WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 041212

First up today, a recent article from the Journal of Computing titled "Path Planning Algorithm for Extinguishing Forest Fires" discusses an automatic forest fire detection and extinguishing system (1). Arizona's governor has signed a bill to pre-deploy firefighting equipment to high wildfire risk areas (2); while Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Ware, Fire Information Officer for New Mexico State Forestry, provided an update on a 1,000-acre wildfire that burned in Grants County yesterday (3). The National Forest Service has put restrictions on firearms usage in Colorado's Arapaho and Roosevelt forests to reduce the wildfire danger (4); while a wildfire expert discusses how the US Forest Service has failed to provide enough heavy air-tankers to fight wildfires in that state, including the recent Lower North Fork Fire (5); even as transcripts of emergency communications during that deadly wildfire show that fire agencies underestimated the danger the blaze posed (6). Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation reported that a 300-acre wildfire near Lincoln forced the evacuation of dozens of homes (7); while officials in Knott County, Kentucky, think that an arsonist is responsible for a wildfire that scorched hundreds of acres (8). A 619-acre wildfire burning in Pennsylvania's French Creek State Park and Hopewell Furnace National Park breached containment lines (9); even as fishermen were warned about the wildfire danger statewide (10). Firefighters in West Plymouth, Massachusetts, swarmed a wildfire which broke out near some power lines (11). The next article comments on the oddity of fighting major wildfires in New York instead of Los Angeles (12); where, as fire investigators continue to explore the origins of a massive wildfire that burned over 1,000 acres in Suffolk County, a firefighter who was burned in the blaze has returned home (13). Weather conditions continued to bode ill for New Jersey as they alternate between freezing and wind (14); where firefighters believe that sparks from a utility pole may have been responsible for a 100-acre wildfire in the Meadowlands (15); while folks in Union County, used to thinking about structure fires, are having to reconsider the wildfire danger careless residents can cause (16). Wildfires continued to rage across Virginia (17); including two wildfires in Allegheny County that now cover nearly 10,000 acres between them (18). With 97 wildfires burning statewide, residents of Pasco County, Florida, have been warned about the respiratory danger from the smoky skies (19); similar conditions being reported in Indian River and Brevard counties along the Georgia border (20); and a five-acre wildfire in Martin County threatened homes (21). A 10-acre wildfire near Fort McMurray, Alberta, prompted Regional Emergency Services to move forward with a program of controlled burns (22); while Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources announced that the province was ready for wildfires as he toured the Northwest Region Forest Fighting Management Centre (23). An Australian environmental historian takes aim at Victoria's prescribed burn plan in an Op-Ed piece (24); Country Fire Authority warning homeowners to review their bushfire plans as an out-of-control blaze continued to advance near Gordon (25). A bushfire in southern Queensland closed portions of the New England Highway near Warwick (26). And finally, veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan may find a new calling fighting wildfires with U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Medford (Oregon) District!

(1) Building a Smarter Forest

(2) Arizona, U.S. marshal resources to get ahead of wildfire season

(3) UPDATED: Wildfire Near Silver City Halted

(4) National Forest fire bans to include shooting restrictions

(5) High Fire Danger Highlights Aging Firefighting Air Tankers

(6) Emergency Communications Show Firefighters Underestimated Deadly Wildfire

(7) Strong wind spreads fire near Lincoln

(8) Forestry officials think arsonist set fire in eastern Ky. that has scorched hundreds of acres

(9) UPDATED: Wildfire in Berks grows to 619 acres (video, interactive map)

(10) State to anglers: be careful of fire as trout season opens

(11) Firefighters battle West Plymouth brush fire

(12) Why a Warm Winter Equals Early Wildfires

(13) William Hille, Firefighter Burned In Suffolk County Brush Fire, Returns Home

(14) Weather alerts for freezing temps and wildfires

(15) Sparks believed to have caused Meadowlands fire

(16) Support Our Fire Fighters: Help Prevent Forest Fires

(17) Firefighters confront a big disadvantage with fires in Alleghany, Rockbridge counties

(18) Alleghany County wildfires continue to grow

(19) Wildfire Smoke a Concern in the Tampa Bay Area

(20) Smoke from North Florida, Georgia wildfires wafting into Treasure Coast

(21) Wildfire threatens homes in Hobe Sound

(22) Wildfire season starts near Suncor

(23) Ontario is ready for forest fire season

(24) Prescribed burners can't see the forest for the trees

(25) Fire crews battle bushfire near Gordon

(26) Bushfire closes Queensland highway

(27) Veterans sought for firefighting crew