WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 122611

In the aftermath of the lackluster GAO report on the Station Fire, Southern California Congressman Adam Schiff is urging US Forest Service head Tom Tidwell to implement changes to better be prepared for the next wildfires that hit the area (1); while the LA Times revisits the issue of the state of California shifting firefighting convicts to county jails, something which could result in a loss of 1,500 inmate firefighters (2); and the California State Fish and Game Commission stepped in to protect a species of woodpecker by stopping salvage logging in forests near Lake Tahoe scorched by the Angora Fire in 2007 (3). The New York Times reviewed two new books on the impact of drought and wildfires in the southwestern US (4). With 1,673 homes destroyed in the Bastrop County, Texas, wildfires, local officials fear that not everyone will rebuild (5); even as the Arkansas Forestry Commission debated ways and means of raising money to pay for firefighters, the timber industry being most likely to suffer (6). British Columbia, Canada's, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations weighs in on the government response to the pine beetle effort which threatens their forests (7); while an article from Thunder Bay, Ontario, looks back on how the city acted as an evacuation hub for people displaced by wildfires this past summer (8). Seven air-tankers were employed to help battle a wildfire burning near Savona, Italy, which forced the evacuation of 250 residents (9); but relations between Greece and Turkey became strained when it was revealed that Turkish secret agents ignited wildfires in Greece during the 90s (10). Doom and gloom were predicted for Western Australia by the Bushfire Front chairman, a former general manager of the Department of Conservation and Land Management (11); the next article providing some details on current bushfire activity in that state (12); where businesses are still waiting for compensation for bushfire losses in the Margaret River area (13). And finally, we have the bizarre story of a children's cubby which may cost a New South Wales family $1.1 million in bushfire fines!

(1) Schiff Pushes Speedy Completion of Station Fire Analysis

(2) California could lose 1,500 inmate firefighters

(3) CA initiates state protection for rare woodpecker

(4) Portraits of the Southwest in the Shadow of Drought

(5) Uncertainty over rebuilding after Bastrop County wildfires

(6) Little enthusiasm seen for higher timber tax

(7) B.C. is aggressively managing pine beetle effect

(8) Look back: July

(9) 250 evacuated as forests burn near Savona

(10) Former Turkish PM's arson admission fuels anger

(11) WA bushfire guru tips perfect storm

(12) Bushfire threatens properties in remote WA

(13) Bushfire's added cost

(14) $1.1m fine threat for kids cubby put up without Wollongong City Council approval