WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 011713

Colorado US Senator Udall sounded off about Congress failing to fund his Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which would have provided millions in relief money to cover damage done by wildfires this past summer (1); while the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has released a report that shows that although radiation was in the smoke from the Mustang Complex Fire in the Salmon-Challis National Forest last summer, it was not at dangerous levels (2). Fire crews will begin burning slash piles in South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest now that there is some snow on the ground (3); and a wildfire that began as a trailer fire was reported near Ladson, South Carolina (4). Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber and the Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects are joining forces to better deal with wildfires on that Mediterranean island (5). As a total fire ban is proclaimed for all of Australian Capital Territory and most of New South Wales, fire brigades prepared for the worst bushfire conditions so far this season (6); even as donations flooded into two communities impacted by bushfires, as shown by the next two items (7)(8); but studies of black holes have been delayed due to damage caused by bushfires in Warrumbungle National Park to the Siding Spring observatory (9); meanwhile, the Prime Minister toured burn areas assessing the damage done (10); and Hills Rural Fire Service geared up for more bushfires while warning residents to have their evacuation plans finalized, just in case (11). Fire crews managed to prevent a bushfire from destroying four homes in Belli Park, Queensland (12). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Nathan Maddock, Communications Officer for Victoria-based Bushfire CRC, sent along a new study which reports research to identify leading practices in spatial planning for bushfire risk and broader emergency management in the context of climate change (13); homeowners in Licola, Victoria, being urged to flee a wind-driven bushfire that exploded to 4,200 hectares in size overnight (14); arson being suspected in most of a dozen bushfires that broke out near Pakenham yesterday (15). Country Fire Service crews battled a 2,300-hectare blaze burning in South Australia's Bundaleer Forest (16); but firefighters gained the upper hand on a 12-hectare bushfire near Rockingham, Western Australia, apparently sparked by a car fire (17). "Volunteering Tasmania", a new website setup to help survivors of bushfires in that state, has gone online (18); while a relief concert continues to add talent to their roster (19). And finally, firefighters in Clinton, Utah, probably felt they had entered a war zone when they encountered a house fire that included exploding propane tanks and flying bullets!

(1) Udall: House Refusal To Support Watershed Relief Stalls Help For Communities Burned By 2012 Wildfires

(2) Officials say radiation-laced wildfire smoke posed no risk

(3) Forest Service to begin burning slash piles

(4) Several Lowcountry firefighting agencies fight brush fire near I-26

(5) Greek and Turkish Cypriots to cooperate on fire fighting

(6) Beware the ill wind … brigades steeled for common foe

(7) Standing by our mates devastated by bushfire

(8) Local residents coming out in support of bushfire vicitms

(9) Australia wildfires delay black hole studies

(10) PM hears heartbreaking tales of fire loss

(11) Hills RFS volunteers gear up for bushfire danger: Don't leave it too late

(12) Firefighters fight to save homes from bushfire at Belli Park

(13) Urban and regional planning for risk and uncertainty in a changing climate

(14) Vic residents told to leave bushfire zone

(15) Arson suspected in Pakenham fires

(16) Crews continue forest fire fight

(17) Bushfire under control in Rockingham

(18) Volunteering Website Launched in Wake of Bushfires

(19) Relief concert for bushfire victims

(20) Exploding propane, bullets hamper firefighting effort