WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 030612

CAL FIRE will be conducting a wildfire drill in the San Diego County community of Alpine today (1); but the Mormon Church is suing a Nevada contractor over a wildfire which destroyed several buildings at one of their facilities in southern Nevada in 2010 (2). Southern Arizona received a Red Flag warning from the National Weather Service due to high winds in the area (3); while a bill intended to restrict fireworks sales in New Mexico was killed in committee, leaving fire officials worried about fireworks starting more wildfires like the ones last year (4). Firefighters in Oklahoma battled numerous wildfires (5); and continued to monitor the remains of a smoldering wildfire in Okmulgee County as high winds increased the danger it could reignite (6). Firefighters battled wildfires in Morris County, Texas (7); while the efforts of Texas Parks and Wildlife officials in restoring Bastrop State Park to its former glory is covered by the next item (8); even as the Texas Forest Service was running itself ragged dealing with wildfires over the past few days (9). The Arkansas Forestry Commission responded to eight wildfires which burned 53 acres yesterday (10); but after the National Weather Service issued Red Flag warnings for much of the state, Missouri Department of Conservation reminded residents of the fire danger presented by debris burns (11). Firefighters in Colbert County, Alabama, battled a 75-acre wildfire as the fire danger increased in the northwestern part of the state (12). Firefighters managed to rope in a three-acre wildfire which burned in Pennsylvania's Poconos Monday night (13); while the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' Forestry Department will conduct controlled burns on the grounds of Fort Indiantown in Lebanon County (14). Fire crews plan to burn off 225 acres at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts to reduce the wildfire danger (15); while Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dr. Tyler Miller sent along a photo montage of controlled burns from New Jersey (16). Florida Division of Forestry reported a 15-acre wildfire on Garçon Point in Santa Rosa County (17); and a fast-moving wildfire in Southwest Miami-Dade County was quickly squelched by firefighters with assistance from the air (18). Bushfire activity in Western Australia is covered by the next item (19); where some in the government are saying that people who lost property in the Margaret River bushfires should get more compensation from the state (20); even as severe fire warnings were issued for the state capital (21). And finally, one church in Bastrop, Texas, is turning their lemons into lemonade (or in this case, wildfire-charred timber into building materials)!

(1) Wildfire Drill To Be Held In Alpine Today

(2) Mormon Church suing Vegas contractor over wildfire at recreational ranch in southern Nevada

(3) High dust storm, wildfire potential today

(4) Fireworks measure fizzles: Industry pressure kills bill designed to prevent wildfires

(5) Firefighters battling wildfires in area

(6) Okmulgee County Wildfire Continues To Smolder Tuesday

(7) Wildfires blaze in Morris County

(8) Restoring Lost Pines will take years of toil, millions of dollars — and help from landowners

(9) Preventing wildfires

(10) Forestry Commission warns of fire danger

(11) NWS issues Red Flag Warning, be firewise to prevent wildfire

(12) Weather conditions increase risk of wildfires in north Alabama

(13) Forest fire lights up Blue Mountain; investigation likely today

(14) PA Fort Indiantown Gap Begins Prescribed Burns for Wildfire Prevention

(15) AFB Burning Grass To Reduce Wildfire Threat

(16) Controlled burn at Chester's Bamboo Brook

(17) 15-acre wildfire reported on Garcon Point

(18) Firefighters Battle Brush Fire in Southwest Miami-Dade

(19) Bushfire advices issued

(20) McGowan demands more bushfires compo

(21) Severe fire warning for Perth and surrounds

(22) Bastrop church turns charred trees into pieces of recovery