WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 090612

Rainfall from a tropical storm helped firefighters in Southern California bring a 4,180-acre wildfire to 48% containment (1); allowing some evacuees to return home (2); nevertheless, the fire danger throughout the region remains high (3); and firefighters from Australia and New Zealand are getting some pointers on how wildfires are fought in the US by observing operations on the Williams Fire (4); meanwhile, wildfire activity in Northern California, where a low pressure system spawned numerous dry-lightning storms, is the focus of the next article (5); as firefighters brought a 41,893-acre burning in Mendocino County to 68% containment (6); and the Susanville Interagency Fire Center reported a 6,700-acre wildfire near Likely (7); visitors to the Stanislaus National Forest being advised to keep an eye on any open fires due to the wildfire danger (8); and the California Invasive Plant Council sent along an invitation to their symposium titled "Bay to Basin: Coordinating Response to Invasive Plants Across California", to be held in Rohnert Park in October (9). Wildfires that scorched 1,500 acres in Klickitat County, Washington, forced evacuations (10); even as Department of Natural Resources firefighters were battling a 500-acre wildfire near Ellensburg (11). Fire crews were throwing containment lines around a wildfire which burned 3 to 5 acres in Colorado's Roosevelt National Forest (12); while the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau will be getting a $100,000 federal grant to help encourage tourism, which was heavily impacted by wildfires earlier this season (13). Fire crews in Summit County, Utah, were wrapping up a 61-acre wildfire as Red Flag conditions prevailed in the region (14); and the next article provides a retrospective on the one-year anniversary of a series of wildfires which raged through East Texas (15). As 28 wildfires continue to burn across Montana, the Northern Rockies Coordination Center saw no end in sight to the wildfire season (16); but Canadian air-tankers have played a significant role in firefighting in that state this year (17). Wildfire activity in South Dakota and Nebraska is summarized by the next item (18); while a storm system that passed over Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness sparked several new wildfires and brought little rain (19). Quick work by Canadian firefighters in Ladysmith, British Columbia, knocked down a wildfire which began as a debris burn (20). Wildfire activity in Southern Europe declined a bit, with blazes being reported in Portugal, Greece, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania (21). A 14-hectare wildfire burned into the Parang-parang Watershed outside of Surigao, Philippines, threatening that city's water supply (22); and a wildfire near the Universiti Brunei Darussalam on the island of Borneo was reported yesterday (23). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Richard Thornton, Deputy CEO & Research Director of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre, sent along an assessment of the bushfire outlook across Australia (24); while a 400-hectare bushfire in Budderoo National Park, New South Wales, has been brought under control (25); but fuel loadings of 5 tons per hectare across Central Queensland could portend a very active bushfire season ahead (26); and a South Australian Parliamentary committee report warned that parts of that state are not prepared for bushfires (27). Anticipating a busy fire season in West Australia, Bunbury Bushfire Brigade is looking for a few good volunteers (28). And finally, imagine what it would be like driving around in a pink fire truck like the Pink Heals!

(1) Rain aids battle against California forest fire

(2) Some evacuees going home as crews continue battling wildfire near L.A.

(3) Fire risk remains high in Angeles National Forest

(4) Firefighters from Australia, New Zealand observe

(5) Colusa County wildfire about 10% contained

(6) North Pass Fires prevented from burning more acreage; containment increases

(7) Crews battle new wildfire near Likely

(8) Careless Behavior Increases Fire Risk

(9) Cal-IPC's 21st Annual Symposium - Rohnert Park

(10) Wildfire in Columbia River Gorge forces evacuations

(11) 500 acre wildfire flares up near Ellensburg

(12) Crews working to contain Big Thompson wildfire

(13) Wildfire-Ravaged Colorado Springs Gets Tourism Grant

(14) Summit County wildfire: ‘We’re hoping it’s a done deal’

(15) Wildfire anniversary: Looking back to 2011 helps make us ready

(16) Cooler temps ahead, but no end in sight for wildfire season

(17) Canadian tankers, helicopter key players in 2012 fire season

(18) Fire crews focus on mop-up, cleanup

(19) Lightning sparks new Boundary Waters fires, prompts fire and access restrictions

(20) Burning Garbage Starts Bush Fire

(21) EFFIS - Current Situation

(22) Surigao forest fire hits watershed area

(23) Bushfire Breaks Out At Muara-Tutong Highway

(24) Southern Australian Seasonal Bushfire Assessment 2012-13 released

(25) Budderoo bushfire under control

(26) CQ faces bushfire season

(27) Hills not ready for fire danger

(28) Firies look to horror season

(29) Pink firetrucks on a mission stop in Billings