WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100811

Arizona's Payson Ranger District received $1.1 million to help thin overgrown forest areas to reduce the wildfire danger (1). A wind-driven wildfire scorched 500 acres near Miami in the Texas Panhandle (2); while the Texas Forest Service brought a 500-acre wildfire burning outside of DeKalb to 50% containment (3); and also provided some useful tips to residents of Houston on how to protect their homes from wildfires (4); but there was one glimmer of good news amid all the bad from the Bastrop County wildfires: their Standard & Poor's bond rating has not been impacted! (5) The arrival of rain in Montana has effectively put an end to the wildfire season (6); and as high winds and low humidity increase the wildfire danger in South Dakota, the following article tracks wildfire activity there (7). Firefighters roped in the last of the Nebraska wildfires (8); but Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources has imposed a complete burn ban in some parts of the state due to Red Flag warnings prompted by high winds and low humidity (9). Firefighters were assisted by Blackhawk helicopters in bringing a 34,000-acre wildfire burning near Roseau, Minnesota, to 60% containment (10); as firefighters from Montana, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin arrived to help battle the blaze (11). Windy conditions have plagued firefighters battling a blaze near Magnolia, Arkansas, today (12); while the onset of fall heralds the beginning of Tennessee's wildfire season (13); heat, dryness, and winds prompting fire officials to invoke burn bans in numerous Louisiana parishes (14). Wildfires raged across the Canadian province of Manitoba, as the next two articles show (15)(16); where high winds continued to cause problems for firefighters battling wildfires (17); but although 300 residents were allowed to return to the community of Marchand, the wildfire situation across the province remains critical (18). A discarded cigarette is being cited as the cause of a small bushfire outside of Woosehill, Berkshire, UK (19); while firefighters in Bulgaria were grappling with a pair of wildfires that burned 17,000 decares (4,200 acres) between them (20). Nearly 1,000 soldiers and firefighters have been dispatched to battle a wildfire burning in northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province (21). Emergency Management Australia met with officials in Queensland to discuss natural disaster preparation (22); even as firefighters contained all the bushfires burning in that state, including three that threatened Rockhampton (23). And finally, firefighters in Boston performed a high-altitude rescue of an unusual victim: a hawk!

(1) Forest Service snags $1.1M to thin forests

(2) Wind-Driven Wildfires Raging on 500 Acres in Texas Panhandle

(3) Wildfire forces evacuations in DeKalb, TX

(4) Forest Service: Create A Buffer Around Your Home

(5) Central Texas Wildfires Have No Immediate Ratings Impact

(6) Wildfire Season Comes to End, Dangers Still Exist

(7) Winds prompt fire warnings; Okreek fire extinguished

(8) Wildfire under control

(9) DNR: Current conditions are ripe for wildfires

(10) Firefighters Make Progress On Fire Near Roseau

(11) Helicopters drop water as Minn. fire nears Canadian border

(12) Wildfire burns near Magnolia, AR

(13) Fall Forest Fire Season Approaches

(14) Wildfire danger high

(15) Controlled burn turns into wildfire in Riding Mountain National Park

(16) Wildfire rages toward Manitoba village, hundreds flee

(17) Wind whips wildfires across southern Manitoba

(18) Manitoba wildfire threat eases

(19) Discarded cigarette is believed to have started bush fire

(20) Wildfire close to Bulgaria’s capital contained

(21) Forest fire rages in Northeast China

(22) Authorities discuss Qld disaster threats

(23) Fire threat eases in Queensland

(24) Firefighters respond to hawk in distress in downtown Boston