WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 011712

California's controversial $150 fire fee continues to draw flak, this time from two lawmakers in the northern part of the state (1); while firefighters battled a 40-acre wildfire outside of Concord yesterday (2). A retrospective on Oregon fire lookout towers is provided by the next article (3); followed by one about efforts by Arizona's Coronado National Forest to revamp areas ravaged by wildfires in 2011 (4). A 681-acre wildfire was reported in Hockley County, Texas, yesterday (5); and a man was arrested for accidentally sparking a wildfire which destroyed 37 homes in Potter County last February (6); even as Texas wildfire survivors receive some of the $12.6 million in FEMA grants, many asking how best to use the money (7). Kestrel Meters touted the superior features of their wind and weather meters for wildfire use in a press release from Michigan (8); something they probably could have used in Harrison County, Mississippi, where wildfires scorched 150 acres (9). A blanket of wildfire smoke from eight blazes is covering Volusia County, Florida (10); and wildfire activity kept firefighters busy in Orange County as well (11). To better prevent bushfires in the African nation of Ghana, village chieftains are being summoned to swear allegiance to the Paramount Chief in the Santrokofi Traditional Area (12). Researchers at Australian National University unveiled a new study which showed that clearing vegetation 40 m away from structures greatly increased survivability of homes during Victoria's Black Saturday bushfires (13); and although a community leader in Strathewen feels that the state government's $750 million bushfire plan is a good start, more needs to be done (14); but homeowners in Whittlesea who have rebuilt homes which were destroyed in the Black Saturday bushfires may be unable to insure them (15); while Crime Stoppers works to prevent future arson bushfires in that state (16); even as the community of Blackwood unveiled its bushfire evacuation plan (17). New South Wales' Rural Fire Service formulated a bushfire plan to deal with future blazes in the Warrumbungle and Gilgandra areas (18); but nearly 200 Country Fire Service firefighters battled to keep a bushfire out of Wilmington, South Australia, yesterday (19). Several roads around Shoalwater, Western Australia, were closed due to a bushfire (20); while the Tasmanian Fire Service issued a burn ban, law enforcement officials announcing that they will be alert for bushfire arsonists (21). And finally, the National Volunteer Fire Council has determined that firefighters across the US have a weighty problem to deal with!

(1) North state lawmakers seek to repeal fire fee

(2) UPDATE: Firefighters Extinguish 40-acre Blaze on Bailey Road

(3) Oregon Trails: View From the Top

(4) National Forest revamps picnic area, eyes cabin replacement

(5) Wildfire stretches across 681 acres west of Levelland on Monday afternoon

(6) Charges filed in huge February wildfire

(7) Wildfire survivors have choices with recovery grants

(8) Kestrelmeters.com Sells Kestrel Wind Speed Meters for Fire Fighting

(9) Blazes torch 150 acres in Harrison County

(10) Volusia travelers have smoky morning commute

(11) Fire crews contain Orange Co. wildfire

(12) Anti bush fire campaign: Summons for sub-chiefs urged

(13) Give trees the chop to save homes in bushfire-prone areas

(14) HAVE YOUR SAY: Fire action not enough for Strathewen community leader

(15) Post-bushfire homes left uninsured

(16) New campaign looks to quell arsonists

(17) Blackwood ready for bushfire season

(18) Bushfire plan to mitigate Newell Highway risk

(19) Bushfire threatens Wilmington

(20) Shoalwater fire under control

(21) Police tough on fire danger

(22) NVFC: Obesity high among firefighters