WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 100812

Despite the fact that fall is here, CAL FIRE urged residents of California's northern coast to remain vigilant for wildfires (1); while a firefighting helicopter lost power and crashed battling a wildfire near Shady Cove, Oregon (2). Two new wildfires in fire-ravaged Central Washington were apparently started by exploding targets over the weekend (3); but a 150-acre blaze in Mason County is now 70% contained (4). A 40-acre wildfire burning in Colorado's San Juan National Forest was apparently sparked by a tourist train (5); and firefighters have brought containment on a 991-acre wildfire burning near Rifle to 80% (6); but an Op-Ed piece draws the connection between climate change and Colorado's increasingly severe wildfires (7). Firefighters from Layton, Utah, battled numerous wildfires across the country this year (8); but closer to home, a 40-acre blaze was reported in Ogden Canyon (9). FEMA has extended the deadline for Oklahomans filing for wildfire relief funds to November 21st (10); while SEAT contractors remain on alert in South Dakota as the ongoing drought presents prime wildfire conditions (11). Despite cooler weather in Minnesota, a 38 mi.² wildfire continues to burn near Red Lake (12); even as a massive high pressure system brought the potential of more wildfires to Wisconsin (13); and to underscore the point, a wildfire was reported outside of Mosinee (14). In Nebraska, a district forester counseled that logging could have reduced the damage done by wildfires this summer (15). Red Flag conditions have been forecast by the National Weather Service for the Chicago, Illinois, suburbs in Grundy County (16); while several counties in northeastern Iowa are under Red Flag warnings as well (17). New Jersey Forest Fire Service officials reminded attendees at the 33rd annual Sportsman's Jamboree about the wildfire danger in the woods (18); and in Washington DC, Congress restored $400 million to US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to help with wildfire mitigation efforts (19). In Florida, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety urged homeowners to create defensible space in wildfire-prone areas as part of its observance of Fire Prevention Week (20). A small wildfire was quickly squelched by firefighters on Hardy Island, British Columbia, Canada (21); but wildfires in northeastern British Columbia are blowing smoke into Edmonton, Alberta (22). Tangent Link sent along an invitation to their Aerial Firefighting Europe 2013 conference to be held at Aix-en-Provence, France (23); while a number of wildfires continued to burn across Italy over the weekend (24). The African nation of Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism is fighting an uphill battle trying to educate people on the dangers posed by setting fires for agricultural purposes (25). Australian researchers will be examining Country Fire Authority’s Victorian Bushfire Information Line in Koroit this week (26); the current fire situation in New South Wales being provided by the next article (27). A woman who falsely claimed $40,000 in Queensland natural disaster relief funds will serve several months in jail for her crime (28); but a class-action lawsuit is being filed by dozens of residents of Margaret River, Western Australia, in regards to a Department of Environment and Conservation controlled burn which destroyed numerous homes in 2011 (29). The Tasmania Fire Service is bracing for a bushfire season that may rival the disastrous one in 2006 (30).

(1) Fire season hits critical stage

(2) Fire-fighting helicopter pilot OK after crashing in rugged terrain near Shady Cove

(3) Exploding targets preliminary cause of two new wildfires

(4) Officials: Mason County wildfire now 70 percent contained

(5) Firefighters Working Durango, Pagosa Fires

(6) Firefighters call it good for Highway 13 fire near Rifle

(7) Opinion: Global warming takes toll on Colorado forests

(8) Local crews spent summer fighting regional wildfires

(9) Brush fire burns 40 acres in Ogden Canyon

(10) Oklahoma Wildfire Victims Have More Time To Apply For Assistance

(11) Aerial firefighters stay alert in parched SD

(12) Fire continues burning near Red Lake

(13) Wildfire risk increases Monday through parts of Wisconsin

(14) Brush fire in Mosinee

(15) Forester says logging could have eased Neb. fires

(16) Red Flag Warning issued for Grundy County area

(17) Wildfire risk is high today in NE Iowa

(18) 33rd annual Sportsman's Jamboree in Maurice River Township draws merchants, enthusiasts

(19) U.S. runs out of funds to battle wildfires

(20) IBHS Urges Residents in Wildfire-Prone Areas to Create Defensible Space During Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7 -13)

(21) Small spot fire on Hardy Island

(22) Smoky conditions blow into Edmonton from wildfire in northeastern B.C.

(23) Aerial Firefighting Europe 2013

(24) EFFIS - Current Situation

(25) Tanzania: Too Many Bushfihalt These Wild Fires to Save the Environmentres, Too Much Environmental Destruction

(26) Bushfire research team focuses on Koroit

(27) Fire crews busy in the bush

(28) Amber Sarah Mallie to serve seven months behind bars for rorting $40,000 from flood and bushfire relief

(29) Margaret River bushfire victims join class action

(30) Firestorm alarm for summer