WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100111

We lead off wildfire news with a New York Times article that takes a look at the future habitability of earth, which may be determined by the death of forests across the globe, helped along by wildfires (1). Lightning-sparked wildfires were reported near the Southern California community of Palm Springs in the San Jacinto Mountains (2); while a 75-acre wildfire was sparked by lightning outside of the San Diego County community of Sunshine Summit (3); and another 30-acre blaze was reported east of Julian (4). Elsewhere in the state, U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service plan to conduct controlled burns in three sections of the Sierra Nevadas (5); and USFS has also begun controlled burning of over 400 acres as part of the Lake Tahoe Angora Ecosystem Restoration Project (6); while CAL FIRE firefighters and air-tankers responded quickly to a wildfire near Wilbur Springs (7). U.S. Forest Service officials have lifted fire restrictions on Oregon's Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (8); but firefighters reported nine wildfires along the Sierra Nevada Mountains, including a 150-acre blaze in Lyon County, Nevada (9). US Forest Service brought air-tankers into the fight on a 20-acre wildfire in Arizona's Prescott National Forest (10). As lightning sparked a number of new fires, Texans were told that dry, windy conditions will persist for some time, no doubt leading to more wildfires (11); including some in Walker County (12); but the wildfire-ravaged community of Bastrop needed help from volunteers to clean up the mess, something their homeowners insurance wouldn't pay for (13); and as USFS's newest heavy air-tanker, Tanker 40, begins operations in Texas, Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Snyder, President of Montana-based Neptune Aviation, commenting on plans to replace their entire P-2V fleet with BAE-146 aircraft (14). The Kentucky Division of Forestry reminded homeowners of fire restrictions which will run through December 15th (15); while Wildfire NOTD subscriber Chuck Bushey, President of the International Association of Wildland Fire, sent along an invitation to a National Transportation and Safety Board public forum in Washington, DC, concerning oversight of public aircraft operations within the US, including all aircraft operated by US federal, state, or local governments on wildland fires (16). A 160-acre grass fire was ignited by bailing equipment outside of the Canadian town of Okotoks, Alberta (17); followed by recollections by a firefighter from Thunder Bay, Ontario, about his "scary" experience of being cut off by a wildfire this past summer (18). In Southern Europe, wildfires continued to burn across Spain, Portugal, and Greece (19); even as approximately 1,500 Russians continued to battle a 173-hectare wildfire burning outside of the Eastern Siberian city of Bratsk, President Dmitry Medvedev turning up the heat on local officials to resolve the situation more quickly (20). A first-person perspective on rampant wildfires deliberately set by farmers in Indonesia is up next (21). Heading to Australia, fire officials urged residents of the Melbourne, Victoria, suburbs to prepare for the bushfire season (22); while several bushfires continued to burn across Central Queensland, one of which that threatened homes finally being contained (23). A radio segment provides information from Bushfires NT on blazes near Alice Springs, Northern Territory (24); and a 2,650-hectare bushfire burning in Western Australia's Millstream Chichester National Park has finally been brought to heel (25).

(1) With Deaths of Forests, a Loss of Key Climate Protectors

(2) Lightning sparks blaze in San Jacinto Mountains

(3) Lightning sparks 75-acre wildfire San Diego county

(4) Brush Fire Burns East of Julian Community

(5) Several planned fires set for Sierra forest

(6) Forest Service crews to start burning in Angora fire area

(7) Firefighters respond to blaze near Wilbur Springs

(8) Fire officials ease restrictions in national forests

(9) Wildfire threatens several homes in Nevada

(10) Lookout fire reignites south of Prescott

(11) Texas Wildfires Still Raging: 5000 Acres NE of Abilene

(12) Firefighters quickly control Friday fire

(13) Volunteers needed for Bastrop fire debris removal

(14) Jet tanker dispatched to aid in East Texas firefighting efforts

(15) Forest fire season begins this weekend

(16) NTSB Plans a Public Forum

(17) Firefighters battle grass fire through night

(18) Trapped overnight by a forest fire

(19) EFFIS - Current Situation

(20) Kremlin furious as forest fires rage in Siberia

(21) Why Indonesia cannot stop the fires and haze

(22) Living in a danger zone

(23) Bushfire near Qld homes contained

(24) Latest from the Emergency Operations Centre

(25) Millstream bushfire under control