WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 071912

We're all familiar with massive wildfires in the West, but our first article today takes a look at how climate change and a century of fire suppression have primed forests in the Eastern US for the same phenomenon (1). Favorable weather is allowing firefighters in California to wrap up several wildfires (2); including bringing a 1,400-acre wildfire in Tehachapi to 75% containment (3); but arson investigators have determined that a lawn mower sparked a massive wildfire in San Luis Obispo County that resulted in the evacuations of 50 homes (4); while U.S. Forest Service's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is banning residential fires for the rest of the fire season on both the California and Nevada sides of the lake (5). Following containment of two major wildfires in southeastern Oregon, firefighters are finally getting a breather (6); but a National Public Radio segment discusses the impact on ranchers in the area (7); and as lightning sparks more wildfires there, the next article provides a progress report on blazes in the region (8). A small wildfire was reported in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park (9); and air-tankers pounced on a small wildfire near Canon City as well (10); but the intensity of the Waldo Canyon Fire, in which 20% of the soil in the burn area was reduced to a moonscape which won't support vegetation, is explored by the next article (11); however, recent rainfall has allowed fire officials in the White River National Forest to ease fire restrictions (12); while the International Association of Wildland Fire, sent along a link to new publications from US Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Research Station (13). The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands said that an 862-acre wildfire burning in Emery County was approaching ancient archaeological sites (14); and Texas Forest Service has launched its long-anticipated wildfire risk-assessment website as triple-digit temperatures crop up across the state (15). Wildfire activity across Wyoming, where lightning strikes ignited dozens of blazes in Crook, Campbell and Weston counties, is examined by the next article (16). Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest has seen 50 wildfires burn 4,000 acres so far this year (17); while dozens of new fires have cropped up in Lawrence, Hickory, Greene, and Dallas counties (18). A Kentucky-based horse magazine provides detailed tips on how best to protect equines from the effects of wildfire if they cannot be evacuated (19); but even recent rains are not enough to fully dampen the wildfire danger in Tennessee, which has seen 755 wildfires burn 6,000 acres so far this year (20). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Lee Laechelt, Executive Vice President of the Alabama Forest Owners Association, sent along a radio segment from their Capital Ideas program which posits that federal mismanagement of our national forests are to blame for increasingly severe wildfires (21); however, fire authorities in Maryland believe that a 50-acre blaze last month may have been associated with a marijuana operation on Kent Island (22). In Canada, British Columbia's Cariboo Fire Centre firefighters are battling a dozen new wildfires (23). Firefighters have gained the upper hand on wildfires burning in Spain's Canary Islands (24); but several structures have been engulfed in flames as wildfires plague Portugal's Madeira Island (25); the following item providing a photographic log of fireline action on blazes throughout Portugal (26). Cash-strapped Greece is asking Spain and Italy to lend them firefighting aircraft to battle blazes outside of Athens (27); while an estimated 40 wildfires are burning in Russia's Far East (28); a tally of air-tankers dispatched to the fire by the Far East Aviation and Rescue Center Ministry being provided by the next item (29). Western Australia's government is in hot water once again over compensation for Margaret River bushfire survivors (30); but in the meantime, the region will be implementing the new Australian Standard for Building in Bushfire Prone Areas (31). And finally, firefighters in Rhode Island proved to be a dog's best friend!

(1) As the East Sweats, a Growing Fire Threat

(2) Crews gain ground on Calif. wildfires

(3) Tehachapi-area wildfire now 75 percent contained

(4) Wildfire started by mower contained

(5) Forest Service fire chief bans residential burning at Tahoe

(6) Oregon Crews Get Reprieve Before Next Flare-Up

(7) Ore. Wildfires Leave Ranchers Without Grazing Land

(8) Good progress on 2 big Central Oregon wildfires

(9) Small wildfire at Rocky Mountain National Park

(10) UPDATE: "Mineral Fire" near Canon City almost contained

(11) Soil severely burned across 5 miles of Waldo Fire

(12) Fire ban lifted for White River National Forest

(13) New Publications from the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station

(14) Fire in Utah's Range Creek threatening archeological sites

(15) New wildfire risk-assessment website launches

(16) Dozens of wildfires break out in Crook, Campbell and Weston counties in northeast Wyoming

(17) Over 50 wildfires in forest since June

(18) Update: Wildfires Ignite Across 4 Ozarks Counties as Drought Persists

(19) Wildfires--Shelter in Place Planning

(20) Wildfires still concern throughout Tennessee

(21) Harvesting Trees Will Prevent Fires

(22) Marijuana Farm Forest Fire? Maryland Authorities Think Kent Island Blaze Started At Pot Growing Operation

(23) Dozen New Fires In Cariboo

(24) Firefighters largely control Tenerife blaze: officials

(25) Forest fires rage on Madeira Island

(26) Multiple forest fires hit Portugal

(27) Wildfire rages near Athens, threatens homes

(28) Forest fires in Russia’s far East have gone for 24 hours an area of 13 thousand. HA

(29) Ten aircraft to help fight wildfires in Yakutia

(30) Anger over SW bushfire compo offer

(31) New bushfire building regulations loom

(32) RI firefighters resuscitate dog trapped in blaze