WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 041811

As firefighters in Arizona prepare for what could be a busy wildfire season, 10 departments took part in a training exercise over the weekend (1). A wildfire that has burned nearly 500 acres in New Mexico's Gila National Forest, threatening nearby homes, is now 25% contained (2); and Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Ware, Fire Information Officer for New Mexico State Forestry, discusses a 17,000-acre wildfire that blazed through Curry County over the weekend (3); also commenting on three firefighters who were injured battling the blaze (4). A wind-driven wildfire burned 100 acres in Morgan County, Colorado (5); but despite the wildfire conditions, most of Colorado's national forests will probably have fire restrictions, but won't be closed (6). Wildfires have burned 2,400 acres in the vicinity of Cement, Oklahoma, forcing closure of a school (7); while a CBS news video segment shows wildfires across Texas and Oklahoma (8). A summary of wildfire activity in Texas, where all but two of that state's 254 counties are battling wildfires, is provided by the next item (9); where, after 700,000 acres were scorched by wildfires, the governor has appealed to President Obama for federal assistance (10); but although one structure was destroyed, dozens of other homes in Nacogdoches County were spared from wildfire (11); the impact of the Texas wildfires on ranchers being examined in the next article (12); and although winds shifted to protect some homes, firefighters indicated that only a heavy tropical storm will really help (13); some officials estimating that Texas could continue battling major wildfires over the next two months (14); while weather forecasts point to record heat for the Dallas-Fort Worth area all week long (15); but help is on the way: the Wyoming Air National Guard has dispatched a C-130 aircraft equipped with a MAFFS unit to assist with the rampant wildfires in Texas (16); and numerous SEATS, along with the DC-10, are en route as well (17); meanwhile, volunteers are collecting much-needed supplies for their firefighters (18); and even schoolkids in Tomball are doing their part, raising relief funds via their lemonade stand! (19) Red Flag conditions in Kentucky have been announced (20); and firefighters in Louisiana fought a 300-acre wildfire that burned near Sulphur over the weekend (21). The US Forest Service will be conducting 400 acres of controlled burns in Alabama's Talladega National Forest today (22); while firefighters in New Jersey quickly squelched two small forest fires which are now being investigated by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (23). South Carolina Forestry Commission firefighters battled a 75-acre wildfire in Horry County (24); and with an uptick in lightning activity, firefighters in Palm Beach County, Florida, are bracing for wildfires as drought conditions are the worst seen in 80 years (25). Spain and Portugal continued to report numerous wildfire starts over the weekend (26); while firefighters in Russia's Jewish Autonomous Area and the Primorye Territory extinguished 10 wildfires that burned approximately 2,000 acres (27). One benefit that appears to have come out of Victoria's devastating Black Saturday bushfires is the resurrection of an all-but-extinct Australian species of Buxton Silver Gum (28); but members of the Yarra Ranges Council complained that Parks Victoria was clearing too much habitat vegetation in creating firebreaks (29). And finally, the Chinese have turned to rocket barrages to quell wildfires in Qinhuangdao's Funing and Qinglong County!

(1) Firefighters Gear Up for Wildfire Season

(2) Gila hit with another blaze

(3) NM wildfire under control, evacuees return home

(4) 3 firefighters hurt in Curry County grass fire

(5) Morgan County wildfire prompts evacuations, multiple agencies responding

(6) Forests likely to see restrictions, not closures

(7) School in Cement canceled today due to wildfire

(8) Wildfires sweep Texas, Oklahoma

(9) All but two Texas counties have fires; arrest made in fire near Austin

(10) Texas wildfires reach Austin, threaten to spread

(11) Nacogdoches County: Burn ban enacted after fire threatens homes

(12) West Texas ranchers lose cattle, livelihood to fires

(13) Winds spare city threatened by Texas wildfires

(14) Texas could battle large wildfires for months

(15) Firefighters getting no breaks from weather with record heat forecast for Dallas-Fort Worth

(16) Wyoming guard coming to aid of Texas firefighters

(17) Texas receiving additional aerial support for wildfires

(18) Volunteers Gather Supplies for Firefighters

(19) Tomball: Lemonade stand raises money for Texas wildfire victims

(20) Red Flag Warning

(21) Firefighters battle 300 acres of flames near Sulphur (4/18)

(22) Forest service burning 400 acres near Sylacauga today

(23) Egg Harbor Township firefighters fight two forest fires

(24) Firefighters contain blaze that comes 2 years after SC fire destroyed 70 homes

(25) Fire concerns grow with lightning increase

(26) EFFIS - Current Situation

(27) Firefighters extinguish Russian blazes

(28) Silver gum rises from Black Saturday ashes

(29) Bobcats 'rip forest'

(30) Rainmaking rockets fired to tame forest fire in N. China