WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 042312

US Forest Service firefighters set a 230-acre prescribed burn in Arizona's Kaibab National Forest (1); but an editorial from the Denver Post reflects on a pending press conference in which changes in Colorado State Forest Service’s chain of command are expected to be announced in the wake of the deadly Lower North Fork Fire, which started as a prescribed burn (2). After abundant winter rains, West Texas is afraid emerging fuel may bode another busy wildfire season like last year (3); and even though Maine is finally receiving much-needed rain, forest rangers reminded homeowners that the wildfire danger still exists (4). Heavy rain from a new weather front has squelched the wildfire danger in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (5); and an item from National Public Radio comments on the same phenomenon from West Virginia to New York State (6); while a columnist discusses the inevitability of more wildfires in New Jersey's Pine Barrens (7). South Carolina Forestry Commission is working with communities in that state to become Firewise certified (8); but despite recent rainfall, Florida's Marion County Multi-Agency Wildland Task Force is asking homeowners to suspend backyard burning due to the wildfire danger (9). A number of wildfires were reported in the Cape Breton region of Nova Scotia, Canada, over the weekend (10); additional wildfires being reported in eastern Newfoundland (11). A new wildfire in the UK's Swinley Forest was apparently started by unattended bonfires (12); and Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry reported that two people had died and scores of buildings were destroyed in the Amur region of the Far East (13). Authorities on the island of Cebu in the Philippines are investigating the possibility of arson bushfires in Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve (14); while India's Forestry Minister is considering assigning a pair of firefighting helicopters to protect Tirumala forests in southern India (15); but government and environmental organizations are racing against time to save Indonesia's orangutan population from extinction due to bushfires set by palm oil plantation owners on Sumatra Island (16). A bushfire support organization for young people in Victoria, Australia, is profiled by the next article (17); followed by another which talks about Blazeaid, a volunteer organization in New South Wales that helps after natural disasters like bushfires and floods (18). The blockage of a road due to a burst water main in South Australia prompted Country Fire Service officials to urge homeowners to update their bushfire evacuation plans accordingly (19). And finally, a Texan who lost her home to the Bastrop County Complex Fire last year while battling stage 4 breast cancer was very happy to show off her new digs!

(1) Prescribed Burn on Edge of Grand Canyon Completed

(2) Changes in chain of command in fighting Colorado wildfires?

(3) WILDFIRES - ONE YEAR LATER: Is smoke on horizon this year?

(4) Forest rangers warn of fire danger despite rain

(5) Heavy rain storm calms wildfire threat; Johnstown, Pa., faces snowstorm

(6) Now It Snows?

(7) Di Ionno: After extremely dry spring, fire in Pine Barrens is inevitable truth

(8) Communities work to be prepared for wildfires

(9) Voluntary burn ban renewed despite rain

(10) Brush fires widespread Saturday

(11) Updated: Multiple forest fires reported

(12) Swinley Forest fire was an accident

(13) Wildfires Claim First 2 Deaths

(14) Forest rangers suspect arson in Buhisan fires

(15) Choppers to put out Tirumala forest fires

(16) Indonesia, greens move to stop eco disaster

(17) Bushfire victims' wellbeing being surveyed

(18) Narrandera Blazeaid camp opens

(19) CFS fire plan plea

(20) Cancer-stricken wildfire victim moves into new home