WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100411

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Kevin Ryan, a Research Forest Ecologist at the USFS Fire Sciences Lab in Missoula, Montana, sent along an invitation to an upcoming webinar with the following comments: Mike, As I am sure you are aware there are a lot of questions/issues about beetle-killed forests and fire potential. This webinar focuses on Mountain Pine Beetle in western North America, but in fact the fire behavior and fire management principles are universal. I like to see fire folks going into suppression situations with their eyes wide open. Fire behavior and fire safety are dramatically affected by large-scale infestations. The evidence is emerging that the effects are longer lasting than some initial studies might have led folks to believe - Kevin (1). Over 1,500 firefighters were assisted by aircraft in bringing a 2,000-acre wildfire burning near the Southern California community of Julian in San Diego County to 65% containment (2); but although rain has begin to fall near Sisters, Oregon, firefighters still need to manage hotspots on the 10,000-acre wildfire (3). The wildfire situation in Nevada, where numerous lightning strikes sparked wildfires, is summarized in the next two articles (4)(5); where evacuations for the small mining town of Tuscarora have ended (6). A New York Times article explores the coalition of land managers, scientists, environmentalists and loggers who have come together in Arizona to find common ground in thinning trees to save forests from wildfires (7); while firefighters from the Upper Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit are keeping a close eye on a 10-acre wildfire burning southeast of Basalt (8). A pit bull mix is up for adoption after being rescued from wildfires outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (9); and although 250 pets have been reunited with their families in Bastrop County, Texas, dozens more went up for auction yesterday (10); but a volunteer firefighter from Magnolia lost everything when his home was destroyed by the worst wildfires in Texas history (11); even as the DC-10 awaits a call to fight Texas wildfires, the crew providing a tour of this massive firefighting aircraft at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (12); while residents of Smith County impacted by wildfires are now eligible for FEMA assistance (13). A 200-acre wildfire in Wyoming is being allowed to burn for ecological purposes (14); but lightning sparked a number of wildfires in northwest Montana, including one blaze in Glacier National Park (15); and a forecast of winds and dry weather has firefighters in South Dakota's Black Hills on edge (16). Kentucky Division of Forestry fire officials reiterated the wildfire danger to residents of that state while announcing its fall burning schedule (17); while firefighters consider the 7,000-acre wildfire which has burned in Virginia's Great Dismal Swamp for two months to be 100% contained (18); but dry weather and extreme drought have prompted the Georgia Forestry Commission to withhold fire permits in some parts of the state (19). The Iberian Peninsula is on fire, with numerous wildfires reported across Spain and Portugal (20); however, the wildfires which burned outside of the Siberian city of Bratsk have become a hot potato in which local Russian officials traded barbs with national emergency leadership over response to the blaze (21). Emergency Management Australia briefed officials on what could be a horrific bushfire season in Victoria (22); while officials in one shire in the Macedon Ranges fear that rejection of a bushfire refuge could put townspeople at risk (23). With 15 fires currently burning along the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service firefighters are definitely busy (24); but tourists were incensed with fire managers who lit a controlled burn on Fraser Island that turned into a bushfire, forcing their evacuation (25); however, the bushfire threat seems to be diminishing (26); nevertheless, Rural Fire Service firefighters in Mackay have had a tough fight on their hands keeping bushfires out of the town (27). As bushfires continued to burn along the border between New South Wales and South Australia, firefighters wondered what was ahead after 10 years of drought in the area (28). And finally, a New York Times article looks back at the life of a smokejumper who performed an amazing 896 jumps over a 38-year career with US Forest Service!

(1) Future Forests Webinar: Post-Outbreak Fire Risk and Behavior

(2) 2,000-acre San Diego wildfire 65 percent contained

(3) Fire Crews Still Managing Hot Spots near Sisters

(4) Wildfire crews struggle with wind

(5) Few homes, other structures burned by wildfires across vast stretches of northern Nevada

(6) Evacuation order for Tuscarora ending

(7) Chopping Down Trees to Save Forests

(8) Firefighters keep watch on Wingo blaze

(9) Dog Rescued In OKC Wildfires Still Needs Forever Home

(10) Bastrop wildfire animals now up for adoption

(11) Magnolia volunteer fireman left with little

(12) DC-10 jet crucial firefighting tool

(13) Wildfire victims in Smith County can register for aid with FEMA

(14) Ferris Mountain Wildfire Managed As Controlled Burn

(15) Small wildfires break out in Northwest Montana

(16) Black Hills At High Risk For Wildfires

(17) Forestry dept. putting focus on fall burning

(18) Dismal Swamp wildfire still smoldering

(19) GA Forestry Commission Tight on Issuing Fire Permits

(20) EFFIS - Current Situation

(21) Wildfire scandal in Siberia

(22) Torrid bushfire season tipped

(23) Mount Macedon bushfire refuge 'lacks safety'

(24) Firefighters race to protect north Qld towns

(25) Blaze of anger hits tourists

(26) Queensland bushfires begin to ease

(27) Fight to keep flames at bay

(28) Bushfires ravage outback stations

(29) Now Earthbound, After Years of Fighting Wind and Fire