer firefighter charged with arson

(16) Lightning causes multiple wildfires in central Utah

(17) Lightning-sparked S. Utah wildfires have crews scrambling

(18) Wildfires Continue to Burn

(19) Major East Texas wildfires raise awareness of high danger

(20) Dry lightning sparks new Wyoming wildfires

(21) Two wildfires burning in Lewis & Clark National Forest

(22) White Sulphur-area fires among a dozen keeping crews busy

(23) Mountain pine beetle hit forest before Saddle Complex Fire

(24) Firefighters Respond to Twelve New Fires Yesterday

(25) Hot spots from fire burn near Peshtigo

(26) Firefighters hope Irene puts dent in swamp blaze

(27) Rains from Irene expected to extinguish Juniper fire

(28) Wildfires keeping firefighters busy

(29) EFFIS - Current Situation

(30) Wildfires ravage forests in various parts of Greece, blaze near Athens extinguished

(31) Greece brings wildfires under control

(32) Meteorite blasts across skies of Peru leaving forest fires in its wake