WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 082311

Wildfires in Southern California's Inland Empire closed Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass and forced the evacuation of 50 homes near Perris (1); the fire in Cajon Pass now estimated to be 60% contained after burning 400 acres (2). Highway 395 was closed briefly as wildfires burned in several parts of Oregon (3); Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center providing more information on them, including a 700-acre blaze near Madras (4); while a man visiting Yamhill County may have to pay fire suppression costs for a wildfire he started with fireworks (5); and to counter an increased wildfire danger in Jackson and Josephine counties, Oregon Department of Forestry has increased fire restrictions on local industry (6). Firefighters brought containment on a 458-acre wildfire burning near Leavenworth, Washington, up to 90% (7); while a 400-acre wildfire burning near Grand Coulee Dam forced evacuation advisories (8); and another small wildfire was reported in northwest Spokane (9). Arizona's governor will be present at the reopening of the Big Lake Recreation Area, which was threatened by the Wallow Fire (10). Firefighters battled a 120-acre wildfire burning on the northwest side of Idaho National Laboratory Monday (11); while firefighters gained the upper hand on multiple lightning-sparked wildfires that burned 4,000 acres between them in southern Idaho (12); all the wildfire activity prompting fire officials to warn visitors to the Boise National Forest about the wildfire danger (13). Due to increased wind and temperatures across the region, the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center raised the wildfire danger indicators for much of Colorado, as well as western Kansas, western Nebraska, western South Dakota, and pretty much all of Wyoming (14). Texas Forest Service was one of several agencies responding to a 250-acre wildfire in Harrison County (15); while three firefighters suffered heat-related injuries at a wildfire outside of Wichita Falls (16); but two wildfires sparked on the grounds of Fort Hood by training exercises over the weekend have burned through 8,000 acres so far (17). A wildfire in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest has burned 1,800 acres (18); and a 6,000-acre wildfire burning near Wheatland is now 20% contained (19). A number of new wildfires have cropped up across Montana (20); while in Louisiana, the parishes of Caddo and Bossier have declared a state of emergency due to drought and wildfires (21). Firefighters snuffed a two-acre wildfire burning in Botetourt County, Virginia, last night (22); followed by an article about the ecological benefits of the 6,000-acre wildfire burning in the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Reserve (23). British Columbia, Canada's, Forest Service firefighters eliminated a small wildfire burning in the Chilliwack River Valley (24); while another article takes a look at that province's quietest fire season in a decade (25); but Ontario has broken a different kind of record, after seeing 706 fires burn 622,029 hectares (26). In the Mediterranean basin, wildfires were reported in Spain, Italy, Albania, Cyprus, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Bosnia, as well as the North African nations of Algeria and Tunisia (27). Heading to Australia, New South Wales' Mid North Coast Bush Fire will declare September 1 the beginning of the Bush Fire Danger Period (28); nevertheless, recent rain has bought residents a little time to better prepare for the inevitable bushfires of summer (29). Queensland Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents of that state to familiarize themselves with the bushfire warning system (30); while Fire and Emergency Services Authority provided updates on bushfire activity in Western Australia (31); Northern Territory Emergency Services putting Darwin and other communities on high bushfire alert (32). And finally, firefighters in Michigan performing a live-fire exercise on an unoccupied house also got to perform the rescue of the raccoon family living inside!

(1) 3 Inland Empire blazes burn nearly 500 acres, force evacuations

(2) Wildfire near Cajon Pass about 60% contained

(3) Fire burns in Harney County

(4) New Wildfire Ignites Near Madras

(5) Sheriff: Man may have to pay for firefighting costs

(6) New fire-prevention rules hit logging, commercial operations

(7) Tumwater Canyon fire contained; another fire starts

(8) Wildfire prompts evacuation advisory near Grand Coulee

(9) Crews battle wildfire in NW Spokane

(10) Big Lake hosts governor for reopening ceremony

(11) Firefighters battle wildfire on northwest side of INL site

(12) Weekend Lightning Sparks Series of Wildfires

(13) What's expected for this year's Wildfire Season

(14) Wildfire "preparedness level" rises in Rocky Mountain region

(15) 250-acre pine plantation burns

(16) 3 firefighters suffer heat injuries at Texas fire

(17) Firefighters still battling dual Fort Hood fires

(18) Fire burns 1,800 acres

(19) Squaw Rock fire burns 6,000 acres; fire 20 percent contained

(20) Wildfires reported in Carbon County and north of Shepherd

(21) Wildfires: Caddo, Bossier Parishes declare state of emergency

(22) Fire crews fight small forest fire at Carvin's Cove Monday night

(23) A positive Dismal Swamp wildfire story

(24) Crews snuff out forest fire near Slesse Creek

(25) Rainy summer limits B.C. forest fires

(26) Northwestern Ontario breaks 50-year forest fire record

(27) EFFIS - Current Situation

(28) Bushfire warning

(29) Rain gives time for bush fire prep

(30) Get to know fire warning system

(31) Manari Road bushfire information

(32) Catastrophic fire danger warning for Top End

(33) TAYLOR: Practice exercise for firefighters turns into raccoon rescue