WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 110211

In conjunction with the two articles submitted in yesterday's issue by Wildfire NOTD subscriber Jon Keeley, a Research Ecologist with USGS Western Ecological Research Center, another article discusses the importance that fuel breaks allow the access of firefighters to better control wildfires in the region (1); where several counties are on high fire alert as Santa Ana winds arrive in the region (2); Orange County Fire Authority reporting a wind-driven wildfire that broke out in Brea early this morning (3); this at a time when a pair of fire commanders from France were visiting the U.S. Forest Service Tanker Base in San Bernardino (4); wind warnings prompting CAL FIRE to raise its readiness level in San Diego County as well (5); even as U.S. Forest Service contemplated burning 500 acres in the Cleveland National Forest near Alpine (6); while CAL FIRE firefighters brought a 90-acre wildfire that burned several structures north of Napa to 50% containment (7). Several state and federal agencies are teaming up to present a FireWise program to residents of North Bend, Washington, on Saturday (8); but looking back on the 2011 fire season in which 417,458 acres burned, officials in Nevada realize just how bad it could have been (9). The impact of cattle grazing in reducing fine fuels is being researched by New Mexico State University (10). The impact of wildfires on the Texas economy was examined by two committees from the state Senate (11); as volunteers at several football games plan to collect donations for the United Way Capital Area Central Texas Wildfire Relief Fund this weekend (12). Precipitation helped firefighters corral a 625-acre wildfire burning in southwest South Dakota yesterday (13); but arson investigators feel that several wildfires which scorched 5,000 acres in Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest were deliberately set (14). Reconstruction on a Cherokee National Forest lookout tower in Tennessee is chronicled by the next article (15); while rainfall is expected to douse a wildfire which has burned between 45 and 60 acres on the grounds of Fort Benning, Georgia (16). Arson investigators in Alberta, Canada, are faced with the daunting task of trying to prove the Slave Lake wildfire was deliberately set (17); that story followed by one about a radio station which was temporarily knocked off the air during that wildfire in May, but survived to broadcast another day (18). An animated NASA video highlights the recent history of bushfires in Australia as recounted by Australian Geographic (19); while Country Fire Authority and PETA provided tips to pet owners in suburban Melbourne, Victoria, on how to keep track of their charges during bushfires (20); and the odd phenomenon of bushfire tourism in New South Wales' Blue Mountains is examined by the next article (21). While urging Western Australian landowners to prepare for bushfires season, officials in Donnybrook-Balingup reminded them that burn permits are required henceforth (22); even as firefighters from FESA were mopping up a three-hectare bushfire near Denmark (23). And finally, the next time you want to convey a fire safety message to kids, invite a few clowns!

(1) Fuel Break Effectiveness in Southern California Depends on Firefighter Access

(2) Red Flag Warning Issued, High Fire Risk

(3) Wildfire erupts in Santa Ana winds

(4) Vigilance at Tanker Base for Mountains and Passes, Red Flag Warning Issued

(5) Cal Fire Adds More Resources in Ramona for Critical Fire Conditions

(6) Prescribed fires planned for Cleveland forest

(7) Napa County Wildfire Destroys Home; Evacuations In Place

(8) Free Workshop on Preparing for Wildfires

(9) 2011 Reno-Tahoe fire season had potential for 'a lot worse'

(10) NMSU grazing research could influence wildfire management strategies

(11) Wildfires, drought will plague Texas economy

(12) CCISD volunteers to collect wildfire donations at this weekend’s football games

(13) Crews control wildfire in southwest South Dakota

(14) Arson suspected in Mark Twain National Forest fire

(15) Reconstruction complete on Pinnacle fire tower near Unicoi

(16) Wildfire near Sand Hill under control

(17) Arson fires among hardest crimes to solve

(18) The Lake Rises From Wildfire Ashes

(19) History of bushfires in Australia

(20) Hills residents warned about pets and bushfires

(21) Bushfire threat attracts tourists to Blue Mountains: industry chief

(22) Prepare now for bushfires

(23) Firefighters mop up Denmark fire

(24) Firefighting clowns present message of fire safety