WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 013113

In the Southern California mountain community of Crestline, the Crest Forest Fire Protection District is considering annexation with San Bernardino County Fire Department due to the expense of fighting wildfires and other emergency operations (1); but nearly half a year after it was closed by a wildfire, Oregon's Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge may reopen soon (2). Colorado's governor has issued a trio of executive orders which could have a profound impact on wildfires in that state (3); while Texas Forest Service will begin vegetation thinning around the Davis Mountains Resort next week to reduce the wildfire danger (4). Residents of Bucyrus, North Dakota, now have access to $180,000 to help them recover from wildfire losses (5); but fire officials in Hutchinson, Kansas, are worried that dry conditions could lead to wildfires in the area (6). The North Carolina Forest Service aims to begin a tree-planting operation and controlled burns in Polk County that will stretch over the next few months (7); while high winds around power lines were blamed for a 10-acre wildfire outside of Jacksonville, Florida (8). Officials in Auckland, New Zealand, have implemented a vehicle ban for nearby Woodhill Forest due to the extreme fire danger (9). Country Fire Authority fire crews grappled with a 5,000-hectare bushfire on the slopes of Victoria Mount Hotham that trapped scores of Australians (10); Department of Sustainability and Environment conducting backburns on a bushfire near Aberfeldy (11); but local politicians were focused more on bushfire relief than the announcement of September elections (12). A power pole burned in a Queensland bushfire, despite recent rains, depriving dozens of power in the Mount Alma area (13); while the impact of bushfires on farms in New South Wales (and some of the relief available to farmers) is the topic of the next article (14). Australian music group The Tote raised $5,576.30 for the Red Cross Tasmanian Bushfire Appeal at a concert in Victoria (15); but there was some concern that small farming operations in Tasmania were being overlooked by relief efforts (16). And finally, a firefighter from Symsonia, Kentucky, was dispatched to fight a house fire at a familiar address: his home!

(1) Crest Forest Fire Looks at Annexation

(2) Washougal refuge may reopen, five months afterwildfire-related closure

(3) Gov. Hickenlooper Announces Wildfire Insurance andForest Health Task Force, Wildland Fire Advisory Committee

(4) Project aims to reduce wildfire hazards in the DMR

(5) Residents affected by wildfire get benefit funds

(6) Kan. Fire Officials Fear Possibility of MajorWildfire

(7) New forest ranger takes over reigns

(8) Westside brush fire under control; homes safe

(9) Vehicle ban in Auckland forest park due to fire risk

(10) Bushfire threatens Vic ski infrastructure

(11) DSE backburn Aberfeldy bushfire

(12) Bushfire focus despite election call

(13) Power pole burning in bushfire after recent rain'unusual'

(14) Managing farms after the bushfires

(15) The Tote Raise Over $5000 For Bush Fire Appeal

(16) Are some farmers missing out on help as morebushfire assistance is announced?

(17) Firefighter gets call to own home in westernKentucky