WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 041612

Officials from Arizona's Apache Sitgreaves National Forest will open a public comment session this week to discuss thinning projects (1). The official report on Colorado's Lower North Fork Fire, which burned 6 mi.² and killed three people, will be released today (2); but Colorado State Forest Service is worried that current conditions in Routt County could lead to another bad wildfire season like the one in 2002 (3). Texas Forest Service officials are hopeful that recent rain will dampen the wildfire danger in East Texas (4); while the next article takes a look at the financial impact of wildfires in South Dakota (5). Fire managers in Montana's Bitterroot National Forest plan nearly a dozen controlled burns which will burn off 1,400 acres of timber (6); and Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources announced that the weekend rainfall has reduced the wildfire danger in all 72 counties (7). A trio of wildfires kept firefighters in Ogemaw County, Michigan, busy over the weekend (8). The cause of a 700-acre wildfire that burned in French Creek State Park, Pennsylvania, last week has been determined to be trees blowing into power lines (9); while residents of Berks County were directed towards the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources “Firewise” information webpage as wildfire conditions worsened in their area (10). Over two dozen grass and mulch fires, apparently sparked by discarded cigarettes, were reported in Lexington, Kentucky (11). The Maine Forest Service is investigating the origin point of a wildfire near Kennebunk which threatened homes over the weekend (12); even as warm, dry conditions across that state sparked numerous wildfires (13); similar conditions prompting officials in New Hampshire to issue fire danger warnings (14). A 67-year-old firefighter died responding to a wildfire in Connecticut (15); and a firefighter was injured battling a one-acre blaze in Washington, DC (16). A summary of wildfire activity across Virginia is provided by the next article (17); while a 500-acre wildfire burning in Pender County, North Carolina, has been contained (18). Another wildfire broke out in Martin County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon (19); but firefighters in Manatee County finally managed to rope in a 30-acre wildfire that had threatened homes in Myakka (20); while a 35,000-acre wildfire burning in Columbia County is now 65% contained (21); and a 440-acre blaze in Collier County was fully contained (22); nevertheless, 126 wildfires have burned more than 40,000 acres across the state (23). With drought warnings being issued for 17 English counties, will wildfires be far behind? (24) A wildfire which briefly threatened homes outside of Lochaber, Scotland, prompted warnings to landowners in the region about the wildfire danger (25); and a wildfire developed from a controlled burn in Dumfries as well (26). In Australia, The Victorian government is suing a power utility for $22 million for damages done by Black Saturday bushfires sparked by their equipment (27). Western Australia's government is under fire over the amount of compensation being given to survivors of the Margaret River bushfire (28); but plans to ban controlled burns near towns raises fears of more devastating bushfires come summer (29). And finally, firefighters in the UK had a tricky extrication operation to perform: removing a nine-year-old's finger from a strongbox lock!

(1) Eastern Arizona Forest Plans for Wildfire Recovery

(2) Team releasing its findings on controlled burn blamed for igniting deadly Colorado wildfire

(3) Wildfire costs mount for Routt County

(4) Rain hoped to limit 2012 East Texas wildfire risk

(5) Active fire season can be costly

(6) Bitterroot National Forest to light prescribed burns

(7) Rainy weekend helps cut wildfire risk in Wisconsin

(8) No injuries in 70-acre wildfire

(9) French Creek wildfire cause disclosed; contained but still burning

(10) Berks warns of high risk of wildfires

(11) Lexington firefighters warn about rash of mulch fires

(12) Maine Forest Service investigating suspicious wildfire in Kennebunk

(13) Dry weather sparks Maine fires

(14) Fire Danger Called Extremely High

(15) Firefighter Dies Responding To Brush Fire

(16) Injuries for firefighter at Sunday evening brush fire

(17) Monday fire update

(18) Pender County wildfire contained

(19) Firefighters battle brush fire in Hobe Sound

(20) Myakka fire shows Manatee's extreme dryness threat

(21) County Line Fire grows; 65% contained

(22) Collier County brush fire contained

(23) Florida Wildfires Mean Falling Ash, Low Humidity

(24) Drought in England could last beyond Christmas - agency

(25) Wildfire sparks warning to landowners

(26) Wildfire blaze almost under control

(27) Black Saturday bushfire suit seeks $22m

(28) Anger over blaze compo

(29) Ban raises bushfire fears

(30) Firefighters to the rescue as boy gets finger stuck in a lock