WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101311

The battle between US Forest Service and environmentalists over the use of fire retardant on wildfires has led to the issuing of thousands of maps by USFS in an effort to identify at-risk areas (1). Santa Ana winds complicated the fight against a wildfire in the Southern California community of Escondido that burned 5 acres yesterday (2); but weather permitting, US Forest Service will begin controlled burns in the Tahoe National Forest near where the Angora Fire burned (3). Texas Forest Service reminded residents of that state that this is Fire Prevention Month, as the wildfire danger continued despite cooler temperatures (4); where another insurance company has been hard hit by wildfire claims (5); but students and faculty from the University of Texas at Austin have volunteered time to help wildfires survivors in Bastrop County (6); even as a surprise drill by Austin Fire Department tested the reactions of a homeowner on what to do if a wildfire threatened his property (7). In Victoria, Australia, Towong Shire Council has procured a new a communications network and monitoring service for bushfire detection and response services (8); where that state's government unveiled a $1.5 million pilot project to evaluate bushfire bunkers, although folks in the northeast fear they may be left out of the program (9). And finally, the misadventures of a trailer thief sparked a wildfire in Smith County, Texas!

(1) Officials: Maps should curb retardant damage

(2) Brush Fire Sparks Up Near Zoo Safari Park

(3) Prescribed fires planned at Lake Tahoe, Stateline

(4) Wildfire Danger Still High Despite Cooler Temperatures

(5) XL seeing red from a string of disasters

(6) Wildfires subside but support continues

(7) AFD surprise wildfire drill tests man

(8) Voice1Direct (ETR:V0D) Responds to Local Shire Council Bushfire Detection Wireless Network Request

(9) No refuge in the North East

(10) Stolen trailer sparks wildfire