WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 051512


A report from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group tallied up wildland firefighting casualties from 1910 and 1996, indicating that more than 669 people have died fighting wildfires across the U.S (1). CAL FIRE investigators have yet to determine what sparked a small wildfire in the Southern California community of Glen Ellen (2); and in Oregon, where 60% of the wildfires are caused by lightning and 40% by humans, Oregon Department of Forestry indicated that drying conditions could lead to an early start to the wildfire season (3); while two wildfires were reported in Clallam County, Washington (4). A quartet of wildfires continued to challenge firefighters in Arizona (5); where the situation caused worries over the depleted ranks of heavy air-tankers (6); the next article reflecting on the impact of mega fires on that state (7); while Department of Environmental Quality officials warned residents of Phoenix with respiratory problems that smoke from two wildfires could cause them some breathing problems (8). A 270-acre wildfire burning in Poudre Canyon near Fort Collins, Colorado, drew a sharp response from firefighters on the ground and in the air (9); and more help is arriving to help fight the blaze (10). GelTech Solutions, makers of FireIce, has teamed up with Wyoming-based Special Operations Group, Inc, to better support aerial firefighting efforts across the US (11). New life is appearing in parts of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness burned in a massive wildfire last year (12); and the greening of Wisconsin's timber blowdown area has released firefighters for "browner pastures", since the wildfire danger is reduced (13). Folks in northern Michigan have been warned not to conduct any outside burning due to high wildfire danger (14); while New Jersey Forest Fire Service is bracing for a bad fire season comparable to several devastating seasons from the past (15). South Carolina Forestry Commission is receiving some heat over wildfire penalties residents feel are too lenient (16). Firefighters in Alberta, Canada, are grappling with a trio of wildfires (17); but smokers in Edmonton have been warned that they face a $250 fine for flicking cigarette butts into underbrush (18); while government critics complained that elections delayed a report on last year's devastating Slave Lake fire, information critical for communities trying to avoid the same fate (19). Although wildfires are burning across 900 ha of Manitoba, firefighters are hopeful that cooler conditions will help tame the fires (20); and British Columbia is sending crews to help (21); even as fire officials got a handle on a 5,000-hectare wildfire burning outside of Badger (22). Ontario is off to a rough start for their forest fire season (23); with fire crews continuing to douse hot spots from a wildfire that threatened mobile homes in Timmins (24); prompting an Op-Ed piece that reminds residents of the fire danger in that province (25). Two palm oil companies are under investigation by the Government of Indonesia over forest fires set to clear land through protected orangutan habitat on Sumatra Island for their plantations (26). Western Australia's government said that the new Office of Bushfire Risk Management would evaluate the risks posed by future controlled burns following the damage done by out-of-control prescribed burns (27); while residents of Kununurra want more funds made available for aerial firefighting (28). And finally, firefighters battling blazes in Arizona have more to worry about than just hot spots: mine shafts and rattlesnakes!


(1) Many perils, besides flames, kill wildland firefighters


(2) Firefighters report Glen Ellen's first wildland fire of season


(3) Wildfire danger on the rise in Oregon


(4) Firefighters extinguish two brush fires


(5) Arizona wildfires: Firefighters continue to battle 4 blazes


(6) Air tanker fleet for wildfires dwindling


(7) An era of mega fires


(8) Wildfires hurting Valley's air quality


(9) Hewlett Gulch fire near Fort Collins draws 80 firefighters, helicopter, air tanker


(10) More crews arriving to fight Colorado wildfire


(11) GelTech Partners With Special Operations Group's The Dip Source to Support Aerial Firefighting


(12) Pagami Creek Wildfire Burn Zone Showing Signs of New Life


(13) Contract firefighters leave Wisconsin blowdown area


(14) Wildfire alert: Fire danger high today as humidity drops, winds pick up


(15) Rain or shine, monitoring forest fire danger in New Jersey is 24/7 job


(16) Neighbors burned by wildfire want stricter penalties


(17) Alberta firefighters getting jump on wildfires


(18) Cigarette butts a fire hazard


(19) Alberta election delayed report into Slave Lake fire disaster, NDP alleges


(20) Wildfires spread across 900 hectares


(21) B.C. crews to assist Manitoba's firefighting efforts


(22) Residents forced out by wildfires, province puts backcountry travel and burn restrictions into place


(23) Forest fire season off to rough start


(24) Blaze still alive


(25) POV: We must all respect fire ban to keep our community safe


(26) Indonesia Investigating Palm Oil Companies Over Forest Fires


(27) Burn-offs scrutinised after Margaret River fires


(28) Locals call on State Government to fund aerial firefighting efforts


(29) Snakes, mine shafts challenge crews battling Arizona wildfire