WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 112611

The trial of a US Forest Service firefighter accused of setting a wildfire in Southern California last year is about to get underway in San Bernardino County (1); while CAL FIRE's Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit reported that a firefighter fell into a 10 foot pit while fighting a grass fire in Central California (2). Dozens of people gathered at Washington state's Cedar River Watershed Education Center in North Bend to hear about the danger of winter wildfires (3); but in the aftermath of Reno, Nevada's, wildfire, the National Fire Protection Association pointed to the Nevada Fire Safe Council's Living With Fire program for advice on how to be ready for out-of-season wildfires (4). An Op-Ed piece from Arizona questions the accuracy of a GAO report that illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico are causing so many wildfires (5); while Montana's Helena National Forest earned the dubious honor of having the worst watershed conditions of any national forest in the US, in part due to wildfires (6). Fire officials in Georgia feared that wildfires smoldering underground in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge could survive winter, popping up again in the spring (7); and damage done by wildfires that ravaged the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad two years ago is causing problems with flooding (8). The Middle Eastern nation of Lebanon has begun a reforestation campaign to repopulate areas ravaged by wildfires (9); while an Op-Ed piece from Israel disputes the premise that efforts by the Jewish National Fund and the Society for Protection of Nature to replant areas burned by the Carmel Forest fire in 2010 are necessary (10). The next article takes a look at the impact of immigrants from the African nations of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda on Tanzania's forests (11). A 200-hectare bushfire burning near the Shire of Cundardin, Western Australia, has entered the mop-up stage (12); while Perth was choking on smoke from the Margaret River bushfires (13); amid calls for the firing of Western Australia's Environment Minister over the botched prescribed burn that destroyed dozens of homes (14); however, milder weather is settling in, raising the hopes of evacuees from the Margaret River region waiting anxiously to go home (15); and the tourist industry urged people not to stay away because of the bushfires (16); while people were urged to make donations to help bushfire survivors (17); but even during the height of the Margaret River bushfire, a firefighting helicopter sat idly by (18). And finally, one ingenious Western Australian resident came up with a unique way to keep an eye on his house during the Margaret River bushfires: scuba gear!

(1) Trial to start for Forest Service firefighter

(2) College firefighter fell into deep pit, not mine

(3) Even in winter, think wildfires

(4) Out-of-season Wildfire Triggers Safety Concerns in Nevada

(5) Many doubtful that migrants responsible for most Ariz. wildfires

(6) US Forest Service study finds Helena National Forest watershed conditions worst in region

(7) Blazes go underground, fueling wintertime fears

(8) Major link between forest fires and flooding

(9) Lebanon begins landmark reforestation campaign

(10) After the Fire: Israel’s Carmel Forest Doesn’t Need Our Help

(11) Let's Protect Forests

(12) All Clear for Cundardin

(13) Perth covered with smoke after Margaret River bushfires

(14) WA Oppn wants minister sacked over fire

(15) Evacuees wait to return to bushfire zone

(16) Business as usual: tourists urged not abandon Margaret River

(17) Margaret River bushfire: How you can help

(18) Authorities say no to firefighting helicopter

(19) Man uses scuba gear to evade Australia bushfire