WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101011

Wildfire NOTD subscriber John Bennett, a former U.S. Forest Service captain and current instructor at the Rio Hondo Fire Academy, sent along an article about the dedication of the California Wildland Firefighter Memorial on Ortega Highway in Southern California Saturday (1); but five years after the deadly Esperanza Fire which killed five US Forest Service firefighters near Cabazon, funding to remove dead and dying trees from the San Bernardino National Forest is dropping off (2). Arizona's Prescott National Forest plans to begin controlled burns of 450 acres tomorrow (3); while scientists believe that the ecology of New Mexico's Jemez Mountains may change from forest to scrub due to recent wildfires (4). A public service announcement underscores the fact that three-quarters of all Texas fire departments that have fought wildfires in that state are staffed by volunteers who pay much of the cost from their own pockets (5). Bastrop County, Texas, officials will hold a community meeting tonight to discuss recovery from the wildfires that have devastated that region (6); even as a homeowner whose place was destroyed by those wildfires is running upwards of 50 miles a day to raise money for wildfire relief (7); and after distributing $900,000 in aid, FEMA's Wildfire Recovery Assistance officials are urging more Texans to apply for help (8). A wildfire which has burned 145 mi.² in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is now 80% contained (9); while elsewhere in the state, a 28,828-acre wildfire burning in Roseau County is now 85% contained after a little assistance from precipitation (10). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources firefighters quickly knocked down a two-acre wildfire which had briefly closed a highway (11). Fire officials reminded homeowners in Louisiana of the ongoing wildfire danger (12); firefighters in Virginia doing much the same (13); and firefighters will be conducting live fire training near the University of North Carolina-Greensboro this week (14). Although the threat from a 200 km² wildfire burning in Manitoba, Canada, has diminished for the towns of Woodridge, Caliento and Lonesand, evacuation orders remained in place for residents of Sandilands (15); while a documentarian discusses his latest project from Ontario: Wildfires! A Firefighting Adventure in 4D (16). The next article takes a closer look at the European Forest Fire Networks Project, a program launched a year ago which aims to share best practices in dealing with wildfires in Europe (17); a hot topic in the south right now, where dozens of wildfires were reported in Spain, Portugal, and Italy (18). After losing an average of 420,000 hectares of forests annually through uncontrolled wildfires, government officials in the African nation of Tanzania are trying to put a stop to the trend (19); but a malfunctioning tractor apparently sparked a large wildfire which forced the evacuation of hundreds in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province (20). Winds made for a difficult bushfire fight at the mouth of New Zealand's Rangitata River (21). A new bushfire-resistant window able to withstand heat up to BAL 40 has been unveiled by an Australian company (22); while a historic trestle which was destroyed by the Black Saturday bushfires will be rebuilt with the help of $405,000 in donations (23); but Victoria's Fire Services Commissioner urged homeowners living in high bushfire danger areas to leave early rather than depending on bushfire sanctuaries for safety (24). Wind-driven bushfires outside of Woodstock, Queensland, threatened homes (25). Two dozen bushfire researchers will come together in Perth, Western Australia, this week for a two-day conference organized by the WA Bushfire Research Forum (26); the mayor of one town welcoming a report on how local government can assist with bushfire emergencies (27). And finally, Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters assisted San Dimas Fire Department firefighters in a rescue that was really for the birds!

(1) Fallen firefighters honored at California Wildland Firefighter Memorial

(2) Five years after Esperanza wildfire, prevention efforts faltering

(3) Prescribed burn south of Prescott could start Tuesday

(4) Experts: Ponderosa may be gone in Jemez Mountains after Las Conchas fire

(5) PSA Campaign Featuring Emmy-Award Winning Actor Kyle Chandler Launches

(6) Bastrop County plans wildfires recovery meeting

(7) Man runs for Bastrop wildfire victims

(8) FEMA urges wildfire victims to seek aid

(9) Northern Minn. wildfire now 80 percent contained

(10) 'Juneberry 3' wildfire in northwest Roseau County drawing to end

(11) Forest Fire Temporarily Shuts Down Wisconsin Highway

(12) Wildfire Safety

(13) Wildfire season brings up safety concerns

(14) Firefighters Conducting Live Fire Training near UNCG

(15) Threat eases but wildfires still burn in Manitoba

(16) ENT: Science in the North - The making of Wildfires! A Firefighting Adventure in 3D

(17) Euro project to tackle forest fires

(18) EFFIS - Current Situation

(19) Grave concern over rampant forest fires

(20) Hundreds evacuated for grassland fire in NE China

(21) Firefighters battle windy conditions

(22) Viridian launches PyroGuard 40 bushfire resistant glass

(23) Cash will ensure Beech Creek's 'special' trestles rise again

(24) Stay and risk death: Fire Services Commissioner's bushfire message

(25) Tiny north Queensland town on alert as bushfire spares houses

(26) Forum targets bushfire planning

(27) Mayor welcomes bushfire review

(28) Firefighters rescue trapped owl in San Dimas