WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 121812

The International Association of Wildland Fire has made a series of papers on the restoration of fire-affected soils available online (1). Construction workers are being blamed by Washington state's Department of Natural Resources for last summer's Taylor Bridge fire, which burned more than 23,000 acres, destroying 61 homes in the process (2); but it's hard to believe in December that New Mexico's Guadalupe Ranger District has had to elevate fire danger warnings due to a lack of precipitation coupled with unseasonably warm temperatures (3). The 2012 Idaho Wildfire Long Term Recovery Organization received a check for $25,000 from Wells Fargo Bank to help cover homeowners' uninsured losses from this summer's wildfires (4); while mine operators in Lincoln County, Montana, have received $25,000 to help along emergency preparations for a wildfire on their property (5). Contractors from Wyoming showed how quickly they could reduce scorched timber to chips in Nebraska's Chadron State Park (6); but despite the fact that Kentucky's full fire season is over, the Division of Forestry Director cautioned homeowners that the danger could return after a few dry days (7). US Forest Service plans to burn 71,000 acres of Florida's Ocala National Forest beginning in January (8); while property owners in Wairarapa, New Zealand, could be billed for bushfire suppression costs if their controlled burns get away from them (9). Heading to Australia, Wildfire NOTD subscriber Richard Thornton, Research Director and Deputy CEO of Victoria-based Bushfire CRC, issued a warning about the fire danger as Christmas approaches (10); even as the Metropolitan Fire Brigade warned residents living in the Monash region to step up preparations for summer bushfires (11). A 1,200-hectare bushfire burning in inaccessible terrain in Queensland's Great Sandy National Park may continue for another week (12); but as ranchers continue to evaluate the damage done by bushfires in the Gulf Savannah Region, they may have to cull their herds for some cattle to survive (13). A 3,000-hectare bushfire near Murringo, New South Wales, has killed an estimated 500 sheep (14); and Wollondilly Council and the Rural Fire Service have prepared a video urging residents to prepare for bushfires (15); Sandy Point Rural Fire Brigade sending much the same message to folks in Liverpool (16). And finally, some rookie firefighters in Texas learned a valuable lesson about safely disposing of flaming debris after they set a shed at their fire training facility on fire!

(1) Special issue: Restoration of fire-affected soils

(2) Safety violation blamed for huge Cle Elum wildfire

(3) Fire danger elevated in Guadalupe Ranger District

(4) LTRO Charlotte Wildfire Group Gets $25,000 Boost

(5) Emergency Agencies Prepare for Wildfire at W.R. Grace Mine

(6) Wyoming company demonstrates small scale chipper for fire rehab work

(7) Fall forest fire hazard season is over in Kentucky, but officials urge continued caution

(8) 71K acres targeted in Ocala National Forest's 2013 prescribed burn plan

(9) Burn off sparks costly pine fire

(10) Residents warned to be bushfire ready

(11) Monash on bushfire alert

(12) Bushfire could burn for another week, firefighters fear

(13) Wildfires devastate Queensland's Gulf Savannah region

(14) Sheep killed in NSW bushfire

(15) Wollondilly residents sent strong message about need for plan in RFS bushfire video

(16) Liverpool residents urged to be bushfire ready

(17) Texas Rookies Accidentally Burn Shed at Training Facility