WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 042211

First up today, Wildfire NOTD subscriber Britt Gourley, CEO of air-tanker giant Aero Union, sent along a brief statement concerning the recent grounding of his fleet of P-3 firefighting aircraft:

Aero Union is pleased to announce its “paperwork” issues with Federal Regulators have been resolved and wishes to thank all relevant Federal Officials, Members of Congress, Senators and Congressional Staff for their prompt assistance in resolving this matter. BG

Elsewhere in the news, the Martin Mars will be briefly returning to Lake Elsinore, California, on its way to Texas to help fight wildfires south of the border (1); while firefighters were dispatched from California's Sierra National Forest to help battle blazes in Texas (2). Las Vegas Fire and Rescue reported a small wildfire in an empty lot (3); while firefighters battled a half-acre wildfire outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, that was apparently sparked by a nearby methamphetamine lab (4); and a 2,000-acre wildfire that burned in southern Arizona is now considered contained, according to BLM firefighters (5). A teenager has been charged with arson in regards to three wildfires set in Douglas County, Colorado (6); while a 40-acre wildfire in Jefferson County is now 20% contained (7); but fire officials fear that winds could stir up the blaze (8). A summary of wildfire activity across the state is provided by Texas Forest Service in the next article (9); and some behind-the-scenes details of the air-tanker activity in Texas, including the resolution of paperwork problems with Aero Union's P-3 firebombers and the DC-10s activities, are provided by the next item (10). The US Forest Service was close to declaring victory over the Rockhouse Fire, which has been burning in Jeff Davis County, Texas (11); even as officials at a local Boy Scout camp announced that their events would still go off as planned (12). In a sign of our tough financial times, the government of Texas is planning to slash the budget of Texas Forest service by 30% to try to close a $27 billion budget gap, planning to rely instead on federal and out-of-state firefighters to pick up the slack (13). A photo spread shows the devastation caused by the Texas wildfires (14); followed by the experiences of structure firefighters battling a wildfire in Palo Pinto County (15). A volunteer firefighter from Gorman, Texas, is recovering from burns sustained battling wildfires (16); and higher humidity was welcomed by firefighters, but accompanying winds were not (17); however, in what is sure to be a bittersweet journey, homeowners will be allowed to tour areas around Possum Kingdom Lake, where 159 homes were destroyed (18). Rain was credited with helping put out an 80-acre wildfire in Horry County, South Carolina (19); but one of more than a dozen lightning-sparked wildfires in Florida has burned 350 acres in Palm Beach County (20). Fire activity in the Canadian province of Ontario is the topic of the next article (21); while firefighters in Mexico are making progress on wildfires that burned over 200,000 ha (22). Officials in the Bahamas were worried about a bushfire that was burning south of New Providence (23); and Russia's Siberian wildfires are threatening more than just foliage, as the next item shows (24). The rehabilitation of Israel's Carmel Forest, which burned late last year, is the topic of the next item (25); while three rice farms have been destroyed by bushfires in Yendi Municipality, in the African nation of Ghana, in the first three months of this year (26). Ironically, the Black Saturday bushfires may prove to be beneficial to endangered species in Victoria, Australia (27); even as a Western Australian inventor is hoping that his new "Sentinel Alert" bushfire detector will be a success (28). And finally, firefighters in Manchester, New Hampshire, were called to a Wal-Mart parking lot to perform a tricky extrication on a woman stuck in a car's sunroof!

(1) LAKE ELSINORE: Lake to close when plane lands

(2) Local fire personnel dispatched to Texas

(3) Firefighters extinguish brush fire in northeast valley lot

(4) Meth Lab Starts Forest Fire in Flagstaff

(5) Empire wildfire, 24 hours later flames are out

(6) 15-year-old faces arson charges in Dougco wildfires

(7) Wildfire Burns 40 Acres In Jefferson County

(8) Winds A Concern For Firefighters On Meyer Ranch Fire

(9) Texas Forest Service wildfires April 22, 2011

(10) Texas fires slowed by humidity, disagreement about P-3 air tankers resolved

(11) "End in Sight" for Rockhouse Fire in Jeff Davis County 4/21/11

(12) Wildfires reach Boy Scout camp

(13) As wildfires burn, Texas lawmakers look to slash firefighting budget

(14) Photos: Texas Wildfires: April 21

(15) The Colony firefighters detail 'overwhelming' battle in Palo Pinto County

(16) Volunteer Firefighter Recovering From Burns

(17) Forecast is a mixed bag for Texas firefighters

(18) Some Texas residents to view wildfire devastation

(19) Rain helps extinguish fire off International Drive

(20) Firefighters battling brush fires in western Palm Beach County

(21) First forest fire of the season reported April 5th

(22) Mexican fire fighters make progress in curbing wildfires

(23) Fears grow as bush fire rages

(24) Russian Forest Fires Threaten Rare Leopards In Far East

(25) Nature runs its course in charred Carmel Forest

(26) Fire destroys rice farms in Yendi Municipality

(27) Deadly forest fire leads to resurrection of endangered tree

(28) Local inventor's fire warning system rolled out in South West

(29) Firefighters free woman from sunroof