WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 071412

Homeowners in Southern California's Coachella Valley were not terribly worried about wildfires being sparked by dry lightning strikes (1); but five National Guard helicopters have been assigned to assist nearly 2,000 firefighters on the ground to bring the Robbers Fire, burning in Placer County, to 20% containment (2); strike teams from Solano County joining the fight (3); the next item providing an update on several other blazes burning in the state (4); followed by one which recounts a wildfire that killed 15 firefighters 59 years ago in the Mendocino National Forest (5); firefighters quickly snuffing a small wildfire outside Boulder Creek (6); but in the meantime, the federal lawsuit over 2007's Moonlight Fire is just about wrapped up (7). A manager from the National Fire Protection Association's Firewise Communities organization touches on some points homeowners can use to protect their homes from wildfires (8); but a Washington Post article takes a look at the $25 million US Forest Service is spending to restore burn areas in the West (9); and with over 1,000 counties in 26 Western states declared natural disaster areas, the impact of wildfires on cattle pasture across the West is the focus of the next article (10). A wildfire in Southeast Oregon's Siskiyou National Forest has blazed across 780 mi.², becoming the state's largest wildfire in over a century (11); leading to calls by US Sen. Ron Wyden for federal assistance as fire officials feared that more wildfires were in the offing (12). Complicated federal rules of engagement restricted firefighters battling a 200-acre wildfire burning near Reno, Nevada, last week (13); and a man accused of starting Arizona's 17,446-acre Sunflower Fire in the Tonto National Forest made his first appearance in court (14). Although much of the news about Colorado's wildfires has focused on the destruction to human habitations, native fauna also took their losses in the blazes (15). An update on two wildfires burning in Idaho is provided by the next article (16); followed by a summary of wildfire activity in Utah, where heavy rains have helped firefighters rope in several wildfires (17). Firefighters in Montana's Lewis and Clark National Forest are battling a 500-acre wildfire burning in the Scapegoat Wilderness (18); where Hot Shot crews are being airlifted into the more inaccessible areas (19). The president of the Wyoming Business Alliance weighs in on the fire danger represented by beetle-killed trees in that state (20); while fire managers in Yellowstone National Park plan to let a 29-acre lightning-sparked wildfire burn for ecological purposes (21). Although Missouri's wildfire season typically runs from March through May, hot, dry conditions this year have extended it through the summer (22); and New Jersey Forest Fire Service is investigating a small wildfire which destroyed a number of cut trees in Montgomery (23). Firefighters continued to monitor burn areas along New York State's Adirondack Scenic Railroad (24); while fire officials imposed restrictions on outdoor fires which will probably remain in place through October (25). A researcher from University of Florida's Fire Science Lab uses wildfires in the West to sound a wake-up call for Floridians (26). A quartet of wildfires burning in British Columbia, Canada, shows that the fire season is finally heating up, according to the Prince George Fire Centre (27); but Winnipeg, Manitoba's, skies are smudged with wildfire smoke from blazes in Alberta and Saskatchewan (28); while over two dozen wildfires have been reported burning in Ontario (29); dozens of firefighters keeping an eye on the remnants of a large wildfire which scorched Ottawa's Stony Swamp Conservation Area (30); and as temperatures heat up, the province of Québec has seen 422 wildfires so far this year, well above the average (31); Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources finally lifting an evacuation order for communities near St. George's Bay (32). As 16 wildfires burned about 3,600 ha across Siberia, the Russian city of Yakutsk had to close its airport due to wildfire smoke (33). And finally, wildland firefighters in New York State's Adirondacks decided to leave the fire trucks at home and take the train!

(1) Despite local lightning, wildfire risk minimal

(2) Firefighters advance on Robbers fire, reach 20 percent containment

(3) Solano firefighters helping on big blazes

(4) UPDATED: Flat Fire in Trinity County grows to 1,066 acres; Mill fire scorches 25,000 acres of Mendocino National Forest

(5) 15 firefighters died in Mendocino blaze 59 years ago

(6) Small wildfire doused north of Boulder Creek

(7) Judge extends deadline for signing Moonlight wildfire deal

(8) Is Your Home at Risk From Wildfires?

(9) Forest Service spends millions to grapple with immediate effect of Western wildfires

(10) Ravaged by fires, Western ranchers face "scary" summer

(11) Southeast Oregon wildfire chars 800 square miles

(12) Ron Wyden asks President Obama for federal help fighting wildfires in Oregon

(13) Federal Obstacles Hamper Battle on Nevada Wildfire

(14) Trial set for Sunflower Fire defendant

(15) Wildfire's effects vary on Northern Colorado's native animals

(16) Crews gain ground on key Idaho wildfires

(17) Heavy rains helping crews get upper hand on Utah wildfires

(18) Forest Service to fight fire in Scapegoat Wilderness

(19) Hot Shots swoop into battle Elbow Pass fire in Scapegoat Wilderness

(20) Guest opinion: Beetle kill intensifies West's fire risks, property loss

(21) Firefighters attack lightning fire in Yellowstone

(22) Heat, drought spark wildfire danger in Missouri

(23) State Forest Fire Service investigating Montgomery blaze

(24) Hot spots remain in forest fire (3rd update)

(25) High danger of wildfires across in western and upstate New York

(26) Letter: Western wildfires are a message to Floridians

(27) Forest Fire Threat Inching Upwards

(28) Prairie forest fires may fuel hot, hazy day for Winnipeg

(29) 26 forest fires currently burn in our region

(30) About 55 firefighters keep brush fire contained

(31) Hot, dry conditions plague southern Quebec

(32) Evacuation order lifted at Wheeler Brook forest fire site

(33) Wildfires smoke forces Siberian airport shut

(34) Forest fire consumes 2 acres along railroad tracks