WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 010412

With precipitation at only 19% of normal for this time of year, California faces an increased danger from wildfires statewide (2); and Tangent Link sent along an invitation to their upcoming aerial firefighting conference which takes place in Sacramento towards the end of this month (2). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Chuck Bushey, President of the International Association of Wildland Fire, sent along an invitation on an upcoming webinar that looks at human performance in wildfire-fighting leadership as a prelude to the upcoming Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference due to begin in Seattle, Washington, on April 17th (3); while an associate professor of economics at the University of Nevada takes a look at the economic impact of wildfires, with particular focus on who ultimately pays the bill (4). As marshland caught fire outside of Beaumont yesterday, Texas Forest Service reiterated the increased danger posed by wildfires during the winter months (5); something emphasized by a 10,000-acre wildfire burning near Port Arthur which has covered Galveston County in thick smoke (6); smoke blanketing Houston as well (7); where officials unveiled their new Community Wildfire Protection Plan, joining 15 other counties and 57 communities across the state which have implemented similar plans (8). Chile has reopened Torres del Paine National Park despite the fact that nearly half the park was scorched by recent wildfires (9); some striking photos from the firelines provided by the next item (10); even as police began to investigate several suspicious blazes (11). Homeowners in Wanaka, New Zealand, were evacuated due to a bushfire burning on Mount Iron (12). Firefighters in Victoria battled an 80-hectare bushfire burning near the South Australian border (13); while dozens of firefighters assisted by air-tankers battled a small blaze near Port Augusta, South Australia (14); and as Country Fire Service firefighters roped in a bushfire burning at McLaren Vale, residents were advised that the bushfire threat had eased (15). Rural Fire Service warned homeowners in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, to be prepared for more bushfires despite mild conditions (16). Officials in Queensland are comparing fuel conditions today with those in 2009, when nearly 4,500 bushfires erupted across the state (17); even as campers had to evacuate a campground on Moreton Island due to a 100-hectare bushfire (18). Bushfires NT firefighters are working at a fever pace to head off a bushfire which is only one kilometer away from Northern Territory's Ross River Resort (19). Lightning sparked bushfires near Perth, Western Australia, as a storm front moved through the area (20); while firefighters grappled with another fire burning near the airport that injured one firefighter (21). As Forestry Tasmania lays off firefighters, there is real concern about the impact this will have on the prosecution of future bushfires in that state (22). And finally, firefighters in Austria ran into a deadly hazard while battling a structure fire: a covey of poisonous snakes!

(1) Dry winter poses fire hazard

(2) Aerial Firefighting International Airshow & Conference

(3) Human Performance and Risk Management

(4) Rollins, UNR: The economics of wildfires -- how do we minimize the cost, and who foots the bill?

(5) Beaumont Fires Show That Danger Persists

(6) Smoke blankets county from 10,000 acre wildfire

(7) Smoke from Jefferson County wildfire blows through parts of Houston

(8) New plan aims to prevent wildfires in county

(9) Chilean park hit by wildfire reopens

(10) Chile battles forest fires - in pictures

(11) Chile police investigate 'intentional' forest fires

(12) Bush fire forces families from their homes

(13) Wildfires in Victoria's west

(14) Firefighters battle bush blazes near Port Augusta and Mclaren Vale

(15) Bushfire at McLaren Vale now reduced threat

(16) RFS warns community to be prepared

(17) Conditions spark bushfire concerns

(18) Campers flee bushfire on Moreton Island

(19) Firefighters battle to defend Ross River Resort

(20) Wild weather starts fires and lifts roofs

(21) Firefighters continue to battle Perth fire

(22) Libs fear bushfire threat from peace deal

(23) Snakes scare Austria firefighters into retreat