WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092112

The impact of environmental concerns for the black-backed woodpecker in Lake Tahoe, California, had to be considered in preparing a forest treatment plan to reduce the wildfire danger (1). A 25,553-acre wildfire south of Sisters, Oregon, is now 45% contained (2); meanwhile, the capricious nature of wildfire burn areas is explored by the next article (3). A number of wildfires in Central Washington may merge into a huge blaze the size of Seattle (4); where the Mission Ridge Ski Resort is using snow blowers to water down structures as a wildfire approaches (5); and Highway 97 is being closed at Blewett Pass to facilitate back burns (6); but the Central Washington State Fair is opening under a smoky cloud (7); and a forecast of lightning strikes from thunderstorms over the weekend doesn't bode well for the future (8). Insurance corporation Chartis is expanding its Private Client Group Wildfire Protection Unit in Colorado (9). Increased drying of fuels has Idaho Panhandle National Forest concerned about the wildfire danger (10); even as environmental officials are sampling the air around a wildfire burning through abandoned uranium fields for radioactivity (11); while a photo spread shows some wildlife spotted by firefighters battling wildfires there (12). Teton Interagency Fire officials elevated the wildfire danger rating in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park and Teton County to extreme (13); but officials in Ravalli County, Montana, indicated that a 5,021-acre wildfire was now 40% contained (14). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources battled a two-acre wildfire near Eau Claire which was suspicious in origin (15); and the Mississippi Forestry Commission offered its wildfire-fighting services to Adams County (16). The International Association of Wildland Fire, has extended its call for papers for its upcoming Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina (17). British Columbia, Canada's, Kamloops Fire Centre is keeping 173 personnel active as hot weather continues to stoke the wildfire danger (18); while a study into the aftermath of a massive wildfire that destroyed a portion of Slave Lake, Alberta, shows that the community is recovering (19); but fire crews in Winnipeg, Manitoba, were cleaning up after a wildfire in the Assiniboine Forest (20); but even though the wildfire danger in Ontario continues to diminish, 23 wildfires are still burning (21). Despite a devastating wildfire in Argentina's Torres del Paine National Park last December, tourism is booming (22). Numerous wildfires continued to burn in Portugal and another was reported in Italy (23); while the World Bank has approved a $40 million loan to co-finance a $121.26 million Forest Fire Response Project with the Russian Federation (24). Heading Down Under, Victoria's Energy Minister discusses improvements to bushfire safety by electric utilities in a radio segment (25). Firefighters in Queensland declared victory as the state government backed down on its efforts to make substantial personnel cuts just as bushfire season arrives (26); and a number of volunteer fire brigades in Central Queensland were the recipients of $250,000 worth of donated equipment (27). A bushwalker who destroyed 5 ha of Adelaide, South Australia's, Englebrecht Reserve after setting a signal fire has been cleared of charges (28). As the Department of Environment and Conservation issued a bushfire alert for Western Australia, a NASA satellite provides an overview of bushfires in the area (29); while some are charging that the state government has learned nothing from the Margaret River bushfires as they face what could be a calamitous season (30). Tasmania's acting Premier has vowed to implement a single statewide planning code for bushfire-prone areas (31). And finally, firefighters from Clark County Fire & Rescue have a new prank to pull on colleagues: getting their picture in the paper!

(1) Lake Tahoe Forest Plan Minded the Woodpecker

(2) Pole Creek Fire grows to cover 40 square miles

(3) Wildfires scorch landscapes, leave other spots alone as they burn mosaic patterns (two looks)

(4) Officials: Central Wash. wildfires may merge into 'monster blaze'

(5) Washington ski resort spray used against wildfire

(6) Blewett Pass closed for firefighting

(7) Yakima fair opening under cloud of wildfire smoke

(8) Firefighters prepare for potential lightning storm

(9) Chartis Private Client Group Expands, Enhances Wildfire Protection Unit

(10) Idaho forest dryness spikes; fire danger extreme

(11) Idaho wildfire roars through former uranium mine site

(12) Photos: Forest fire crews encounter wildlife

(13) Interagency fire managers increase fire danger rating to extreme

(14) Wildfire south of Hamilton under control, commander says

(15) Firefighters investigating mysterious forest fire

(16) County may get wildfire help

(17) The deadline for the CALL FOR PAPERS has been extended to October 8, 2012

(18) Hot weather extends fire season

(19) Researchers Confirm Slave Lake Shows Continued Community Strength as Wildfire Recovery Process Continues

(20) Crews fight fire in Winnipeg's Assiniboine Forest

(21) Fire threat easing

(22) Active South America Reports Patagonia Tourism is Strong despite Torres del Paine National Park Fires last December

(23) EFFIS - Current Situation

(24) Forest Fire Response Project: World Bank Continues its Support to Sustainable Forestry Management and Effective Protection of the Environment in Russia

(25) Power companies respond to Bushfire Royal Commission

(26) Volunteer firefighters praise cuts rethink

(27) Donation to bolster rural firefighting efforts

(28) Bushwalker cleared of causing bushfire in the Adelaide Hills with 'signal fire'

(29) Bushfires in Western Australia

(30) WA risks summer bushfire 'calamity'

(31) New Tasmanian bushfire planning code

(32) Off Beat: Firefighters cool off hot shots with ice cream penalty