WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100112

A 280-acre blaze near the Southern California community of Banning is now 80% contained (1); but the National Weather Service warned that the wildfire danger across the region would remain high through Tuesday (2). Fire crews brought Oregon's 26,510-acre Pole Creek Fire to 85% containment (3); while Oregon Public Broadcasting reports on the benefits thinning forest land in the Deschutes National Forest have had on the fire fight (4); and Columbia Helicopters is diversifying out of the firefighting business to boost profits (5). In Washington state, the town of Crescent Bar has had its fill of wildfire smoke and ash (6); and smoke is also wreathing the Cascades (7); while Moses Lake Air Tanker Base, which has dispensed 589,000 gallons of retardant so far this year, is profiled in the next article (8); and although parts of that state charred by recent wildfires look bad, Washington Fish and Wildlife officials won't know until spring how heavy an impact they've had on wildlife habitat (9); while a US Forest Service entomologist discusses insects' impact on forests after wildfires (10); the following segment revisiting the issue of wildfires' effect on cattle ranches (11); but the next article reveals a disturbing trend in which insufficient personnel may be available to crew incident command teams nationwide (12). With the onset of fall, fire restrictions in southern Nevada have been lifted (13); while the difficulties faced by Colorado homeowners trying to rebuild after wildfires is examined by the next article (14). In Idaho, where wildfires have already run up a tab of $143 million, smoke and ash are still the order of the day (15); but cooler temperatures helped firefighters in Wyoming get the upper hand on wildfires (16). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported a pair of wildfires in the northwest which have covered 900 acres so far (17); while air-tankers assisted firefighters on the ground battling three wildfires in Manitoba, Canada, over the weekend (18). Despite the fact that October has arrived, several wildfires continued to crop up in Spain and Italy (19); and villages along the Syrian/Turkish border had to be evacuated due to several wildfires in the area (20). The International Association of Wildland Fire, sent along a proclamation about the advent of Global Wildfire Awareness Week in the southern hemisphere (21). Indonesia continues to burn, with wildfires reported in East and Central Java (22); while folks in Sumatra are still choking on the smoke from wildfires (23). Heading to Australia, New South Wales' Rural Fire Service is working feverishly to prepare for what is forecast to be a terrible bushfire season (24); and South Australian Country Fire Service has announced an early start to bushfire season this year as well (25). Dozens of firefighters descended on a bushfire burning near Bullsbrook, Western Australia (26); while firefighters declared a 260,000-hectare bushfire near Purnululu National Park contained (27); Fire and Emergency Services Authority warning residents of Pilbara of the continued bushfire danger (28). And finally, Smokey Bear is teaming up with the Florida Forest Service at a special event October 13th!

(1) 280-Acre Banning Fire Now 80 Percent Contained

(2) Wildfire danger to be high through Tuesday

(3) Pole Creek Fire kicks up some; Hotshots called in

(4) Report: Forest Thinning Helped Protect Homes From Sisters Wildfire

(5) Columbia Helicopters Sees Record Profits as Customer Base Diversifies

(6) Wildfire ash falls on Crescent Bar

(7) Wildfire smoke hanging on the eastern slope of the Cascades

(8) Moses Lake crew fights fires by air

(9) Impact of fires won’t be known until spring

(10) After The Fire, Bring On The Bugs

(11) Drought And Wildfires Force Ranchers To Look For Efficiencies

(12) National wildfire teams getting harder to fill

(13) Fire restrictions lifted in Southern Nevada

(14) Colorado's wildfires present challenges on decisions to rebuild homes

(15) Idaho wildfire smoke: 'Still stuff falling'

(16) Fire near Red Top put to rest

(17) Firefighters battle two wildfires in northwest Minnesota

(18) Manitoba crews battle 3 weekend wildfires

(19) EFFIS - Current Situation

(20) Huge forest fires hit Turkey-Syria border

(21) Global Wildfire Awareness Week

(22) Forest Fires Continue to Ravage East and Central Java

(23) Sumatra Fires Create Breathing Problems

(24) Emergency workers prepare for bushfire season

(25) Early fire season for SA

(26) Firefighters still battling WA blaze

(27) Blaze contained near Kimberley national park

(28) Pilbara residents warned of fire danger

(29) Smokey Bear to Spread Fire Prevention at Chipley Fire Dept. Education Day