WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 052011
A contractor who was considered negligent for failing to extinguish debris burns in California's Santa Cruz Mountains which began a 4,000-acre wildfire that destroyed 132 structures could face jail time (1). A 400-acre wildfire burning on the Arizona side of the Colorado River near Yuma is now 50% contained (2); while precipitation and cooler temperatures are allowing fire agencies to lift the campfire ban in Arizona's Kaibab and Coconino National Forests (3); but warming temperatures in the White Mountains caused officials to impose fire restrictions on visitors to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (4); however, even though the massive wildfire burning in the Chiricahua Mountains is expected to scorch 40,000 acres before it is contained, the birders' paradise of Cave Creek Canyon has been spared (5). As the fire danger in Southeast New Mexico continues to be high, two SEATs based at Sierra Blanca Regional Airport are providing some comfort for firefighters and residents alike (6); while Bureau of Land Management firefighters battled a small wildfire near Canon City, Colorado (7). Although Texas Forest Service firefighters received a brief respite from wildfires due to rain, three major blazes continue to burn in that state (8). Reauthorization of several federal fire grant programs ('Assistance to Firefighter Grants', 'Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant', and the 'Fire Prevention and Safety Grants') has been completed by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (9). Authorities estimate that $2.7 million has been spent on suppression efforts in North Carolina's Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (10); while 330 firefighters brought containment of Georgia's 146,000-acre wildfire burning in Okefenokee Swamp to about 50% (11); followed by reflections of a senior firefighter from Alaska's Juneau Ranger District on wildfires in the southeastern part of that state (12). The difficult job of Canadian wildland firefighters is profiled in the next article (13); and an Op-Ed piece from Vancouver, British Columbia, emphasizes the personal responsibility of homeowners in preventing forest fires (14). The Canadian Prime Minister will be touring areas devastated by the recent Alberta wildfires which destroyed nearly 500 structures at Slave Lake (15); while approximately $24 million will be freed up to help survivors with their expenses (16). Another Op-Ed piece draws parallels between the disaster at Slave Lake, Alberta, and a similar near-disaster that was avoided outside of Timmins, Ontario, a year ago (17); three new forest fires being reported in that province yesterday (18). Greece's Environment and Climate Change Ministry stated that it would spend €171.59 million on fire protection throughout that Mediterranean nation (19); while over 7,000 Russian firefighters are battling 450 wildfires that have destroyed 66,000 ha near the Amur River in Siberia (20). Australians living in Sydney, New South Wales, are being told to prepare for smoky skies over the next few days as firefighters ignite 3,000 ha of vegetation in the nearby Blue Mountains (21). And finally, a former Canadian firefighter is attempting to save lives in a whole different way: promoting vegetarianism!
(1) Contractor to Stand Trial for 2008 Fire
(2) Wildfire near Yuma now 50 percent contained
(3) Forest campfire bans lifted as of 8 a.m. today
(4) Fire restrictions in effect for White Mountains
(5) Spared birding 'gem' one bright spot in aftermath of southern Ariz. wildfire
(6) Slurry planes luckily on duty
(7) Firefighters battle small forest fire
(8) Texas Forest Service Back to Fighting Wildfires
(9) US Senator Scott Brown Pushes for Reauthorization of Firefighter, Emergency Responder Programs
(10) So far, official says, cost of N.C. wildfire is $2.7 million
(11) Controlled Burns Protect Park
(12) Wildfires of the rain forest
(13) Fighting forest fires hot, dangerous and dirty work
(14) Take responsibility for forests and know how to prevent fires
(15) Harper to tour Canadian wildfire area
(16) Emergency relief funding first step in recovery for wildfire evacuees
(17) POV: Slave Lake disaster latest reminder of fire's power
(18) MNR fights forest fire west of city
(19) Forest fire protection
(20) Severe forest fires in Russia's Siberian provinces
(21) Smell of smoke lingers in Sydney - but it's nothing to worry about
(22) Former firefighter Rip Esselstyn now saves lives by promoting vegetarianism
A contractor who was considered negligent for failing to extinguish debris burns in California's Santa Cruz Mountains which began a 4,000-acre wildfire that destroyed 132 structures could face jail time (1). A 400-acre wildfire burning on the Arizona side of the Colorado River near Yuma is now 50% contained (2); while precipitation and cooler temperatures are allowing fire agencies to lift the campfire ban in Arizona's Kaibab and Coconino National Forests (3); but warming temperatures in the White Mountains caused officials to impose fire restrictions on visitors to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (4); however, even though the massive wildfire burning in the Chiricahua Mountains is expected to scorch 40,000 acres before it is contained, the birders' paradise of Cave Creek Canyon has been spared (5). As the fire danger in Southeast New Mexico continues to be high, two SEATs based at Sierra Blanca Regional Airport are providing some comfort for firefighters and residents alike (6); while Bureau of Land Management firefighters battled a small wildfire near Canon City, Colorado (7). Although Texas Forest Service firefighters received a brief respite from wildfires due to rain, three major blazes continue to burn in that state (8). Reauthorization of several federal fire grant programs ('Assistance to Firefighter Grants', 'Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant', and the 'Fire Prevention and Safety Grants') has been completed by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (9). Authorities estimate that $2.7 million has been spent on suppression efforts in North Carolina's Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (10); while 330 firefighters brought containment of Georgia's 146,000-acre wildfire burning in Okefenokee Swamp to about 50% (11); followed by reflections of a senior firefighter from Alaska's Juneau Ranger District on wildfires in the southeastern part of that state (12). The difficult job of Canadian wildland firefighters is profiled in the next article (13); and an Op-Ed piece from Vancouver, British Columbia, emphasizes the personal responsibility of homeowners in preventing forest fires (14). The Canadian Prime Minister will be touring areas devastated by the recent Alberta wildfires which destroyed nearly 500 structures at Slave Lake (15); while approximately $24 million will be freed up to help survivors with their expenses (16). Another Op-Ed piece draws parallels between the disaster at Slave Lake, Alberta, and a similar near-disaster that was avoided outside of Timmins, Ontario, a year ago (17); three new forest fires being reported in that province yesterday (18). Greece's Environment and Climate Change Ministry stated that it would spend €171.59 million on fire protection throughout that Mediterranean nation (19); while over 7,000 Russian firefighters are battling 450 wildfires that have destroyed 66,000 ha near the Amur River in Siberia (20). Australians living in Sydney, New South Wales, are being told to prepare for smoky skies over the next few days as firefighters ignite 3,000 ha of vegetation in the nearby Blue Mountains (21). And finally, a former Canadian firefighter is attempting to save lives in a whole different way: promoting vegetarianism!
(1) Contractor to Stand Trial for 2008 Fire
(2) Wildfire near Yuma now 50 percent contained
(3) Forest campfire bans lifted as of 8 a.m. today
(4) Fire restrictions in effect for White Mountains
(5) Spared birding 'gem' one bright spot in aftermath of southern Ariz. wildfire
(6) Slurry planes luckily on duty
(7) Firefighters battle small forest fire
(8) Texas Forest Service Back to Fighting Wildfires
(9) US Senator Scott Brown Pushes for Reauthorization of Firefighter, Emergency Responder Programs
(10) So far, official says, cost of N.C. wildfire is $2.7 million
(11) Controlled Burns Protect Park
(12) Wildfires of the rain forest
(13) Fighting forest fires hot, dangerous and dirty work
(14) Take responsibility for forests and know how to prevent fires
(15) Harper to tour Canadian wildfire area
(16) Emergency relief funding first step in recovery for wildfire evacuees
(17) POV: Slave Lake disaster latest reminder of fire's power
(18) MNR fights forest fire west of city
(19) Forest fire protection
(20) Severe forest fires in Russia's Siberian provinces
(21) Smell of smoke lingers in Sydney - but it's nothing to worry about
(22) Former firefighter Rip Esselstyn now saves lives by promoting vegetarianism
Labels: air-tankers, bushfires, firefighting, forest fires, wildfire news, wildfire news of the day, wildfires
posted by Michael Archer @ 10:58 AM
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