WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 031211

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Ware, Fire Information Officer for New Mexico State Forestry, comments on a wildfire in Torrance County that damaged two homes yesterday (1); while a wind-driven wildfire outside of Boulder, Colorado, forced the evacuation of 200 homes yesterday (2); but it is now 60% contained after burning about 400 acres (3). Several homes and other structures were destroyed by a fast-moving grass fire outside of Shawnee, Oklahoma (4); one of several that blazed across Oklahoma and Texas yesterday (5); prompting the governor of Oklahoma to declare a state of emergency in all 77 counties (6); with wildfires being reported in Jack, Bosque, Somervell, Wise and Hood counties in Texas (7); and another reigniting due to embers from a controlled burn north of Houston (8); but as winds abated, firefighters gained the upper hand (9); allowing homeowners to return home to look over the damage in Oklahoma (10); while the Red Cross began opening assistance centers (11). The US Forest Service will be torching approximately 4,500 acres of Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest today to improve the ecology of the area (12); and the South Carolina Fire Academy is sponsoring its annual training event, which includes strategies on battling forest fires in that state (13); but a new wildfire was reported this afternoon in Orange County, Florida (14). Officials in the Philippines are deploying guards from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine National Police to protect watersheds from forest fires (15); while it appears that the danger from Australian bushfires could alter the New South Wales Government’s Metropolitan Housing Strategy for two commercial precincts outside of Sydney (16). And finally, our last story shows that situational awareness is important for firefighters even on their way to work!

(1) Wildfire damages 2 homes in Torrance County

(2) Crews Make Progress on Colorado Wildfire

(3) Lefthand Fire: Boulder County blaze 60% contained, firefighters making 'good progress'

(4) Wildfire near Shawnee Twin Lakes forces evacuations, destroys homes

(5) Grass Fires Destroy Homes Near Oklahoma City

(6) Fallin Declares Emergency

(7) Fast-Moving, Large Grass Fires Reported

(8) Controlled burn near Lake Conroe sparks 100-acre wildfire

(9) Wildfires in Okla., Texas die down with less wind

(10) After fires, Okla. residents pick through rubble

(11) Red Cross will open Oklahoma wildfires assistance center at 3 p.m. today in Choctaw

(12) Service announces prescribed burn of 4,500 acres in Mark Twain National Forest

(13) South Carolina Fire Academy hosts annual training event

(14) Firefighters battle brush fire in southeast Orange

(15) Water district hires guards for watersheds

(16) Bushfire risk forces change to Housing Strategy

(17) Off-duty fire official spots house fire