WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 012512

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Tom Eversole, Executive Director of the American Helicopter Services and Aerial Firefighting Association, commented on the projected early start to the wildfire season due to unusually low rainfall totals across the US this year (1). At the Tangent Link Aerial Firefighting Conference and Exhibition, in Sacramento, California, Canadian air-tanker purveyor Conair announced that it will be marketing the AVRO RJ85 jet aircraft as the next generation heavy air-tanker (2); while officials in Clackamas County, Oregon, will be hosting a meeting to discuss their Community Wildfire Protection Plan in February (3). A homeowner has admitted he may have started the massive Reno, Nevada, wildfire which destroyed over two dozen homes last week (4); and a meeting will be held tomorrow in Arizona's Prescott Fire Center to provide information for vendors hoping to work with US Forest Service during the 2012 fire season (5). Scientists from USDA's Agricultural Research Services in Utah revealed that Kochia prostrata, a nutritious forage crop, is also wildfire resistant (6); while Texas Forest Service awarded $10,000 to Liberty County to help in preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (7). An Op-Ed piece from Montana discusses wildfires in Glacier National Park (8). Although Arkansas's governor agreed to sign a bill which would increase forest owner taxes as a means to reinstate 36 forestry jobs, he doubted that it would pass the Legislature (9); but the value of controlled burns in reducing out-of-control wildfires was discussed by firefighters who set a 1,700 acre blaze in Pinnacle Mountain State Park (10). US Forest Service plans to conduct 1,200 acres worth of controlled burns in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest (11); while an arson investigator has been dispatched to determine the cause of a 20-hectare bushfire burning near Te Kao, New Zealand (12). An Op-Ed piece rails at Australian scientists for blaming Victorian native forest logging for worsening bushfires (13); but people recognized for heroic deeds during the Black Saturday bushfires will receive commendations from Australia's Prime Minister during Australia Day ceremonies in Canberra on Thursday (14). A bushfire cut off access to Gracetown, Western Australia, yesterday, threatening homes (15); even as a 6-hectare bushfire burning near Ludlow was contained (16); while fire alerts remained in place in the southwest (17); but in the aftermath of major bushfires in Gascoyne, landowners are adding up the losses (18); nevertheless, the government refuses to declare the area a disaster zone, denying emergency funding to pastoralists hard hit by the blazes (19). And finally, as the saying goes, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned", in this case of a firefighting job!

(1) Aerial Firefighters Gearing Up For The 2012 Wildland Forest Fire Season

(2) Conair and Falko Sign AVRO RJ85 Airtanker Marketing Agreement

(3) County to host meeting on wildfire management plan progress

(4) Nevada man admits to sparking Reno wildfire

(5) Forest Service meeting Thursday to help fire vendors

(6) Finding new forages for rangeland cattle

(7) County receives $10,000 from state for wildfire prevention

(8) Worrying about weather, floods and fires

(9) Beebe says he’d sign forest tax hike but doubts it would pass

(10) Controlled burns prevent wildfires

(11) Forest Service to Conduct Prescribed Burn on Bearpen Mountain

(12) UPDATED: Investigator on way to Far North fire

(13) Logging and bushfires

(14) Disaster heroes to be recognised

(15) Bushfire cuts off Gracetown, threatens homes

(16) Ludlow bushfire contained


(17) SW remains on fire alert

(18) Landowner takes 'big hit' from bushfires

(19) Call to declare Gascoyne disaster zone rejected

(20) Woman To Sue City Of Carlsbad Over Firefighting Job