WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 112911

The National Transportation Safety Board will be hosting a forum tomorrow to discuss government-owned aircraft safety issues, something which could bear on federally-contracted air-tankers (1); while a Nevada Congresswoman viewed burn areas devastated by Reno's Caughlin Fire, which scorched 2,000 acres, destroyed 30 homes and damaged 42 others (2). A resident of Fort Collins, Colorado, is due to be arraigned for starting a 3,000-acre wildfire while illegally burning debris in April (3); but fire managers in Idaho's Boise National Forest plan to kill two birds with one stone through prescribed fires: restoring the stands of whitebark pine, while reducing the wildfire threat in general (4). FEMA reported that more than 80% of $12.6 million in grants to Texans who lost their homes in wildfires has been focused on replacement housing (5); and as the three-month anniversary of the Steiner Ranch wildfire approaches, life is slowly returning to normal for homeowners (6); while a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety weighs in on how to build communities better prepared for wildfires in that state (7). Firefighters will be conducting 31,000 acres of controlled burns in Florida's Everglades National Park this week (8). A wildfire that has burned between 50 and 80 ha near the Slovakian village of Spišské Bystré has drawn the attention of a trio of helicopters (9); and although a wildfire continues to burn in Bulgaria's Central Balkan National Park, no homes are in danger (10). In Australia, as Country Fire Authority released Township Protection Plans for several shires in Victoria, Nillumbik Shire Council protested about bushfire refuges (11); but in the meantime, Moorabool Council has set aside Blackwood as a bushfire refuge (12). Firefighters in South Australia expressed confidence about roping in a 700-hectare bushfire that is causing smoky skies in the Adelaide Hills (13); but another blaze near Port Augusta was still threatening homes (14). The Department of Environment and Conservation fire manager who was overseeing a Western Australian controlled burn that became the Margaret River bushfire has been relieved of duty pending an investigation (15); even as the Australian Workers Union protested the fact that only 250 DEC Forest Fire Fighters administer all of that state's National Parks and Forests (16); while higher temperatures accompanied by high winds could breed more bushfires this weekend (17). And finally, Santa Rosa County, California, has come up with a unique way of recording holiday wildfires through their "Keep Your Holidays Bright" campaign!

(1) Audit Shows Government-Owned Aircraft Receive Less Oversight Than Private Airlines

(2) Congresswoman Shelley Berkley views Caughlin fire devastation in Reno

(3) Man Accused Of Causing Wildfire Due In Court

(4) Boise forest plans fires to help whitebark pine

(5) FEMA: Wildfire Survivors Have Choices With Recovery Grants

(6) Almost three months after wildfires, Steiner Ranch still recovering

(7) Honor wildfire victims with a safer Bastrop

(8) No alarm: Everglades park to burn 31,000 acres this week

(9) Three helicopters join fight against forest fire near Poprad

(10) Wildfire in Central Balkan National Park does not put settlements in danger

(11) Bushfire safety plans flawed says council

(12) Blackwood trialled as bushfire refuge

(13) SA firefighters confident of containing blaze

(14) Bushfire threatens homes near Port Augusta

(15) Fire manager stood aside after West Australian bushfires

(16) Frontline firefighter morale at start of long WA fire season key to a positive resolution

(17) Authorities warn of weekend fire risk as temperatures soar

(18) County urges fire safety with Keep Your Holidays Bright campaign