WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 111711

Our first article today takes a look at wildland firefighting credentials that were clarified by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group last month (1). A shortage of funds is having an impact on Arizona's plans to burn 55,000 acres in the Coconino, Kaibab, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (2); while Texas farmers struggling to repair 6,200 miles of fences destroyed by wildfires this summer will have a little longer to file for financial aid (3). US Forest Service officials are confident that they can get the upper hand on the pine beetle infestation in South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest (4); but authorities in Tennessee believe that eight wildfires which burned 140 acres between them were deliberately set (5). Rhode Island Division of Forest Environment has named a new Wildland Fire Program Supervisor (6); while rain is helping Virginia firefighters to bring containment on several wildfires burning across the state (7). In Florida, Caloosahatchee Forestry Center will be conducting some controlled burns in Lehigh Acres today (8). The impact of forest fires on Amazon's rain forests is examined by the next article (9); and it's been a busy fall fire season in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, where 21 forest fires have been reported (10). Officials in Victoria, Australia, have implemented tree-trimming in the Northeast to reduce the bushfire hazard (11); even as the Fire Services Commissioner cautioned travelers about the bushfire danger in the Northwest (12); and police launched "Operation Fire Setter" in the Dandenong Ranges to cut down on arson bushfires (13); while Hewlett-Packard Corporation has partnered with Country Fire Authority to improve the fire agency's Information Technology (IT) capabilities (14); but new rules allow homeowners to clear all vegetation except trees up to 50 metres from their house without a permit (15); and other changes in bushfire planning controls have been implemented as well (16). Law-enforcement officials are hoping that the person who made an emergency call about an arson bushfire set in New South Wales' Blue Mountains can help them track down the arsonist (17); while firefighters have constructed a control line around a 12,000-hectare bushfire that started as a prescribed burn in South Australia's Gawler Ranges National Park (18). And finally, a careless driver plowed into the California Firefighter Memorial in Orange County!

(1) Wildland firefighting: NIMS and ICS training you need

(2) Cities' water supplies at risk

(3) Ranchers given until Nov. 30 to seek aid for wildfire-damaged fences

(4) Forest Service ‘optimistic’ about success against pine beetles

(5) Officials suspect arson in series of TN wildfires

(6) Today: Former Resident Named Principal Forester, Community Summit Open House, Show Us Your Patch

(7) Fire grows, but 80% contained

(8) Prescribed fire set today in Lehigh Acres

(9) An Assault on the Amazon

(10) NE Heilongjiang reports 21 forest fires this autumn

(11) Roads to be trimmed of fire hazards

(12) Firies to drive home danger warning

(13) Police campaign to prevent bushfire arson

(14) HP to help douse Victorian bushfires

(15) Home bush clearing laws changed

(16) New bushfire planning controls

(17) Bushfire call released by police

(18) Campers not told as bushfire grew

(19) Driver Slams Into California Firefighter Memorial