WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 051612

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Chuck Bushey, Past President of the International Association of Wildland Fire, will be moderating a webinar on wildland firefighter heat illnesses (1); while a new tree ring study postulates that mega fires in the southwestern US may be rarer than initially thought  (2). El Dorado Hills Fire Department will be hosting an open house to discuss wildfire planning with California homeowners tonight (3); and Wildfire NOTD subscriber Susan Kocher, Natural Resources Advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension, sent along a couple of items about Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Week events (4)(5). A 5-acre wildfire in Lyon County, Nevada, is being treated as suspicious (6). Some 17,500 acres are now on fire in Arizona, where four wildfires continue to challenge firefighters (7); including one that could burn into the tourist town of Crown King (8); prompting advice for pet owners on how best to evacuate (9); while Tonto National Forest is now under fire restrictions due to drought conditions (10). A firefighter was injured battling a 982-acre wildfire that is burning in Larimer County, Colorado (11); a fire which arson investigators believe was human caused (12); where grateful residents provided some vittles for the firefighting crews (13). At least one community outside of Houston, Texas, has prepared for wildfire season via the Firewise Community program (14). Smoke from a nearby wildfire closed down a major highway along Florida's Space Coast (15); while fire officials kept close tabs on four wildfires in Brevard County (16). In Canada, British Columbia's Ministry of Forests is worried that increasing temperatures on Vancouver Island may lead to wildfires (17); followed by an update on wildfires burning in Alberta (18); where fire crews are working feverishly to contain them (19); along with a little help from some friends (20); but poor cell phone service in the region has hampered firefighting efforts (21); meanwhile, residents of Badger, Manitoba, were allowed to return home briefly to collect possessions after having been evacuated because of a 5,300-hectare wildfire nearby (22); but arsonists continue to spark small wildfires around Sudbury, Ontario (23); the situation not helped by a short winter that has already seen a number of wildfires across the province (24). A 2,238-hectare wildfire was reported in Tarragona Province, Spain (25); a summary of wildfire activity in Russia, where 21 wildfires are burning on 3,085-hectares, is up next (26). In the African nation of Ghana, bee keepers applauded the government's efforts to curb bushfires which have caused them tremendous losses annually (27). In Australia, an out-of-court settlement by Victoria's Department of Sustainability and Environment and SPI Electricity has earned Black Saturday survivors a $30 million windfall (28); but despite the danger, Yarra Ranges Council is allowing a New Zealand couple to build a home in a high-risk bushfire area (29). Margaret River bushfire survivors have welcomed Western Australia's plans to set up a separate burn-off assessment bureau (30). And finally, volunteer firefighters in Wray, Colorado, have been forced to remove beer kegs from their firehouse (so much for Miller Time after a call!)

(1) Wildland Firefighter Heat Illness Awareness and Prevention

(2) Ancient tree-ring records from Southwest US suggest today's megafires are truly unusual

(3) El Dorado Hills fire officials discuss wildfire plans with residents tonight

(4) Living With Fire In The Lake Tahoe Basin

(5) Fire Adapted Communities Webinar Series

(6) Brush fire in Lyon County on Tuesday being investigated as arson

(7) Arizona wildfires are growing; wind, low humidity add to trouble

(8) Photos: Firefighters fear Gladiator Fire could still hit Crown King

(9) Arizona Wildfires, Pets, Emergency Evacuations

(10) Fire restrictions on Tonto National Forest begin today

(11) Firefighter Injured At 982 Acre Hewlett Fire

(12) Wildfire burning near Hewlett Gulch in Poudre Canyon is human caused, 982 acres

(13) Grateful Poudre Canyon residents feed firefighters on Hewlett Gulch fire

(14) Community ready for fire season

(15) Wildfire closes busy central Fla. highway

(16) Officials keeping close watch on Beachline fires

(17) Fire risk raised with warm weather back

(18) Two Alberta wildfires listed as "out of control"

(19) Crews working all-out to keep wildfire from spreading in east-central Alberta

(20) Fire fight gets backup help

(21) Better Cell phone service not expected in SE Manitoba anytime soon

(22) Wildfire evacuees get brief window to go home

(23) 2 more Sudbury fires follow teen's arrest on arson charge

(24) Short winter might translate into long forest fire season — official

(25) EFFIS - Current Situation

(26) Forest fire burning 3085 hectares in Russia

(27) Bee keepers lauds assemblies' efforts at curbing bushfires

(28) Black Saturday settlement reached

(29) CFA nod for house

(30) Bushfire victims back burn-off review office

(31) Firefighters agree to remove beer kegs