WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 011711

Despite the problems California Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed cuts to CAL FIRE may cause statewide, Butte County feels that it can cope (1). Entering its seventh year in a 10 year program, Taylor, Arizona's, White Mountain Stewardship Project continues to meet its goals (2); while a community near Prescott has been recognized by the National Firewise Communities Program (3). US Forest Service reports some success with blunting the assault of pine beetles in Idaho by using pheromone-infused plastic flakes (4); followed by a look at Montana's Benchmark Fuels Reduction Program planned for the Lewis and Clark National Forest in the next item (5). FEMA is urging residents of Tennessee, a state which ranks 14th in number of natural disasters in the US, to be prepared for such emergencies as wildfires (6); a wildfire in Mobile County, Alabama, briefly threatened a score of homes which had to be evacuated (7); and firefighters in Nassau County, Florida, battled a 30-acre wildfire apparently sparked by children on Saturday (8). The Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta are facing a nightmare scenario in which beetle-killed trees make the business of fighting fires much more dangerous (9); prompting British Columbia to share a few firefighting tips with their neighbor (10). A week-long campaign by several agencies in the African nation of Gambia to warn residents of the bushfire danger from dry Hamattan winds has come to an end (11); while bushfires in Ghana destroyed eight rice farms (12). A bushfire on New Zealand's South Island drew the attention of firefighters on the ground as well as several aircraft (13); and another blaze near Bideford on North Island also forced evacuations (14). A public official involved in planning for natural disasters in Australia comments on how that nation could put together a disaster fund to handle the aftermath of, among other things, bushfires (15); but one inventive bloke has come up with a better way to put another one on the barbie: the Aussie Solar Cooker! (16) A commemorative dinner will be held in Victoria's Yarra Ranges on the anniversary of Black Saturday (17); even as people who survived those bushfires are now extending thousands of dollars in aid to Queensland residents who had helped them through their dark days (18). South Australia's Country Fire Service was busy dealing with a bushfire near Tungkillo and another on kangaroo Island (19). And finally, it was a happy ending for a Labrador pup rescued from the ice and adopted by a St. Louis, Missouri, firefighter's family!

(1) County firefighting model may ease impact

(2) Town benefits from stewardship project

(3) Walker/Potato Patch earns national recognition for wildfire preparedness

(4) Pine beetle control effort paying off, but some losses increasing fuel for wildfire

(5) Thinning proposed for Benchmark area

(6) FEMA urges Tennessee residents to be more prepared for disasters

(7) Wildfire In Calcedeaver

(8) 30-acre wildfire in Nassauville

(9) Wildfire experts say pine beetle is making forest fires more dangerous to fight

(10) B.C. shares pine beetle fire tips with Alberta

(11) Gambia: Campaign Against Bushfire Ends in WCR

(12) Fire Destroys Rice Farms

(13) Firefighters dampen down Rangiora scrub fire

(14) Evacuation as forest fire threatens

(15) Disaster fund would leave us better prepared for rainy days

(16) Snag cooker safe in Whittlesea bushfire zones

(17) Remembering Black Saturday

(18) Bushfire survivors dig deep

(19) Fires damage Tungkillo and K.I.

(20) Puppy rescued by firefighters adopted by fire captain's family