WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 010612

Fire officials hope to begin controlled burns in and around California's Sequoia National Forest on Monday, weather permitting (1); even as the deadline for Texas wildfire survivors to apply for FEMA grants approaches, the agency estimating that it has disbursed $36 million so far (2). Firefighters have managed to bring containment on wildfires that have scorched 18,000 acres on Montana's Blackfeet Reservation to 85% (3); but Park Forest, Illinois', Central Park Wetlands caught fire late Thursday night (4). The next article revisits Arkansas Forestry Commission’s decision to cut 36 firefighters due to budget shortfalls (5); while the one which follows takes a closer look at the newly-formed New York Firewise Council, which aims to help with reduce the wildfire danger in Upstate New York (6). A wildfire burning on the grounds of Georgia's Camp Lejeune has been contained on three sides after burning 1,500 acres (7). Officials in Florida reminded residents of the winter wildfire danger caused by dry, windy conditions (8); something emphasized by a 750-acre wildfire burning in West Putnam County (9). Claiming that "radical indigenous groups" have sparked some of Chile's wildfires, their president invoked anti-terror legislation (10); even as accusations that a visitor from Israel sparked the massive wildfire in Torres del Paine National Park have spawned numerous anti-Jewish comments on Chilean websites (11). Heading to Australia, Victoria's Department of Sustainability and Environment got a black eye after procuring over 100 utility vehicles which were unsuitable for off-road bushfire firefighting (12). South Australia's Country Fire Service fought to protect a Flinders Ranges town from an 8,500-hectare bushfire (13); while Western Australia's Fire and Emergency Services Authority has issued bushfire warnings as well as smoke alerts for the Nullabor Plain region (14). And finally, a Marion County, Texas, family who lost their home in wildfires four months ago is celebrating their new one, courtesy of FEMA!

(1) Prescribed burns on calendar in national forest

(2) Wildfire Assistance: $36 Million And Counting, For Now

(3) Firefighters Make Progress On Browning Fires

(4) Park Forest's Central Park Wetlands On Fire

(5) Forestry Fire Units To Suffer

(6) Firewise: Getting Serious About Forest Fires in New York

(7) UPDATE: Wildfire contained on three sides

(8) Florida warns that despite cold weather, wildfire danger is up

(9) West Putnam brush fire flares up again

(10) Chile invokes terror law for 'criminal' wildfire

(11) Chile forest fire arrest revives old anti-Jewish theories

(12) Firefighting bungle wastes millions

(13) Strong winds forecast as fire burns 8500ha

(14) Alert issued for Gidgegannup bushfire

(15) Wildfire victims show off new home