WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 120412

NASA is projecting an increase in wildfire activity across the US over the next few decades (1). San Diego Gas & Electric received a $370 million windfall from two companies in San Diego County, California, in regards to wildfires that raged through the region in 2007 (2); while US Forest Service will be conducting controlled burns on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe (3). Fire crews continued to battle a 6 mi.² wildfire in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park (4); fires this late in the year putting a strain on firefighting resources, as only half as many wildland firefighters are available for duty (5); the damage done to local forests reducing the number of Christmas trees available in Larimer County (6). The Texas Garden Clubs have extended the offer of free trees to homeowners around Possum Kingdom Lake who were impacted by last year's wildfires (7); while a Rutherford County, Tennessee, homeowner may have to pay thousands of dollars to cover suppression of a 25-acre wildfire begun by his debris burn (8). A 160-acre wildfire in Marshall County, Alabama, has been contained (9); and a 320-acre wildfire in Dickenson County, Virginia, is now 20% contained (10). As firefighters in North Carolina continued to battle wildfires, they hoped for 2 to 3 days of soaking rain to diminish the wildfire threat (11); meanwhile, video from the Savannah, Georgia, NAAA conference shows a Fire Boss AT-802F performing water drops (12). The next article takes another look at Alberta, Canada's, FireSmart program, which aims to reduce the wildfire risk through a grants program (13); even as Israel marked a somber anniversary, remembering the Carmel Forest fire which destroyed 12,000 acres and killed 44 people two years ago (14). The United Nations' Global Fire Monitoring Center helped organize a conference in Armenia to discuss the wildfire situation in that South Caucasus nation (15); but outside of Beijing, China, protecting the forest from wildfires is providing employment to thousands of people (16). Cuts in Victoria, Australia's, Country Fire Authority fire crews on the order of $41 million prompted protests from firefighters in Wodonga and Wodonga West (17); firefighters in Ballarat doing much the same thing (18); while Wildfire NOTD subscriber Richard Thornton, Deputy CEO & Research Director of Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre, sent along a call for abstracts for the 2013 AFAC and Bushfire CRC Conference, to be held in Melbourne, Victoria, September 2-5, 2013 (19). A fast-moving bushfire near Miles prompted Queensland Fire and Rescue Service to warn residents to be prepared to evacuate (20); one of more than 50 bushfires raging through the state (21); a BBC segment covering a bushfire outside of Brisbane (22). An increase in winds could force the evacuation of 250 Western Australian residents in Bremer Bay threatened by an 11,000-hectare bushfire (23); even as residents of Donnybrook-Balingup Shire made their own preparations for bushfire season (24). The Tasmanian Fire Service chief praised local fire brigades in the wake of bushfires that threatened Musselroe Bay, Poatina and the Central Plateau (25). And finally, firefighters in Geneva, Illinois, gave Santa Claus a helping hand!

(1) Climate Models Project Increase in U.S. Wildfire Risk

(2) $370m settlement reached over San Diego wildfires

(3) Fires planned for Nevada side of basin

(4) Battle on to keep Fern Lake Fire inside national park

(5) Wildfires In December Put A Strain On Resources

(6) Longmont-area tree lots scrambling after summer fires

(7) Texas Forest Service, Garden Club to Donate Trees to Possum Kingdom Residents

(8) Local Man Faces Large Bill After Forest Fire

(9) Marshall Co. wildfire contained

(10) Wildfire burning in Dickenson County

(11) Forestry officials: busiest fire season in more than a decade

(12) Fire Boss Water Drop at NAAA

(13) FireSmart program should reduce wildfire risks in communities

(14) Israel marks 2 years since worst ever forest fire

(15) International Experts: Wildfires Pose a Real Threat to Armenia

(16) Forest provides jobs for villages

(17) More to do with less: firefighters

(18) Ballarat firefighters march against government funding cuts

(19) Call for Abstracts

(20) Large bushfire threatening Miles and surrounding areas

(21) More than 50 bushfires as Qld temps hit 40

(22) Heatwave sparks bushfires in eastern Australia

(23) Residents encouraged to leave as bushfire looms

(24) Shire prepares for bushfire season

(25) Our 'fantastic' firies

(26) Geneva firefighters get creative on Santa's house