WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102411

A heavy air attack assisted firefighters on the ground in knocking down a wildfire that burned 3 to 4 acres in the Southern California community of Lakeview Terrace (1); but two firefighters were injured battling a 35-acre wildfire burning in Frazier Park (2); even as CAL FIRE assisted Riverside City firefighters in battling a blaze that burned between 20 and 30 acres near the University of California, Riverside, campus (3). An Op-Ed piece from a Natural Resource Specialist with University of Nevada Cooperative Extension discusses the Nevada Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Summit (4); while firefighters battled a five-acre wildfire in Colorado's DeBeque-Plateau Valley (5); and a wildfire was reported in Utah's Richardson Flat area (6). Although fighters in Shawnee, Oklahoma, know that recent wildfires have strained their budgets, a tally of the actual cost has yet to be done (7). Firefighters finally contained a 225-acre wildfire which had been burning in Hardin County, Texas (8); but the Texas Workforce Commission is asking the US Department of Labor for additional funds to pay for temporary jobs in counties hard-hit by wildfires (9); and estimating it will take 50 years for the damage from wildfires to Bastrop State Park to fully regenerate, a multiagency environmental response task force will be informing the public of efforts to heal the damage (10); while University of Texas students are stepping in to help wildfire survivors in Bastrop County (11). Wildfire NOTD subscriber John Bennett, a former fire captain with US Forest Service, currently an instructor at Rio Hondo Fire Academy, sent along an article about the Permian Basin Firemen's Fund, a nonprofit started by firefighters to help volunteer fire departments in Texas with the expenses of fighting wildfires (12). Montana's Gallatin National Forest reported a small human-caused wildfire near Hyalite Reservoir Dam (13); the next article focusing on the impact of wildfires on water drainage in the Bitterroot National Forest (14); while USFS aviation head Tom Harbour provides a detailed look at Forest Service plans to augment the current fleet of heavy air-tankers nationwide (15). Firefighters in Wisconsin battled a five-acre wildfire burning in Lincoln County (16). A new Spanish university study published in the journal Climatic Change takes a look at fire activity in the province of Valencia, providing detailed information on wildfires in the Mediterranean Basin (17); meanwhile, an arsonist who lit nearly a score of wildfires was arrested by Guardia Civil Nature Protection Service in Bayarcal (18). Dozens of people were evacuated from their homes in Western Galilee, Israel, after a spate of some 40 wildfires over the weekend (19). Four wildfires burning in Russia's Far East have all been extinguished (20); and Russian Helicopters is in negotiations with China over the sale of some Ka-32A11BC helicopters for wildland firefighting (21). In Australia, there were concerns that Victoria's government was watering down their controversial bushfire buyback program (22); where the Whittlesea Council is concerned over perceived inaccuracies in bushfire maps issued by Country Fire Authority (23); but to help residents of that region prepare for bushfires, the National Rural Women’s Coalition and Network plans to put on a program: Weather the Storm – Women Prepare (24). A popular tramway in New South Wales' Blue Mountains was threatened by an arson bushfire (25); while a multimillion dollar class-action suit has been filed against New South Wales by survivors of a devastating 2001 bushfire (26). FESA is reevaluating the benefits of a beefed-up aerial firefighting contingent in Western Australia (27); where they could probably use more aircraft right now, as lightning strikes along the Coongan River have prompted officials to issue bushfire warnings (28). And finally, four year olds received a surprise visitor in Willows, California: Smokey Bear!

(1) Brush Fire in Lake View Terrace is Hit Hard and Fast

(2) Two Firefighters Hurt Battling California Wildfire

(3) RIVERSIDE: Firefighters responding to brush fire

(4) Opinion: Why Nevadans do nothing about wildfire threat

(5) Firefighters battle wildfire in DeBeque

(6) Crews responding to Richardson Flat wildfire

(7) The costs of recent wildfires immense

(8) Update: Kountze Fire Contained

(9) Texas Digest: State asks for temporary job aid for wildfire counties

(10) Environmental task force examines impact of wildfires

(11) Longhorns help wildfire victims not reached by FEMA

(12) New nonprofit hopes to help area firefighters

(13) Human-caused fire sparks near Hyalite Reservoir Dam

(14) Changing landscapes: Skalkaho wildfires may create drainage problems next spring

(15) U.S. Forest Service looks to add more air tankers to fight wildfires

(16) Fire burns five acres near Tomahawk

(17) Forest fires are becoming larger and more frequent

(18) Man arrested for starting forest fires in Bayarcal

(19) Dozens of fires break out in northern Israel

(20) Firefighters extinguish all forest fires in Russia’s Far East

(21) New Russian rotorcraft delivered to Chinese aviation market

(22) Blow for fire victims as buyback scheme is watered down

(23) Misleading bushfire maps need work, says council

(24) Program helps women prepare for bushfire season

(25) Fears of arson as bushfire shuts down Blue Mountains scenic rail

(26) Black Christmas victims sue state over fire failures

(27) Minister buoys aerial hopes

(28) Fire continues to burn near Marble Bar

(29) Smokey, U.S. Forest Service explain fire prevention