WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 012812

The tricky topic of maintaining Southern California's Highway 39, which provides firefighters with access to the Angeles National Forest during forest fires, leads off wildfire news today (1); meanwhile, Red Flag warnings remain in place across Orange County (2); and US Forest Service plans to conduct numerous controlled burns around Lake Tahoe, California, next week (3). Now that the details on Arizona's landmark Four Forest Restoration Initiative are in place, it's up to US Forest Service to do their part to get the wildfire prevention program rolling (4); but facing a potential catastrophe due to acres of beetle-killed trees, Brownsville Volunteer Fire Department in South Dakota is considering establishing a fire protection fee before they go bankrupt (5). Despite the fact there's been snowfall in the northern part of Missouri, milder temperatures will lead to a heightened wildfire danger later this weekend (6); while FEMA has provided nearly $75,000 to Freetown, Massachusetts, to help with the purchase of a new forest patrol vehicle (7). A 20-acre wildfire was burning out of control in Clay County, according to Florida Forest Service (8); but light rainfall assisted firefighters battling a 150-acre wildfire outside of Ormond Beach (9). In Canada, a controversial logging plan intended to create fire breaks to protect Bragg Creek, Alberta, from wildfires was the topic of discussion at a meeting this week (10); while private forest owners in the African nation of Uganda estimate that they lost 1.5 billion shillings (about $600,000) worth of timber in recent wildfires in Hoima district (11). A 50-hectare bushfire was reported on Mount Beckworth near Clunes in Victoria, Australia (12); the following article chronicling some of the missteps which have hobbled recovery for Black Saturday survivors (13). Numerous lightning-sparked bushfires were reported across Western Australia (14); while residents of Roleystone and Kelmscott reflected on the approaching anniversary of a bushfire that razed 72 homes in their neighborhoods (15). The Tasmanian Fire Service reported bushfires outside of Powranna and George Town (16). And finally, kids in Tempe, Arizona, will be learning how to exercise like a firefighter next week!

(1) Caltrans wants to abandon cliff-hanging Highway 39

(2) High winds raise wildfire danger

(3) Controlled burns may bring smoky conditions in Lake Tahoe

(4) U.S. must clear step to launch forest project

(5) Brownsville Fire Dept. looks to establish tax district

(6) Chilly and damp tonight, wildfire danger Saturday

(7) Grant will help replace Freetown fire apparatus

(8) Crews battle Clay County brush fire

(9) Rain small help to wildfire

(10) Big turnout for Bragg Creek meeting

(11) Fire destroys 300 acres of forests in Hoima

(12) Fire crews battle bushfire around Waubra

(13) Roadblocks to recovery for Black Saturday bushfire survivors

(14) Firefighters tackle lightning blazes

(15) Year of living in fear

(16) North Tas bushfire situation

(17) Kids: Get fit with firefighters