WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 120611

California has decided to transfer 1,500 inmate firefighters from state prisons to county jails, which could have serious implications for wildfires in 2013 (1); but Los Angeles County Fire Department, which has its own inmate firefighters, is in discussions with LA County Sheriff's Department about the fate of its share of these firefighting inmates (2); and all of them may be needed soon as Santa Ana winds returned to Southern California (3); gusty winds and low humidity causing CAL FIRE officials to issue burn bans in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties as well (4). With snow on the ground, fire managers in Arizona's Prescott National Forest will begin burning debris piles (5); while in Boise, Idaho, US Forest Service reiterated their bid for Firm Fixed Price Multi-Year RFPs related to Next Generation Airtanker Services (6). The impact of budget cuts on the 879 volunteer fire departments across Texas is examined by the next article (7); even as Hallsville will be hosting a “Wildfire: Ready, Set, Go! Outreach Program” event in hopes of keeping the number of wildfires in the area to a minimum (8); while FEMA’s Wildfire Recovery Assistance program has been extended once again, this time until January 6th (9); however, the financial impact of drought and wildfires across the state have caused Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials to launch a campaign soliciting donations in order to keep state parks operating (10); but at least some rain has arrived, allowing 20 counties to lift their burn bans (11). Gallatin National Forest, in conjunction with officials from Bozeman, Montana, has unveiled a plan for reducing wildfires around watershed areas (12); and even though a wildfire last month scorched 1,500 acres of Illinois' Pere Marquette State Park, the park has reopened for hunting season (13). The Arkansas Forestry Commission announced that it will be laying off three dozen workers due to a $4 million shortfall in its budget (14); while firefighting is becoming a political issue in Tennessee, where an Op-Ed piece attacks a US Congressman for his statements on educating young people about forest fires (15). The co-author of Salvage Logging and Its Ecological Consequences discusses the misconception that beetle-killed forests in British Columbia, Canada, are dead in the next item (16). A story from the African nation of Malawi examines the impact of wildfires on state-owned timber plantations (17); but four arson bushfires near Kaipara, New Zealand, have prompted officials to ask for the public's help in catching the arsonist (18). Lawyers for 30 landholders who suffered losses from a Black Saturday bushfire sparked by Australian power utility PowerCor's equipment are hoping that mediation will bring a quick financial settlement (19); while a Country Fire Authority firefighter who lit nine bushfires in Victoria is appealing his sentence (20). Western Australia's newly appointed Emergency Services Minister plans to implement more of the recommendations of an independent panel in the aftermath of the Margaret River bushfire, a runaway controlled burn which destroyed dozens of homes (21). And finally, the Force was with Texas wildfire evacuees in Austin who were visited by Star Wars characters!

(1) Calif. inmate shift could hurt firefighting crews

(2) County fire says inmate firefighting reduction won't affect local areas

(3) As Santa Ana Winds Bring Wildfire Risk to Southern California, IBHS Offers Important Tips to Reduce Wildfire Losses

(4) ‘Extreme Menace of Wildfire’ Prompts Fire Ban

(5) Firefighters to start burning slash piles

(6) Next Generation Airtankers

(7) Texas leans on volunteer firefighters

(8) Hallsville Wildfire readiness program in January

(9) FEMA extends wildfire aid deadline

(10) Texas state parks reeling after drought, wildfires

(11) Rains, cooler temps ease wildfire concerns

(12) Forest Service And City Of Bozeman Release Bozeman Municipal Watershed Final Decision

(13) Hunting area reopens after Illinois wildfire

(14) UPDATE State Forestry Commission to lay off 36 workers

(15) Scott DesJarlais Thinks Forest Fire Prevention Is Inappropriate, Issues-Oriented Advocacy

(16) 'Dead' pine forests very much alive

(17) Massive malpractices exposed at Viphya – Audit report

(18) Fire bug puts lives at risk

(19) Lawyers hope for quick settlement of bushfire case

(20) CFA volunteer who lit nine bushfires appeals sentence

(21) Questions remain over bushfire: Buswell

(22) Star Wars characters patrol the Norris Conference Center to help wildfire victims