WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 071212

An article on air-tanker groundings shows a disturbing pattern of aircraft being grounded just when they're needed most (1); while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discuss the hazards of wildfire smoke in the next article (2). California's Sequoia National Forest will be imposing fire restrictions on Friday (3); as a 16,800-acre wildfire continues to burn in Mendocino National Forest (4); smoke from the fire inundating Lake County (5); while hundreds of firefighters are grappling with a 220-acre blaze burning in Placer County (6). Wildfire activity in Eastern Oregon is prompting homeowners to prepare to evacuate (7); and a wildland firefighter who was injured in an auto accident in Western Oregon remains in critical condition (8). A pair of wildfires has been reported in Southern Nevada (9); while the wildfire danger is restricting target shooting in Arizona (10). Officials from Colorado's Roosevelt National Forest thanked citizens of Larimer County for their patience as they begin the long road to recovery (11); where people put out of work by the wildfires have until August 8th to apply for unemployment benefits through FEMA's Disaster Unemployment Assistance program (12). Military C-130s were re-deploying to Utah and Idaho (13). A 250-acre wildfire in Boise County, Idaho, may force evacuations (14); firefighters expressing confidence that they will extinguish a 933-acre wildfire near Oakley today (15). Lightning strikes sparked new wildfires in Utah, where a 108,132-acre blaze is expected to be contained by the end of the week (16); power lines being blamed for the deadly Wood Hollow Fire, which destroyed 160 structures and cost $4 million to suppress (17). Farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma and Arkansas are faced with a wildfire threat from an unexpected quarter: spontaneously combusting hay bales! (18) Firefighters from Connecticut returned home from battling a 1,200-acre wildfire in Virginia's George Washington National Forest (19). New York-based insurance company Chartis is expanding its services to homeowners in several Western states (20); and a New York Times article opens the debate on forest policy, housing developments, and wildfires as a lead-in to eight Op-Ed pieces that discuss government impact on wildfires (21). A 120-acre wildfire was reported outside of Hamilton Township, New Jersey (22). A story from Vancouver, British Columbia, touches on individual responsibility in preventing Canadian wildfires (23); something of equal concern on Prince Edward Island, where extreme fire conditions are putting a damper on summer campfires (24). In Australia, bushfire concerns are hampering efforts to build a meditation centre in Lismore, New South Wales (25); while the West Australian group Bush Fire Front expressed their concerns for uncontrollable bushfires due to fewer prescribed burns by the Department of Environment and Conservation (26). And finally, Wildfire News Of The Day has launched its social networking site on Facebook, so please "Like" us if you have a Facebook account!

(1) Aerial Tankers Have History of Being Grounded as Wildfires Rage

(2) Health Tip: Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke Exposure

(3) Sequoia National Forest to impose fire restrictions on campers

(4) Mendocino Forest wildfire spreads to 16,800 acres

(5) Poor air quality due to forest fire expected to continue Thursday

(6) Number of firefighters doubles to 500 as forest fire threat looms in Placer County

(7) Wildfires grow; Steens area hamlet placed on alert

(8) Hospitalized firefighter in critical condition

(9) Fires Burning West of Las Vegas Valley

(10) Target shooting restricted amid wildfire hazard

(11) Forest Service appreciates patience in High Park Fire recovery

(12) Victims of Front Range wildfires eligible for jobless benefits

(13) Military firefighting planes moved to Utah, Idaho

(14) Wildfire near Grimes Creek Road threatens homes

(15) Crews Wrangle Fire near Oakley

(16) Two new Utah wildfires sparked as lightning strikes

(17) Report: Arcing power lines blamed for Utah wildfires

(18) Oklahoma, Arkansas fear repeat of 2011 drought

(19) Local firefighters return home from fighting Virginia wild fire

(20) ADDING MULTIMEDIA Chartis Enhances its Wildfire Protection Unit® with New Mapping Technology, Expansion into Texas and More Areas of California

(21) Does the Government Cause or Prevent Wildfires?

(22) Forest fire burning in Hamilton Twp.

(23) Rain does its part to prevent fires so should you

(24) Forest fire danger to reach extreme today

(25) Council rejects meditation centre

(26) Lack of prescribed burns a recipe for disaster: Bush Fire Front

(27) Wildfire News Of The Day on Facebook