WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102511

To help with many hazards, including wildfires, the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has launched a new website called Risk Conversation (1); while the US Forest Service plans to conduct approximately 5,300 acres of controlled burns in California's El Dorado National Forest (2). A new study on 80 forest types in 19 eco-regions in Oregon, Washington and California which was published in the journal Nature Climate Change postulated that biofuel from forests will increase the CO2 production, worsening Global Warming (3); even as experts are helping craft a Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Cowiche Canyon, Washington (4). Fire officials in Arizona's Coconino National Forest plan a series of controlled burns this week (5); but despite the onset of fall, people are being warned not to be complacent about the wildfire danger in the Gila National Forest (6). The Federal Emergency Management Agency offered some tips to residents of Bastrop County, Texas, on how to avoid being scammed by con artists as rebuilding begins (7); however, fearing that three quiet fire seasons may put them out of business, private contractors appealed to Montana's governor and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for more work (8). Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources continues to investigate the source of a five-acre wildfire that broke out near Tomahawk (9); and as winds and temperatures rise, the Kansas City area and much of west-central Missouri are on high fire alert (10). Representatives of 16 countries who helped Israel with devastating fires this summer were thanked by the Rabbinical Assembly in Washington DC (11). Heading to Canada, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development officials indicated that 15 wildfires continue to burn across the province, all but one of them contained (12); but after a brutal summer of fire, only a handful of blazes remain active in Ontario (13). Wildfires have scorched 50 ha of land along southern Argentina's Tierra del Fuego (14); while a wind-driven wildfire was reported in the Himalayan nation of Bhutan (15). In Australia, Country Fire Authority, Department of Sustainability and Environment, and Parks Victoria have teamed up to help communities across Victoria develop Bushfire Action Plans (16); while a new study takes a closer look at the impact of the 2009 Gippsland bushfires on young people (17). A 19 ha wildfire burning near Katoomba, New South Wales, may have been arson (18); and local governments in South Australia are preparing for the onset of the bushfire season (19). FESA announced that a 4,500-hectare wildfire which was burning outside of Marble Bar, West Australia, has been contained (20); but fire officials got an earful from upset Lake Clifton residents at a town hall meeting (21). The Tasmania Fire Service urged landowners to begin controlled burns to reduce the bushfire danger (22). And finally, our last article takes a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be a US Forest Service Public Information Officer on a national forest in Michigan!

(1) Chubb Goes "Social" With Risk Management

(2) Prescribed forest burns to include 1,037 acres near Hams Station

(3) OSU study: Biofuel from forests will raise greenhouse emissions

(4) Cowiche Canyon wildfire plan on tap tonight

(5) Prescribed fire plans for the week of October 24

(6) Don’t Let Autumn Fool You! Fire Danger on Gila National Forest is HIGH!

(7) FEMA warns wildfire victims of scams

(8) Wildfire Contractors Ask Governor for More Work

(9) Fire burns 5 acres near Tomahawk

(10) Wildfire risk higher Tuesday

(11) Rabbis thank countries that helped with forest fires

(12) Wildfires still simmering, risk low

(13) Monday forest fire update

(14) Forest fires spread in Tierra del Fuego

(15) Forest fire contained

(16) Assistance to develop Bushfire Action Plans

(17) Young adults and disaster

(18) Bushfires could be act of arson- police

(19) Councils prepare for upcoming bushfire season

(20) Bushfire all clear for Marble Bar

(21) Residents voice bushfire criticism

(22) Bushfire season alert

(23) Day in the Life – Carol Nilsson – Public Information for the Huron Manistee Natl' Forest