WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 051711

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Bill Niccum, Los Angeles County Fire Department Assistant Chief in charge of Division III, reported a small wildfire near Southern California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada-Flintridge yesterday (1); while a 150-acre wildfire that burned in San Bernardino National Forest's San Gorgonio Wilderness is now 90% contained (2). Firefighters near Portal, Arizona, continued to struggle with the 27,000-acre wildfire burning in that area (3); followed by a report on wildfire activity in Southern Arizona (4). An update on wildfires in New Mexico is provided by the next article (5); where weary firefighters are anticipating more of the same (6). U.S. Forest Service is closing New Mexico's Cibola National Forest due to the fire danger in a state which has already seen 337,715 acres burn so far this year (7); and although rain may be on the way in the future, climatologists and meteorologists say the fire danger continues to be extreme (8). A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study from Colorado reveals some of the toxins carried by wildfire smoke (9); but an Oklahoma Forestry Services ranger is under arrest after being accused of starting wildfires in Cherokee County (10). In the aftermath of the massive 2007 Pinelands wildfire in New Jersey, changes have been made to Air Force training maneuvers and firebreaks have been established in the area (11); while firefighters reported a 30-acre wildfire southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, yesterday evening (12). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Wayne Coulson, CEO of Coulson Flying Tankers, sent along an article about an upcoming Canadian television segment discussing the legendary Martin Mars (13). The Canadian province of Alberta reported more than 100 wildfires burning on Tuesday (14); the devastation wrought by those wildfires in Slave Lake captured in photos and videos in the next two articles (15) (16); but it is hoped that homeowners insurance will cover much of the losses (17); even as reinforcements continue to pour in, according to the next three articles (18)(19)(20); while a Canadian oil company has donated $50,000 to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts (21). Officials are estimating that 70 wildfires which burned across the Scottish Highlands may have cost £26.5 million (22). Plaintiffs in the 2003 Australian Capital Territory bushfire case had a chance to hear testimony by the former New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner (23); while the residents of Nillumbik, Victoria, received unwelcome news about bushfire funding (24); and people will get a chance to voice their opinions on powerline safety at a meeting being sponsored by the Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce next week (25). Arson investigators have concluded that a tire blowout, not a deliberate arson action, ignited a blaze south of Perth, Western Australia, which destroyed 10 homes in January (26). And finally, our last story today shows how forest firefighting in Kentucky is a family affair!

(1) Firefighters knock down brush fire near JPL

(2) Mountain Fire 90 Percent Contained But Approaching Storm Will Dictate

(3) Residents evacuated as firefighting crews begin burnout effort against Horseshoe Two Fire

(4) Another wildfire in SCC burns 1,146 acres near Lochiel

(5) Gallinas Fire 100-percent contained

(6) Weary firefighters remain on high alert

(7) Threat of fire shuts down Cibola National Forest

(8) Future rain predictions won't stop fire danger

(9) Boulder researchers: Chemical in wildfire smoke harmful to humans

(10) Firefighter is accused of starting Cherokee County wildfires

(11) 2007 Pinelands wildfire was a 'wake-up call'

(12) Crews fighting 30-acre wildfire near Delta Junction

(13) Hawaii Mars to star on TV

(14) More than 100 fires raging across Alberta

(15) Aftermath Photos of Slave Lake, Alberta Wildfire

(16) Fire crews holding park fire (video)

(17) Most home insurance covers forest fire loses

(18) Firefighters head to Alberta

(19) Sask. offers fire aid to stricken Alta.

(20) Quebec sends 3 water bombers to fight Alberta wildfires

(21) Cenovus donates $50,000 to help residents affected by forest fires

(22) Damage from wildfires that swept across Highlands could top £26.5m

(23) Koperberg 'aware' of threat before 2003 firestorm

(24) Nillumbik rate rise to ‘‘pick up slack’’ for bushfire funding

(25) Reducing risks of bushfires

(26) WA bushfire now not treated as arson

(27) Fighting fires a family affair