WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 073012

First up today, Wildfire NOTD subscriber Walt Darran, Safety Committee Chairman for Associated Aerial Firefighters, sent along a video that shows the C-27J Spartan, which has been recommended by Arizona Sen. John McCain as a possible heavy air-tanker replacement, in action at the 2009 Paris Air Show (1); while Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dave Baskett, President of International Emergency Services, sent along a RAND report on how to optimize USFS air attack against wildfires (2); a New York Times article taking a closer look at the ramifications of the study, US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell disputing its findings (3). American Helicopter Services & Aerial Firefighting Association protested a proposed bill by a Southern California Congressman which would change the rules of when military assets are utilized in wildfires (4); while a 450-acre wildfire was reported west of Lake Isabella in Kern County (5); and a wildfire has scorched between 40 and 60 acres outside of Quincy (6); but CAL FIRE reported that a 420-acre wildfire that started Saturday in Mendocino County has been completely contained (7); meanwhile, as Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation efforts get underway, officials are reopening portions of the Mendocino National Forest closed by the recent Mill Fire (8). The danger of flooding in wildfire burn areas of San Juan County, New Mexico, is the focus of the next article (9). Recent wildfires have had a negative impact on Colorado's whitewater rafting tourist trade (10); and in the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon Fire, residents of Colorado Springs fear that noncompliance with building codes may create headaches for neighborhoods as they rebuild (11). Incident commanders withdrew firefighters battling a wildfire in Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness due to the hazard posed by fallen timber (12). Although Utah has seen 600 wildfires so far this season, a recent drop in wildfire activity has been attributed to rain and fire restrictions (13); nevertheless, wildfires are still burning in that state (14). Wildfire activity across Oklahoma is provided by the next item (15); and wildfire activity across Wyoming is summarized by the one that follows (16). A number of wildfires have been sparked by lightning in Montana's Gallatin National Forest (17); as well as in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (18); and lightning was blamed for a dozen new fires in the Bitterroot National Forest (19); but firefighters were gaining the upper hand on a least six blazes in the southwest (20). North Dakota Forest Service reported that a 300-acre wildfire burning near Medora was sparked by lightning over the weekend (21). Firefighters have contained a wildfire which scorched 100 mi.² outside of Omaha, Nebraska (22); but the fire has put a crimp in the tourist trade (23). A grassfire in Walnut Grove, Missouri, destroyed several structures (24); and fire officials fear that a 68-acre wildfire sparked by lightning in Ozark County could get a lot larger due to blown down timber in the area (25). The danger of flaming wind turbines sparking forest fires was raised by officials in Penobscot County, Maine (26); but in a state which normally sees 250 wildfires a year, New Hampshire has already seen 269, which is worrisome to fire officials (27). In British Columbia, Canada, Wildfire Management Branch officials announced that they had a 30-hectare wildfire 20% contained (28); while a uranium mine 800 km north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, had to be evacuated for the first time in 35 years due to wildfires (29); and several hundred people from Ontario's Sandy Lake First Nation settlement have been forced to evacuate as wildfires approached (30); fire officials in Québec warning campers about the fire danger in a year which has seen 571 wildfires, a 30% increase over normal (31). Aircraft and firefighters on the ground continued to grapple with 143 wildfires burning in Russia's Far East (32); where the Republic of Sakha has recorded 289 forest fires this season (33). An Op-Ed piece from Zimbabwe, Africa, argues for tougher penalties in the Forest Act to reduce wildfire danger (34). In the wake of a report from Energy Safe Victoria, some Australians were afraid that extreme trimming of vegetation may be implemented (35); while Country Fire Authority is working with local officials to put together Township Protection Plans in the Macedon Ranges (36); but Western Australia utility Western Power has quietly begun making payments to people impacted by bushfires attributed to that company's equipment (37). And finally, most folks appreciate firefighters coming to put out a fire at their residence, but some six-legged lodgers in Carmi, Illinois, definitely did not!

(1) C-27J At Paris Air Show

(2) Air Attack Against Wildfires

(3) U.S. Is Urged to Change Its Firefighting Air Fleet

(4) Military Involvement in Wildland Firefighting Impacts Commercial Airtanker Fleet Modernization

(5) Kern River Valley wildfire burns 450 acres

(6) Fire Burning Near Quincy California

(7) North Fire nears full containment; reaches 420 acres

(8) Mendocino National Forest more accessible in wake of Mill Fire

(9) Flooding after wildfires can cause damage

(10) Colo. rafting tourism struggles in wildfires' wake

(11) Rebuilding to test covenants after Colorado Springs wildfire

(12) Dangerous conditions prompt withdrawal of firefighters on blaze near Stanley

(13) Drop in wildfires attributed to rain, restrictions

(14) Firefighters battling Utah wildfires

(15) UPDATE: Wildfire prompts home evacuations near Earlsboro

(16) More wildfires in Wyoming over weekend

(17) Fires burning in the Gallatin National Forest

(18) Lightning blamed for fires in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

(19) 12 new fires spotted in Bitterroot Nat. Forest over weekend

(20) Six wildfires in southwest Montana under control

(21) Forest Service fights fire south of Medora

(22) Nebraska wildfires are snuffed, but flare-ups still possible

(23) Wildfire contained, but canoers still staying away

(24) Area firefighters battle Walnut Grove blaze

(25) Lightning strike causes forest fire, burns almost 70 acres in Ozark County

(26) Forest and turbine fire questions

(27) Wildfire risk keeps NH vigilant

(28) Evacuation alert issued for Wilson Landing area residents

(29) Forest fire forces mine retreat

(30) Fire evacuees arrive

(31) Quebec forest fires up by 30 per cent

(32) Russia's Siberia region hit by wildfires

(33) Since the beginning of the season in Yakutia recorded 289 forest fires

(34) Zimbabwe: Let's Do Away With the 'Fire Season'

(35) Lines drawn in power battle

(36) No 'safer place' if fire hits town

(37) Opposition call for transparency on bushfire payments

(38) Firefighters stung while fighting fire