WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 062311

Los Angeles County firefighters extinguished a small, one-acre wildfire above the Southern California community of La Canada (1); but firefighters had a tougher fight on their hands with a 25-acre blaze that burned near Anza (2); while pilots from Ramona Air Attack Base in San Diego County chowed down on pizza after battling a 75-acre wildfire near Inkopah (3). With the arrival of summertime, fire districts in Grant County, Washington, are gearing up for wildfire season (4). Arizona's Wallow Fire is now 61% contained after burning 532,086 acres, threatening 1,551 homes, destroying 32 and damaging 5 (5); where firefighters were hopeful that they could get better containment on the Monument Fire, which has destroyed 57 homes, 42 outbuildings, six businesses and five cars (6); but as evacuees begin to return home, the Arizona Insurance Council reports that damage claims are beginning to appear (7); while the northern part of the state is enjoying a relatively calm fire season (so far) (8). Massive amounts of radio traffic over wildfires in Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas has used up the available radio spectrum, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (9). The US Forest Service announced that fines of $325 would be levied against those who light fires in Colorado's Pikes Peak Ranger District (10); while firefighters had the Duckett Fire 80% contained as of last night (11). A summary of wildfire activity in Texas is up next (12); where firefighters were hoping that they would get some rain to help with wildfires, but not enough to bog down their firefighting equipment (13); but firefighters in Grimes County said that they had 75% containment of a 5,280-acre wildfire that has destroyed 30 homes, two commercial buildings and 35 outbuildings (14); even as firefighters in East Texas got a break due to a decrease in wind, allowing them to begin containing wildfires that have been rampaging through the region (15). Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park have dispatched 64 firefighters from Wyoming to wildfires out of state (16); but as the 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill heads to the U.S. Senate, firefighters in Ohio are worried there will not be enough funds in the Assistance to Firefighters Grant and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response programs this year (17). Arson investigators are looking into a couple of suspicious fires in Madison, New Hampshire (18); while the New Jersey Audubon Society is working with authorities to create fire breaks on 300 acres in the Pine Barrens to better protect homes bordering the forest (19). A West Virginia man could face jail time for wildfires set in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in 2010 (20); meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality was closely monitoring air quality as smoke drifted into the state from North Carolina's wildfires (21); and residents of Charleston, South Carolina, were breathing smoky air from wildfires in Georgia as well (22). An update on wildfire activity in North Carolina is provided by the next article (23); followed by a video segment that touches on the 20,000-acre wildfire burning in Pender County (24); where authorities were sending aircraft to help (25); but a 1,300-acre wildfire that has destroyed three homes and a barn in Bladen County was dampened down by some rain (26). With 380 wildfires burning across Florida, this year is the 11th worst in the past 31 years (27); straining the resources of fire departments in Volusia and Flagler counties (28); prompting some counties to ban fireworks at Fourth of July celebrations (29). Nearly a dozen wildfires have been reported in Northwest Ontario, Canada (30). An Australian children's author has released a sequel to her highly successful Black Saturday book aimed at helping grieving families to cope with losses they suffered in Victoria's disastrous bushfires through Uniting Church of Australia's Share Community Appeal program (31). And finally, we have a head-scratcher from Australia: deadly cyanide poison has been found to stimulate post-bushfire growth of vegetation!

(1) Firefighters make quick work of blaze

(2) UPDATE: Anza Fire Contained

(3) Ramona Air Attack Pilots Enjoy Pizza After Rough Day at Inkopah

(4) Fire districts prepare for wildfire season

(5) Wallow Fire 61% contained, has burned 532,086 acres to date

(6) Calm air, better weather aid firefighters’ efforts

(7) Claims Begin to Trickle in From Arizona Fires

(8) Fire season in Flag enters critical stage

(9) Airwaves used by firefighting aircraft clogged

(10) Forest Service says no more warnings on Pikes Peak fire bans

(11) Firefighters continue to work on Duckett fire

(12) Texas Forest Service: Thursday Wildfire Update

(13) Rain 'mixed blessing' in Texas wildfire fight

(14) Forest Service expects 100 percent containment of Grimes County fire 'soon'

(15) Trent blaze burns 500 acres; progress made on Maryneal fire

(16) Teton Interagency firefighters and equipment respond to large fires in Southwest and Southern states

(17) Firefighters in Valley fear cuts in US grants

(18) NH police chief urges vigilance after many fires

(19) Audubon presents restoration plans

(20) Federal grand jury indicts Hardy County man over forest fire

(21) Air quality moderate in Hampton Roads; Code Orange for N.C.

(22) UPDATE: More smoke from distant wildfires expected today

(23) UPDATE: Forestry: More resources coming in

(24) Blaze in Pender, Onslow counties continues to burn

(25) Aircraft to join fight against Pender wildfire

(26) Rain helps control fire in Bladen County

(27) Fire season one of worst in 31 years

(28) Agencies working together to keep a handle on wildfires, stations staffed

(29) Wildfire risk: Some Central Florida counties ban fireworks

(30) 11 forest fires now burning in Northwest region: MNR

(31) Bushfire book eases grief for disaster victims

(32) Toxic chemical helps bush to thrive