WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 120112

USDA Undersecretary Harris Sherman told the Western Governors' Association meeting in Paradise Valley, Arizona, that the federal government is accelerating its forest restoration projects to reduce the damage done by wildfires in the US (1). Although many were not happy to see the Las Conchas Fire blaze through New Mexico's Jemez Mountains, hunters were pleased with the impact on hunting game (2); so the announcement that another 8,665 acres were treated in October should be music to their ears (3). Hundreds of homes outside of Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park had to be evacuated as winds gusting up to 75 mph helped a wildfire scorch 600 acres in the vicinity of Moraine Park (4); but public insurance adjusters are helping homeowners who lost their homes to wildfires this summer recoup their losses (5); some, however, are questioning the industry connections of two wildfire recovery groups (6). As wildfires get more destructive, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell told the City Club of Boise, Idaho, that there are plans to expand timber sales by 20% over the next two years (7); while Bastrop State Park is beginning to green up as Texas volunteers start planting 220,000 seedlings to replace trees destroyed by wildfires last year (8). Kentucky's Land Between the Lakes region is undergoing 550 acres of controlled burns (9); and fire crews in Montgomery County, Arkansas, continued to monitor a 120-acre wildfire burning in the Ouachita National Forest (10); but a debris burn became a wildfire that scorched 25 acres in Rutherford County, Tennessee (11). With the beginning of wildfire season, Florida Forest Service officials are concerned about the dangerous combination of wildfire smoke and fog blinding motorists (12); and although a 150-acre wildfire on the outskirts of Palmer, Alaska, has been brought under control, members of the state's Division of Forestry continue to monitor hotspots (13). A 300 ha wildfire was reported in Capitán Pratt province, Chile (14). Bushfire activity in northeast Tasmania, Australia, where fire crews were battling blazes at Geeveston, Glen Huon, Glenlusk and Forcett yesterday, has diminished (15); but the bushfire in Forcett brought back memories of the bushfires of 1967 for one resident (16). And finally, firefighters in South Dakota have found a unique way to raise $10,000 for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation: a poker tournament!

(1) Official urges collaboration on wildfire projects

(2) Wildfires create bounty for hunters

(3) All Efforts Made for Safe Burning

(4) Strong winds fuel Fern Lake fire, force evacuations

(5) Public adjusters flock to Colorado after catastrophic wildfires

(6) Wildfire recovery groups questioned over industry connections

(7) U.S. official: Wildfires to get more destructive

(8) Pine tree seedlings coming to Bastrop State Park

(9) LBL Prescribed Burn

(10) Wildfire in Montgomery County will be left to burn for now

(11) Friday Forest Fire: Man Cited For Burning Without Permit

(12) Smoke and fog a concern as wildfire season begins

(13) Palmer wildfire under control; hot spots linger

(14) Forest Fire Consumes 300 Hectares in Cochrane

(15) Fire threat downgraded for Tas north-east residents

(16) Deja vu for bushfire veteran

(17) Wildland firefighters set out to raise $10K with poker tournament