WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 040512

California Public Utilities Commission will give residents of San Diego County the opportunity to speak their mind on San Diego Gas & Electric's proposal to charge ratepayers for wildfire costs today (1); but Oregon Department of Forestry is worried about the fire danger across that state even after rainstorms soaked the area (2). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Chuck Bushey, Past President of the International Association of Wildland Fire, sent along a press release about the IAWF's upcoming 3rd Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference & Exhibit in Seattle, Washington (3); and for those who can't attend the meeting, the next item shows how people can attend through the web (4). With much of Northern Arizona receiving a Red Flag warning from the National Weather Service, the wildfire season is starting early this year (5); meanwhile, firefighters quickly contained a small wildfire outside of Aspen, Colorado (6). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which had more than 1,000 wildfires last year, will be hosting a series of meetings to educate people on property protection (7); but high winds forced firefighters from Montana's Lewis and Clark National Forest to reduce the area burned by a controlled fire (8). Wisconsin's governor toured an area in the northwestern corner of that state to view the wildfire danger from 130,000 acres of blown-down timber (9); even as firefighters in Minnesota snuffed a 50-acre wildfire burning near Plymouth Park (10); and a 40-acre wildfire in Chippewa County, Michigan, destroyed a home (11). Firefighters on the ground and in the air grappled with a wildfire in Berks County, Pennsylvania, yesterday (12); while firefighters for multiple departments battled a large wildfire in Cameron County, as well (13). A five-acre wildfire in rugged terrain near Gilead, Maine, kept firefighters busy yesterday (14); high winds and dry conditions prompting Red Flag warnings for Vermont through the weekend (15); while firefighters battled a small wildfire near Dunbarton, New Hampshire (16); and an eight-acre blaze was reported in White Mountain National Forest (17). Although firefighters aided by National Guard Blackhawk helicopters managed to extinguish a 50-acre wildfire in Brimfield, Massachusetts, concerns of bigger wildfires remain (18); while New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection reminded homeowners that 99% of all wildfires in that state are started by people (19). Firefighters in Central Florida fear that it could be June before they see enough rainfall to lessen the wildfire danger (20); that fact underscored as firefighters continued to battle a 1,000-acre wildfire burning in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (21); authorities from the Caloosahatchee Forestry Center asking the public to keep a sharp eye out for suspicious activity after a number of arson wildfires in Lee and Hendry counties (22); and the Florida Forest Service conducting controlled burns on 360 acres in Jennings State Forest (23); while evacuees were allowed to return home in Volusia County after firefighters corralled a 150-acre wildfire (24). China's State Forestry Administration reported that, although 1,106 wildfires broke out in the first quarter of 2012, that was 64% below the same period in 2011 (25); and as South Korea celebrates Arbor Day, the next article takes a look at how Korea Forest Service deals with wildfires in that Asian nation (26). Australian fire officials warned residents of McMahon's Creek Victoria, that they would experience smoky conditions from a 135-hectare controlled burn being conducted nearby (27); while the fallout from a class-action suit against the Western Australian government over the Margaret River bushfire has residents uncertain about the details of a proposed bushfire compensation plan (28). And finally, Huntsville, Alabama, firefighters came in for a pummeling with water balloons on the Alabama A&M University campus!

(1) Public Utilities Hearing in San Diego Today on SDG&E’s Potential Wildfire Cost Reimbursement

(2) Recent rains have little impact on fire forecast

(3) Explore the Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire

(4) Attend One of the Year's Top Virtual Events

(5) Fire season starts early

(6) Wildfire contained, fire ban announced

(7) Oklahoma City to host meetings on wildfire property protection

(8) Forest Service sets fire to protect Monarch from fire

(9) Walker in NW Wis. for wildfire suppression update

(10) Plymouth Firefighters Assisted At Nearby Grass Fire

(11) Home destroyed in 40 acre wildfire

(12) Firefighters battle brush fire in Berks County

(13) Forest fire scorches areas of Cameron Co.

(14) Maine Firefighters Battle Blaze in Gilead

(15) Wildfire danger elevated in Vt.

(16) Firefighters Battle Brush Fire In Dunbarton

(17) Firefighters douse forest land brush fire

(18) Brimfield brush fire extinguished, but concerns still remain

(19) DEP, Township Warn Of Fire Danger

(20) Front promises rain, but little relief to drought in Central Florida

(21) Brush fire off Alligator Alley grows to 1,000 acres

(22) Suspicious wildfires mounting in Lee, Hendry counties

(23) Prescribed Burns To Help Reduce Wildfires

(24) Wildfires contained, evacuations lifted in Lake, Volusia

(25) China on high alert for forest fires

(26) National tree-planting day and preventing forest fires

(27) Smoke warning for McMahons Creek

(28) Confusion over Margaret River bushfire compo

(29) Huntsville Firefighters Attacked On Alabama A&M University Campus