WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 041312

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Chuck Bushey, Past President of the International Association of Wildland Fire, sent along an invitation to their upcoming webinar on the response of various agencies to health problems caused by the smoke from massive wildfires in the Southwest in 2011 (1). The Southwest Coordination Center reported an 85-acre wildfire burning near Sasabe, Arizona (2); and Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Ware, Fire Information Officer for New Mexico State Forestry, comments on the the wildfire danger in that state in an article which takes a look at the situation facing firefighters across the Western US (3). US Forest Service is using contractors to plant 146,000 fir trees around Denver's water supply to reduce soil erosion caused by wildfire damage (4); while US Sen. Mark Udall has added his name to the growing chorus calling for US Forest Service to bolster its dwindling heavy air-tanker fleet (5); but US Forest Service has delayed plans to light a 462-acre controlled burn in the White River National Forest (6). An Op-Ed piece from Pennsylvania thanked firefighters for their yeoman work saving homes from wildfires that raged in French Creek State Park and Hopewell National Historic Site (7); but the fight's not over yet as containment lines were breached Thursday afternoon (8); and containment was brought back up to 90% on Friday (9). Residents of Old Lyme, Connecticut, were warned about the high wildfire danger at the moment (10). The Insurance Information Institute in New York takes a look at the current wildfire situation in the Northeastern US (11); that story followed by an Op-Ed piece from Union County, New Jersey, which emphasizes the fact that homeowners need to be cognizant of ways to prevent forest fires (12). Maryland Department of Natural Resources cautioned homeowners about the high wildfire danger across the state (13). As dry, windy conditions prevail in Virginia, the wildfire danger has prompted officials to close portions of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests to hunting (14); the next article taking a look at wildfires across the state that have burned over 20,000 acres so far (15); forcing firefighters to battle fatigue as well as wildfires (16). A wildfire was reported on a gunnery range in Georgia's Fort Benning (17); while Georgia's Department of Transportation warned motorists that smoke from wildfires could impede their vision (18); said smoke advisory providing a graphic display of wildfire activity in southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle (19); two wildfires being reported in Putnam County, south of Crescent City (20); the following article providing some safety tips to homeowners in Pinellas County (21). Insurers offered some useful tips on what policyholders could do about wildfire damage to their property in Florida, where 1,000 wildfires have covered 20,000 acres since the first of the year (22); but wildfires continue to pop up in Manitoba, Canada (23). Fire officials on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus warned people of the extreme wildfire danger and a prohibition on open fires in some areas (24); while an article from Victoria, Australia, discusses the impact (or lack thereof) of bushfire smoke on wine grapes (25). And finally, a Long Island firefighter who lost his helmet, which had special significance to him, battling a wildfire astounded fellow firefighters by finding it again in the burn area!

(1) Smoke Management: Preparing and Informing the Public

(2) 85-acre wildfire burning north of Sasabe, southwest of Tucson

(3) Western states prepare for dangerous fire season

(4) Replanting forests in Colorado wildfire areas has benefit for water supply

(5) Colorado: Sen. Udall says Forest Service may not have enough air tankers to fight large or multiple wildfires

(6) Feds scuttle plan for a prescribed fire in hills above Filoha Meadows

(7) Roses to firefighters for saving homes from forest blaze

(8) Wildfire jumps containment line, burns more land

(9) UPDATED: French Creek fire 90 percent contained (video, slideshows)

(10) Forest Fire Danger High: Open Fire Permits Suspended in OL

(11) Warm Weather, Dry Conditions Could Mean More Wildfires in Northeast

(12) Freeholder Forum: Support Our Fire Fighters, Help Prevent Forest Fires

(13) Wildfire Risk Remains High

(14) Hunting prohibited in parts of Va. forests due to fire concerns

(15) Wildfires burn 20,000 acres in Va. national forests

(16) Firefighters battling fatigue as well as large fires across Virginia

(17) Wildfire burning on Fort Benning

(18) DOT: Fla. wildfire smoke could affect Ga. roads

(19) Emergency Manager Wildfire Smoke Advisory Update for April 13, 2012

(20) Wildfire danger grows

(21) Stay Safe During Wildfire Season

(22) IBHS offers guidance on reducing wildfire-related damage during Florida Wildfire Awareness Week

(23) Wildfires continue to burn across province

(24) Easter forest fires warning

(25) Wine | Storm in a bottle

(26) Long Island Firefighter Recovers Helmet, Keepsakes