WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 120812

Red Flag warnings are up across parts of San Diego County, California, due to winds and low humidity forecast through Tuesday (1); but the state fire fee comes under attack once again by several politicians voicing their opinions in the next article (2). Wildfire damage in Douglas County, Nevada, prompted the Bureau of Land Management to restrict wood gathering due to the danger of erosion of the soil (3); while in New Mexico, the Silver City Hotshots are looking for a few new recruits (4). A house fire in Jefferson County, Colorado, became a wildfire when it spread to nearby forested areas (5); but as Fort Collins water officials seek water sources to supplement those impacted by recent wildfires, farmers in Larimer County worried that their crops may suffer from a lack of irrigation water (6). An Op-Ed piece from Utah urges residents of that state to support a bill that would better prepare for wildfires, which cost the state $50 million this year alone (7). Fire crews conducted a controlled burn in James City, North Carolina (8); while an Arbor Day presentation in South Carolina's Harbison State Forest will touch on forest firefighting (9).The next article takes a look at British Columbia, Canada's, Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative and its impact on wildfire protection funding in that province (10); and a bushfire in Gambia, Africa, destroyed 1 ha of a groundnut farm in Mure Kunda (11). Several bushfires have been reported in Victoria, Australia (12); but an 800-hectare blaze near Seymour has finally been brought under control (13). And finally, the NASA provides us with a stunning satellite view which shows, among other things, wildfires in Western Australia!

(1) Red Flag Warning issued for risk of wildfire

(2) Logue blasts fire fee; state board makes it permanent

(3) BLM restrictions on burned areas in Douglas County

(4) Silver City Hotshots recruiting for firefighter positions

(5) Jefferson County blaze spreads from house to forest

(6) Larimer farmers warned scorched forests may shut off irrigation water

(7) The coming fires

(8) Firefighters conducting controlled burn

(9) SC state forest hosting Arbor Day celebration

(10) West Kelowna wants provincial funding for wildfire protection issue

(11) Gambia: Bush Fire Wrecks Havoc At Mure Kunda Ground Nut Farm

(12) Bushfire near Seymour out of control

(13) Bushfire contained in central Victoria

(14) Wildfires All Across Australia Visible In New Night Image From Space