WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 121212

CAL FIRE is boosting its responsibility for parts of Southern California's San Bernardino National Forest around the mountain community of Idyllwild (1). A quartet of prescribed burns are planned for the area around Moon Mountain, New Mexico (2); but Santa Fe National Forest will be delaying controlled burns due to snowfall (3). An article from Colorado provides some details on firefighting terms which may be obscure to the general public (4); but reflecting the difficult financial times, Logan County refused to pay for wildfire fighting support until they understood all the details (5); while more than 1,600 trees will be planted in wildfire-affected areas throughout the state (6). As winter approaches, an article from Idaho looks back on an active fire season (7). Several groups came together in Texas to replant 500 trees in wildfire-hit parts of Grimes, Montgomery and Waller counties (8); but in a year in which 1,136 fires have burned 18,935 acres in Tennessee, an outbreak of suspicious fires in Anderson, Campbell, Hawkins and Scott Counties has fire authorities worried arsonists are at work (9); even as Florida Forest Service is advising homeowners in Lee County to prepare for the spring wildfire season by clearing brush now (10). After a prolonged Canadian court battle, CN Rail will only have to pay $6,000 for sparking a wildfire which burned an estimated $340,000 of timber in Kamloops, British Columbia, seven years ago (11). Rural Fire Service fire officials are warning residents of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales about the dangerous buildup of fuel which could worsen bushfires (12); while a bushfire in New South Wales' Wallingat National Park has burned an estimated 2,400 ha (13). Fire crews were able to contain a bushfire burning on North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, which destroyed several vehicles and structures over the weekend (14); while firefighters battled another blaze near Tiaro (15). A bushfire which breached containment lines near Broome, Western Australia, prompted FESA to issue bushfire alerts to homeowners in the area (16). And finally, an article from East Texas takes a look back at the importance of fire lookout towers in the early days of fire suppression!

(1) Forest Service, CAL FIRE adjust protection area

(2) Forest thinning projects in Moon Mountain area planned

(3) Santa Fe forest postpones prescribed fire

(4) Hot shots

(5) Logan County Commissioners get clarification on bills for fire fighting support

(6) reGrowCO surpasses goal of 1,600 trees for wildfire recovery

(7) Feel the Burn: A Look Back At the 2012 Fire Season Shows Heavy Costs, Big Challenges

(8) ReLEAF program helping to regrow trees lost to wildfires in Magnolia

(9) State officials search for cause in recent rash of forest fires

(10) Crews gearing up for spring wildfires

(11) Seven years later, CN pays $6K for burned timber

(12) Bushfire fears as fuel builds up

(13) 120 firefighters called to Coomba Park fire

(14) Stradbroke Island fire 'under control'

(15) Six fire crews fight bushfire at St Mary, near Tiaro

(16) Bushfire burning near Broome

(17) Lookout towers were once the frontline of fire defense