WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 011011

In Northern California, Butte Fire Safe Council announced a series of controlled burns which will be conducted by local fire agencies (1); and Arizona's Prescott National Forest conducted controlled burns on debris piles over the weekend (2); while runoff studies are being done in the Schultz Fire burn areas near Flagstaff (3). A woman who survived California's Cedar Fire in 2003 now works with a nonprofit, United Policyholders, which is helping educate Colorado homeowners on the perils of underinsurance of their property (4). Wildfires burned 300 acres in Hancock County, Mississippi, over the weekend (5); where two firefighters were injured battling the blazes (6); and a controlled burn on private property in Harrison County got out of control, sparking a forest fire (7). Firefighters in North Carolina battled a 40-acre wildfire in Brunswick County (8); while an innovative air-tanker pilot from Alberta province will be inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame (9). The next article provides more details on Israel's Carmel Forest fire, as well as funds being allocated to prepare for future major wildfires (10); and the Canadian Defense Minister stopped by to hammer out the final details on a plan to lend Israel some air-tankers piloted by Canadians until Canadian-built air-tankers are delivered to Israel in two years (11); however, as Israel's Tu B'Shvat (Jewish New Year for the Trees) approaches, observations of that date will have special significance this year (12). Two stories from Africa are up next: authorities in Gambia are trying to educate people on the negative effects of wildfires economically (13); but with the close of 2010, the second article takes a look back at deliberately-set wildfires that devastated the island nation of Madagascar (14). Authorities on New Zealand's North Island are reminding residents and visitors of fire restrictions in the area in the aftermath of a plantation fire that burned for six days (15); and since dairy farmers in Victoria, Australia, are likely to stay and defend their property during a bushfire, Dairy Australia and Country Fire Authority are teaming up to provide a bushfire survival kit to these businesses (16). The head of Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation spoke about the rash of bushfires (some of them deliberately set) that his department fought over the holidays (17); but several new fires that have become a major bushfire near Mandurah are believed to have also been set by an arsonist (18); weather conditions prompting further warnings for other communities in the area (19); even as firefighters brace for an increase in the winds (20). And finally, firefighters in Pennsauken, New Jersey, were probably considering asking for hazard pay after beating a hasty retreat from a blazing home where ammunition was exploding!

(1) Control burns planned for Paradise, Forest Ranch areas

(2) Wood pile burning to continue this week near Prescott

(3) Flagstaff wildfire aftermath study done

(4) California wildfire survivor offers insurance help to Fourmile Fire victims

(5) Wildfires contained in Hancock County

(6) Two Firefighters Hurt in Miss. Wildland Response

(7) Control burn escalates to forest fire

(8) Forest fire claims 40 acres in Brunswick

(9) Alberta pilot to be inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame

(10) Carmel aftermath: Israel allocates $223 million for preparedness

(11) MacKay begins Mideast visit in Israel

(12) Celebrating trees, after the fire

(13) Wildfires undermine farming, deepen poverty

(14) Burning up biodiversity: forest fires increase in Madagascar

(15) Six-day plantation fire sparks warning

(16) Farmers chip in to toolkit

(17) Busy holiday season for DEC fire crews

(18) Firefighters defending Lake Clifton homes

(19) Bushfire Emergency Warning for Armstrong Hills subdivision, Shire of Waroona and Herron, City of Mandurah

(20) Firefighters await gusty wind change

(21) Firefighters flee ammunition inside burning home