WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 101811

With the onset of cooler weather, firefighters in California's Mendocino National Forest are beginning their prescribed burns (1); but the ongoing battle between US Forest Service and a Washington state fire district over access to a rural fire station is examined by the next article (2). In Colorado, the Boulder County Mountains Forest Improvement District initiative could help protect residents of that wildfire-stricken region (3); while the new supervisor of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests provided some insight on her plans for the 2.5 million acre forest (4). The DC-10 was center stage during a hearing called by Homeland Security Oversight Committee Chair Michael McCaul in Austin, Texas, yesterday, in which the federal response to the Texas wildfires of a few weeks ago was being discussed, as the next two articles show (5)(6); US Forest Service providing a press release, in which Tom Harbour and other USFS personnel answered questions about their response to the wildfires in that state (7); but FEMA paperwork dogged officials trying to cope with the crisis (8); and after spending over $300 million to suppress wildfires throughout the state, Texas is now asking the federal government for $200 million to defray their costs (9); but although recent rains have allowed officials to lift the burn ban in 17 counties, 230 still must retain them (10). A trio of singing groups from the University of Texas will come together for a musical benefit to wildfire survivors (11). As firefighters continued to increase containment of the massive wildfire burning in Minnesota's Superior National Forest, some areas are reopening to the public (12); but a house fire became a wildfire due to strong winds near Lake Lansing, Michigan (13). A $10,000 reward has been posted by Louisiana's Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner in regards to a 5,000-acre wildfire that was deliberately set in early September in Natchitoches Parish (14); while the National Fire Protection Association briefed Congress on the importance of Firewise Communities at a hearing in Washington DC (15). Numerous wildfires were reported in Spain and Portugal (16); and a wind-driven wildfire has scorched 77 mi.² of a Bosnian nature reserve (17). In Australia, a Country Fire Authority volunteer has admitted starting nine bushfires in the Mt. Evelyn, Victoria, area (18); but confusion surrounds a revision to the Bushfire At-Risk Register, regarding more than two dozen schools which were removed from receiving early bushfire danger warnings in that state (19). A striking NASA photograph snapped from space shows bushfires burning across Central Australia (20); while fire officials in South Australia plan to light 125 fires to treat 19,000 ha to reduce the bushfire danger (21); even as a 5 ha bushfire has been reported burning near Spring Mountain Conservation Park (22). And finally, some atypical wildfire evacuees got to return home in New Mexico: five black bears!

(1) Prescribed burning season begins on Mendocino National Forest

(2) Wash. Fire District Sues Forest Service Again

(3) Guest opinion: Mountain community will gain with 5C

(4) Farnsworth’s forest

(5) Feds will consider faster response to Texas wildfires

(6) Congressional leaders examine wildfire response

(7) US Forest Service Fire Dir. Cites Cooperation with Texas in Recent Wildfires

(8) Texas official: FEMA bureaucracy was ‘convoluted, time-consuming’ during wildfire response

(9) Texas Seeks $200 Million in U.S. Aid to Lower Cost of Fighting Wildfires

(10) Burn bans still in effect in all Deep East Texas counties

(11) A capella groups perform together for wildfire benefit

(12) Areas reopened on Superior National Forest

(13) Firefighters bring wind-blown fire near Lake Lansing under control

(14) Reward offered for information on the Sept. Natchitoches Parish wildfire

(15) NFPA's Firewise Program Participates in Congressional Briefing

(16) EFFIS - Current Situation

(17) Wildfire scorches Bosnia's main nature reserve

(18) CFA volunteer deliberately started fires, court told

(19) Code Red: No early warning for schools

(20) Australia Bush Fires Show Little Sign Of Abating

(21) Fires to be lit in SA to cut fuel loads

(22) Bushfire burning out of control on Fleurieu Peninsula

(23) Dozens of bears orphaned by NM fire being returned to wild