WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 053112

A New York Times article takes a closer look at the agency of lightning in sparking wildfires across the West and Midwest (1); followed by a Christian Science Monitor video segment which takes a look at how firefighters battle wildfires (2). An army of 1,200 firefighters continued to grapple with a 190,000-acre wildfire burning in New Mexico's Gila National Forest, bringing containment to 5% (3); some fearing that there may be more blazes of that size to come (4); smoke from the wildfires making for stinky air, but beautiful sunsets (5). A wildfire burning near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, which has scorched 6 mi.² is now 4% contained (6); an Op-Ed piece discussing residents' anger at fire managers for allowing the blaze to burn (7); while a US Forest Service Burn Area Emergency Response team fears that damage done by a 12 mi.² wildfire that burned near Fort Collins could threaten water quality in that city for years to come (8); even as firefighters quickly knocked down a 1.3-acre wildfire reported in Forest Lakes (9). Firefighters have a 6,130-acre wildfire burning along Colorado's border with Utah 70% contained (10); but a 229-acre wildfire was reported near Saratoga Springs (11). Michigan Department of Natural Resources indicated that it had achieved 57% containment on a 21,450-acre wildfire burning in the Upper Peninsula (12); the next article taking a look at the contribution of Aeroflite's CL-215 air-tankers in fighting it (13). Wildfire activity in Alabama is the topic of the next article (14); while the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection warned residents of that state to protect themselves from wildfires in a year which has seen an unusually large number already (15). Elgin Air Force Base's Wildland Fire Program officials fear that a 1,500-acre wildfire burning near Hurlburt Field, Florida, may continue to spread (16). A 3.5 ha Canadian wildfire burning in Noble Creek, British Columbia, is now 80% contained (17). The International Association of Wildland Fire sent along two announcements today: the first is calling for abstracts from prospective speakers for its Wildfire Canada 2012 Conference, which takes place in Alberta this coming October (18); the second is a webinar that touches on wildland fire risk assessment and fuel management planning (19). Politicians took an opportunity to thank firefighters for their yeoman work battling Ontario, Canada's wildfires (20); while firefighters battled a forest fire near Edwinstowe, UK, yesterday (21). The Victorian state government assisted the Australian community of Coongulla in purchasing a new bushfire truck (22). And finally, firefighters in Oceanside, California, may start demanding combat pay if they have to fight any more motor home fires like this one!

(1) Lightning Strikes Feed Volatile Fire Season

(2) How firefighters fight wildfires

(3) Huge N.M. wildfire grows to nearly 300 square miles

(4) New Mexico's record-size wildfire could be preview of vicious fires to come

(5) New Mexico Wildfires' Smoke Aside, the Sunsets Are Nice

(6) Colorado wildfire grows by 600 acres; containment at 4 percent

(7) In the Line of Fire, Part One

(8) Forest Service: Hewlett Fire could pose danger to water quality for up to 3 years

(9) No structures damaged in Forest Lakes fire

(10) Wildfires in Utah County, along Colorado border, near containment

(11) Wildfire near Saratoga Springs burns hundreds of acres

(12) Officials: UP wildfire now 57 percent contained

(13) Wildfire fighters get help from 'water bombers'

(14) Wildfire in Orange Beach

(15) Protect Yourself from Wildfire, State Officials Urge

(16) Wildfire on Fla. Air Force Base Could Burn for Days

(17) Wildfire in Noble Creek area 80 per cent contained

(18) Wildfire Canada 2012 Conference Abstracts Due from Prospective Speakers

(19) ArcFuels: An ArcGIS Interface for Fuel Treatment Planning and Wildfire Risk Assessment

(20) Firefighters and MNR effort thanked by Angus and Bisson

(21) Firefighters battle forest fire near Edwinstowe for seven hours

(22) Coongulla community formulate winning argument for better fire protection

(23) Crews Battle Exploding Ammunition in Motor Home Fire