WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 020112

Opponents of Southern California-based San Diego Gas & Electric's Wildfire Expense Balancing Account proposal, which would allow the utility to pass along $463.9 million in wildfire costs to ratepayers, continue to call for a public hearing to discuss the matter (1); but as part of CAL FIRE's attempt to shave $80 million off its budget, the Air Attack Base at Fresno Airport will be closing (2). US Forest Service officials in Colorado are considering putting limits on tourist visitations to the Pawnee National Grassland due to the fire danger (3); while a former Oklahoma firefighter who is accused of setting wildfires in the Cherokee Wildlife Management Area will have his first court hearing in March (4). Fire crews have begun controlled burns of upwards of 100 debris piles in South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest (5); something for the state's new Wildland Fire Suppression Division director to oversee (6). A $17,000 grant from Michigan Department of Natural Resources is allowing Crawford County to formulate a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (7); and firefighters in Jackson County, Mississippi, are conducting controlled burns (8); but even Washington DC is on edge due to the wildfire danger (9). North Carolina Forest Service had a number of wildfires to deal with yesterday (10). Florida Forest Service officials are concerned about an early start to the wildfire season after seeing 27 wildfires in the Jacksonville district alone since the beginning of the year (11); even as firefighters in Miami-Dade County brought a wildfire there to 90% containment (12); while that state's prescribed burn program, considered one of the most active in the nation, has the downside of making travel on roads near controlled burns hazardous, as a fatal pileup on Interstate 75 near Gainesville showed (13). The next article takes a look at bushfires that briefly threatened homes on New Zealand's North Island (14). Hundreds of Australians who lost their homes in the Black Saturday bushfires are still pondering whether they should rebuild nearly 3 years after the event (15); nevertheless, most residents of Marysville and Kinglake have moved from temporary housing into permanent homes (16); even as arsonists continued to set bushfires near Smythesdale (17); while the Red Cross has unveiled its 'Bushfires - Preparing to leave early' plan online (18). People who survived the bushfires which raged through Margaret River, Western Australia, in November have been asked to tell their story as part of an audio history of the event (19); as several households began receiving payments from the Perth Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund (20). And finally, New Jersey firefighters showed once again that criminals should beware the long arm of the... fire service!

(1) Support grows for hearing on wildfire costs

(2) CAL FIRE to Close Fresno Base

(3) National Forest officials say limits may be posted on Pawnee Grassland due to dry weather

(4) Hearing set for ex-Oklahoma firefighter charged with arson

(5) Forest Service, BLM crews work NH prescribed burns

(6) State names new Wildland Fire Suppression Division director

(7) State funds community wildfire prevention plan

(8) Jackson County forest land burns, on purpose

(9) D.C. area’s dry winter increases chance of wildfires

(10) Brush fires hit High Country

(11) Weather conditions 'perfect storm' for wildfires

(12) Crews continue to monitor brush fire

(13) Few guidelines exist on when to shut down roads

(14) Forest fire threatens New Zealand homes

(15) Black Saturday bushfire survivors struggle to move on

(16) Bushfire homeless find new abodes

(17) Firebug behind bushfire near Smythesdale: authorities

(18) Red Cross bushfire plan now online

(19) Tell your bushfire story

(20) SW fire victims receive fund payout

(21) Firefighters halt robbery assault