WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 021412

A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences cited charcoal evidence over a 3,000 year period to underscore the fact that wildfires in the Western US are getting worse (1); even as Pitney Bowes unveiled its new Risk Data Suite Wildfire Bundle, which is intended to help insurance companies with their underwriting considerations in the US (2). A KPCC radio interview with the Vice President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs discusses California's need for federal heavy air-tankers (3); but the elimination of a pair of firefighting helicopters deemed critical for battling wildfires in Northern California drew criticism from local politicians in light of the ongoing debate over replacing the heavy air-tanker fleet (4). A meteorologist from the National Weather Service comments on the wildfire season forecast for Arizona (5); while wrangling over fire safety in New Mexico's Lincoln National Forest has prompted a lawsuit by US Forest Service against Otero County (6). The White House released budget suggestions yesterday which included $4.86 billion in funding for US Forest Service in 2013, a $15.5 million increase from this year's budget (7); followed by an Op-Ed piece from the Washington Post that takes a sarcastic look at the current air-tanker crisis (8). Details of Virginia’s Burn Law, which begins tomorrow, are provided by the next article (9). Firefighters in North Carolina announced full containment on a 73-acre wildfire burning in the Uwharrie National Forest (10); but after reporting over 120 wildfires since last weekend, South Carolina Forestry Commission lifted a Red Flag alert as rainfall drenched fire-prone parts of the state (11); even though fire officials in Horry County imposed a ban on debris burns (12). After a number of wildfires in Callaway, Florida, fire investigators fear that an arsonist is at work (13); and several organizations came together in Alberta, Canada, to discuss plans for the Smoky Wildfire Management Area (14). Fifteen hectares of timber was destroyed by a wildfire in Kenya's Kakamega Forest (15). Southwest China's Guangdong Province is experimenting with a high-tech RFID solution for detecting wildfires in Qingyuan Forest (16); while in the northeast, Liaoning Province will ban organizations employing juveniles to fight forest fires beginning March 1st (17). The risk of wildfires prompted officials in Vietnam to close U Minh Ha forest in Ca Mau Province (18). In Australia, the debate over maintaining a road in Kinglake National Park that saved many lives on Black Saturday is examined by the next article (19); while a new government services facility in Dandenong was built with bushfire-salvaged ash trees damaged by the Black Saturday bushfires (20). La Trobe University’s Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre has teamed up with Rural Fire Service to conduct a Community Bushfire Intentions Survey in New South Wales (21); but a lightning-sparked bushfire in Western Australia, one of 15 reported, has scorched 16,000 ha, filling Perth with smoke (22). And finally, a woman who survived the 2007 wildfires in San Diego County, California, has written an inspirational book about the event!

(1) A look back suggests a sobering future of wildfire dangers in US west

(2) Pitney Bowes Software Launches First U.S. National Wildfire Risk Software Solution for the Insurance Sector

(3) Federal firefighting fleet out of date, and plan for new planes isn't paid for

(4) U.S. Forest Service's plan to replace air tanker fleet draws criticism

(5) Dry winter could bring severe wildfire season

(6) Forest Service sues state, Otero Co.

(7) Obama stresses climate change and clean energy in budget that may be scratch paper for divided Congress

(8) Burning question

(9) Burn Law Goes Into Effect Wednesday

(10) Fire in Uwharrie National Forest contained

(11) Forestry Commission lifts red flag fire alert

(12) HCFR urges residents to refrain from outdoor burning

(13) Investigators suspect arson in recent spate of fires

(14) Wildfire strategy being worked on

(15) Fire destroys section of Kakamega forest

(16) RFID on Lookout for Wildfires in China

(17) Juveniles Banned from Joining Firefighting Efforts

(18) Forest closed to public due to high risk of fire

(19) On track to survive a bushfire

(20) Going green in Dandenong

(21) Survey tackles burning issue in Hornsby and Mt Colah

(22) Perth choked by smoke from South-West bushfire

(23) Wildfire survivor pens spiritual book