WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 040712

Despite efforts by US Forest Service to rehabilitate portions of Southern California's Angeles National Forest devastated by 2009's Station Fire by planting nearly a million trees, many of the seedlings have died (2); even as Los Angeles County Fire Department quickly snuffed a small wildfire reported in Valencia (2). The next article takes a look at wildfire activity across Colorado (3); where, after seeing what happened in Jefferson County, residents of Eagle County are being advised on how best to prepare for wildfires (4); while US Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Coordination Center said that firefighting resources, including air-tankers, have been beefed up across the state (5); nevertheless, a new blaze was reported near Gunnison (6); and a small wildfire was also reported on the western edge of Fort Carson along Highway 115 (7); while a 6-acre blaze was reported in Jefferson County as well (8). A wildfire near Sunbird, Minnesota, blazed across nearly 200 acres (9). A number of wildfires broke out across Pennsylvania (10); including one that burned between 5 and 10 acres in Franklin County (11). Towns in the mid-Atlantic and southern parts of New England are under a high alert due to the wildfire danger through Sunday (12); while an update was provided on two wildfires that burned approximately 400 acres in the New Jersey pinelands Friday (13); smoke from one burning near Winslow forcing closure of the West Fleming Pike to motorists (14). More areas in Georgia's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge have reopened following massive wildfires there in 2011 (15). West Volusia County and Central Florida are under Red Flag warnings due to windy conditions this weekend (16); and even though temperatures are dropping, National Weather Service expects a warm-up on Monday (17); while a 75-acre wildfire in Clay County and a larger 375-acre blaze in Putnam County were reported late in the day (18). Air-tankers from Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, helped battle a grass fire that destroyed several structures near Teulon, Manitoba (19). Firefighters from the UK's Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service updated their maps in preparation for potential wildfires (20); but hunting and clearing of land were identified as the two top causes of bushfires in the African nation of Ghana's Brong-Ahafo Region (21). Another suspicious forest fire ignited in Tapawera, New Zealand, an area where several have been reported over the past few weeks (22). In Victoria, Australia, some controversy which arose over the Yarra Ranges Council Flora and Fauna Plan 2012 in regards to bushfires has been resolved (23); while Western Australians celebrated their Margaret River Wine Festival despite the damage done by bushfires last year (24). And finally, firefighters in Staffordshire, England, have come up with an innovative way of more easily reaching wildfires in rural and isolated areas: bicycles!

(1) Reforestation not taking hold in land burned by Station fire

(2) Firefighters tackle small brush fire in Valencia

(3) Crews battle wildfires around state amid strong winds

(4) How can a home survive a wildfire?

(5) Colorado In Good Shape With Firefighting Equipment

(6) Another Wildfire Sparks Near Gunnison

(7) Small Wildfire Along HWY 115 On Fort Carson

(8) Crews stay overnight at wildfire north of Deckers

(9) Firefighters from multiple communities do battle with blaze near Sunburg, Minn.

(10) Wildfires Break Out All Over Central PA

(11) Firefighters battle brush fire Friday night in Mercersburg area

(12) Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Risk Continues Through Sunday

(13) Wildfires burn 400 Pinelands acres near A.C. Expressway

(14) Forest fire closes West Fleming Pike in Winslow

(15) Parts of Okefenokee refuge reopen after wildfire

(16) Firefighters respond to Samsula brush fire

(17) Cool weekend could fan pesky, smoldering wildfires

(18) Law & Disorder: Winds whip up wildfires in Clay, Putnam

(19) Grass fire destroys home near Teulon

(20) Precautions are taken against forest fires

(21) Game hunting increasing bush fires in Tano North

(22) Suspicious forest fire in Tapawera

(23) Plain English is Yarra Ranges best plan

(24) WA wine's tough times given a bath

(25) Cycling firefighters to prevent countryside blazes