WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 091112

We lead off today with an impressive time lapse video of wildfires across the world compiled from images recorded by NASA's Earth Observatory over the years (1). In California, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that will reduce damages landowners pay for starting wildfires in the state (2); while firefighters in Lake County brought the 4,618-acre Scott's Fire to 35% containment (3); and the economic boost provided by thousands of firefighters battling the North Pass Fire in Northern California is the focus of the next article (4); but unfortunately, criminals also visited the area, vandalizing National Guard assets (5). Red Flag warnings have been issued for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming by the National Weather Service (6); even as the fire season in the West showed no signs of abating (7). A summary of wildfire activity across Oregon is provided by the next item (8); where, although firefighters have nearly contained the 22,250-acre Goff Fire, Oregon Department of Forestry urged homeowners to remain vigilant as more wildfires could crop up (9). A summary of wildfire activity across Washington state, where tens of thousands of acres have been burned by lightning-sparked blazes, is provided by the next article (10); 110 of those wildfires merging into the Wenatchee River Complex (11); smoke from wildfires combining with dust from harvesters to make for hazy skies in Spokane (12). A report by CoreLogic Inc. shows that Colorado has the second-highest wildfire risk for homes in the US (13). Idaho Power crews supported firefighters protecting their power lines from the massive 280,000-acre Mustang Complex (14); but lightning sparked more wildfires in Utah, including a 500-acre blaze on Stansbury Island in the Great Salt Lake (15). Wildfire activity in Durrant and Bryan counties, Oklahoma, is covered by the next item (16); while firefighter trainees and instructors got some unexpected live-fire experience in Wood County, Texas, when a 12-acre wildfire broke out nearby (17). Dry, windy weather has put all of Wyoming under a Red Flag alert (18). Firefighters have Montana's 350-acre Allen Fire 95% contained (19); but a new fire in Musselshell County was threatening dozens of structures (20); and dropping humidity levels prompted fears that other wildfires across that state could expand (21). Residents of North and South Dakota are being inundated with wildfire smoke from neighboring states (22). A massive wildfire outside of Peachland, British Columbia, was considered 70% contained, allowing some of the 1,500 evacuees to return home (23); while gusty winds have complicated firefighting on a 5,000-hectare blaze in southern Alberta (24); but wildfire survivors in Luce County, Ontario, can now sign up for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (25). Although wildfire activity in Southern Europe continues to diminish, wildfires were still reported in Portugal, Spain, Greece, Macedonia, and Albania (26). In Australia, a Mudgegonga Fire Brigade captain has received a National Emergency Medal for his valor fighting the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria (27); but West Australia's government is being called upon to release a report on the Margaret River bushfires, which were started by a controlled burn (28). And finally, firefighters in Macon, Georgia, may demand combat pay after fighting a house fire at a policeman's residence which featured exploding ammunition!

(1) The evolution of wildfires around the world

(2) Gov. Jerry Brown signs lumber tax, wildfire liability limits

(3) Firefighters keep Scotts Fire from advancing, containment more than doubles Monday

(4) Firefighters give boost to local lodging

(5) Army chopper vandalized at Ukiah airport

(6) "Red flag" wildfire warnings in 5 Western states

(7) Evacuations ordered in Washington state, Wyoming, Montana as fire season rages on across West

(8) Spread of wildfire near Sisters being aided by wind

(9) Crews get ring around Goff fire

(10) Wildfires devour tens of thousands of acres in WA

(11) Multiple wildfires merge into Wenatchee River Complex

(12) Wildfires, harvest contribute to dusty haze across Spokane

(13) Colorado second for wildfire risk to homes

(14) Idaho Power crews on the fire lines

(15) Firefighters look for rain to help douse Stansbury Island fire

(16) Wildfires erupt across Durant, Bryan County

(17) Wood County firefighters exercise training in real life brushfire Saturday

(18) Week's weather likely to bring little aid to Casper Mountain firefighters

(19) UPDATE: Firefighters halt forward progress of Allen Fire

(20) Newly-sparked fire threatening structures in Musselshell County

(21) Weather could stoke wildfires on Lolo, Flathead forests

(22) Smoke from Western wildfires pushing into Dakotas

(23) Some still away from homes in B.C. town where fire risk is never far from mind

(24) Firefighters get control of wind-whipped blaze in southern Alberta

(25) Duck Lake Fire victims can now apply for assistance

(26) EFFIS - Current Situation

(27) Medal honour ‘for the people’

(28) Opposition calls for release of bushfire report

(29) Firefighters dodge flying bullets in Macon blaze