WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 051412

In the Southern California seaside community of Malibu, firefighting technology from opposite ends of the scale are being used to combat the outbreak of wildfires (1); but even though US Forest Service stated that the wildfire season is 78 days longer than it was in the mid-1980s, fire officials in the Inland Empire are confident that they can still stay on top of wildfires (2); while a five-acre wildfire was battled by Orange County Fire Authority firefighters in Tustin over the weekend (3); and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District expounded on ways to protect property from San Diego County wildfires (4). Despite having lusher vegetation than their neighbors to the east, residents of western Washington state are being reminded to maintain defensible space around their property (5). A wildfire which has scorched across 4 1/2 mi.² in Arizona's Prescott National Forest has forced some evacuations (6); and a 3,100-acre wildfire in the Tonto National Forest threatened several structures in its path (7); all of which signals the commencement of the 2012 wildfire season in that state (8); the impact of vegetation on wildfire size being explored by the next article (9). Fire officials in Las Cruces, New Mexico, are making their Community Wildfire Protection Plan available for public viewing and comment (10); while a wildfire near White Mountain, Colorado, has grown to 100 acres in size (11). A pair of wildfires in Michigan's Lower Peninsula burned nearly 400 acres between them (12). A 200-acre wildfire that raced through Horry County, South Carolina, has been contained (13); and a man has been charged with negligently starting the blaze (14). A pair of wildfires have scorched over 30 ha in northeastern British Columbia, Canada (15); while a 140-hectare wildfire burning near Pavilion Lake is now 85% contained (16). Next door, Alberta has 54 wildfires currently active, including three which are out of control (17); while the emotional scars left behind by Slave Lake's wildfire a year ago are explored by the next article (18). A 20,000-hectare blaze has forced evacuations in southwest Manitoba (19). Wildfire activity in Ontario is the topic of the next article (20); followed by another which takes a look at the life of a wildland firefighter in that province (21). Russia unveiled a new fire-spotting aircraft which can detect wildfires up to 60 km away (22). New South Wales faces an ominous future, including raging bushfires, according to the Australian Climate Commission (23); however, firefighters in Northern Territory made quick work of a bushfire (24). Lightning is believed to have been the cause of a bushfire burning in Western Australia's Owingup Nature Reserve (25); but as if folks in Margaret River didn't have enough trouble recovering from bushfires, flooding has made the situation worse! (26) And finally, firefighters in Canton, Ohio, decided that the next time their firefighters needed some training, they would practice BYOT (bring your own tower)!


(1) Big Rock Uses Goats, Technology to Combat Wildfires


(2) INLAND: Officials confident despite fewer wildland fire resources


(3) Firefighters contain grass fire in Tustin


(4) Wildfires a constant threat for Rancho Santa Fe


(5) Better weather brings return of wildfire risk


(6) Arizona wildfire grows, prompts evacuations


(7) Sunflower Fire grows to 3,100 acres


(8) Arizona wildfires: Five fires mark start of 2012 wildfire season


(9) Vegetation affects wildfire size, damage


(10) Public comment sought on wildfire protection plan


(11) Brushy Mountain Fire Burns in W. Colo


(12) 2 Michigan wildfires burn nearly 400 acres


(13) Myrtle Beach wildfire contained at 200 acres


(14) Man charged in Myrtle Beach-area fire


(15) Two forest fires burning near the Cecil Lake road


(16) Pavilion fire 85 per cent contained


(17) 3 wildfires burn out of control in Alberta


(18) Slave Lake fire a year ago leaves emotional scars


(19) Wildfires force residents from Manitoba community


(20) Two forest fires burning near Timmins


(21) Local crews prepare for forest fire season


(22) Unique Aircraft Spots Forest Fires 60km Away


(23) Heatwaves, bushfires predicted to hammer NSW


(24) Fire crew make light work of bushfire


(25) Blaze closes Bibbulmun Track


(26) Bushfire ravaged areas cop flood hit


(27) What's going on here? Portable tower for firefighter training