WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 051313

A woman was burned in a 1.5-acre wildfire outside of El Cajon in San Diego County, California (1); while firefighters pounced on a half-acre blaze outside of Rancho Bernardo (2); but a 30-acre wildfire was reported near Yosemite Lakes Park (3); the wildfire danger posed by the wildland-urban interface in the midst of Sacramento being touched upon by the next article (4); an article from Redding profiling an innovative US Forest Service researcher from the Pacific Southwest Research Station who aims to fine-tune suppression techniques to enhance their effectiveness (5). A 60-acre wildfire was reported near Yoncalla, Oregon (6); and firefighters contained a five-acre wildfire near Medical Lake, Washington (7). As Nevada prepares for fire season, an interactive map displays wildfire activity across that state from 2002 to 2012 (8); while fire restrictions have been increased in New Mexico's Cibola National Forest (9). Colorado State Sen. Steve King argues for funding of that state's air-tanker force in the next article (10). In a visit to Idaho's National Interagency Fire Center, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined the federal government's efforts to protect Americans from wildfire (11); but budget cuts could hobble firefighting efforts (12); an editorial focusing on the fire challenges ahead in the West (13). Oklahoma's Governor convened a meeting of national, state, and regional leaders at the Oklahoma History Center today to discuss wildfire preparations (14); while a video segment from Austin, Texas, reports on the unveiling of a new firefighting helicopter (15). A five-acre wildfire east of Bozeman, Montana, provided a reminder that dry conditions continue to pose a fire danger across the state (16); current conditions prompting Crook County to institute a burn ban (17). Michigan State University Extension Firewise Program offered some useful tips to homeowners on how to reduce fuel on their property (18); while the City of Midland Department of Public Services reminded homeowners of the fines which could be levied if they fail to reduce fuel on their property (19). The National Weather Service issued wildfire warnings for Central Minnesota today (20). In Florida, Daytona Beach Fire Department contained a 30-acre wildfire (21); but heavy rains extinguished a wildfire in Ocala National Forest (22). Alaska's Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is asking for public input on a plan for managing forest fires (23). Heading to Canada, an 1,100-hectare wildfire south of Ashcroft, British Columbia, forced evacuations in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (24); and another blaze was reported on Penticton Indian Band property (25); but a 1,400-hectare wildfire near Lodgepole, Alberta, has jumped a river, forcing evacuations (16); and two youths have been arrested in connection with a wildfire in French Village, New Brunswick (17). With Europe heating up, five wildfires are currently active in Romania at Şolomon, Poiana Stampei, Asău, Agăş, and Şaru Dornei, another in Plourivo, France, and one in Aguda, Portugal (28). Efforts by fire managers to contain a wildfire in Lonar, India, were unsuccessful (29); and firefighters had to rely on beating a wildfire in the Seshachalam Hills of Andhra Pradesh state with leafy boughs to extinguish it due to a lack of water (30). In Australia, Wildfire NOTD subscriber Nathan Maddock, Communications Officer at Bushfire CRC, sent along a Fire Note that discusses the Fire Impact and Risk Evaluation Decision Support Tool software that can be used to understand the potential impacts a bushfire may have on community assets, infrastructure and people (there is also a 10-minute video that provides more details available) (31). Following a 670-hectare bushfire in the Adelaide Hills last week, the South Australian Opposition launched an inquiry into Country Fire Service's strategy for fighting the blaze (32); even as the residents of Cherryville and Basket Range reflected on the losses caused by that bushfire (33). Pilots from Forestry Tasmania will be using night vision goggles to fight bushfires at night, the first agency in Australia to do so operationally (34). And finally, some Oregon smokejumpers ended up in an unusual place while jumping a fire: a marijuana grow site!

(1) San Diego-area wildfire destroys home, burns woman

(2) Fire Crews Respond to RB Wildfire

(3) Wildfire breaks out near Yosemite Lakes Park

(4) Wildfire Danger Not Limited to Forest

(5) Forest researcher looks to past to show how to reduce future wildfire damage

(6) Firefighters contain Yoncalla wild fire

(7) Wildfire burns at least 5 acres near Medical Lake

(8) State: Elevated risk for wildfires this year in Sierra, western Nevada

(9) Cibola Forest imposes additional fire restrictions

(10) The Governor needs to fund C-FAC — or risk playing with fire in our tinder box state

(11) Secretaries Vilsack and Jewell Highlight Federal Preparedness for 2013 Western Wildfire Season

(12) Feds: Budget cuts to make wildfire season tougher

(13) Rocky Barker: Fire story is different in forests and on range

(14) Regional, state, national leaders to attend wildfire preparedness conference

(15) STAR Flight unveils new firefighting helicopter

(16) Firefighters put down early morning wildfire east of Bozeman

(17) Crook County institutes fire ban after 15 wildfires in early April

(18) Knowing about fire behavior can protect your home from wildfire

(19) Weed and grass trimming reminders

(20) Fire department asks residents to refrain from recreational burning

(21) Firefighters contain 30-acre brush fire near LPGA Boulevard

(22) Heavy rains prompt U.S. Forest Service to lift fire restrictions

(23) Refuge seeks comments for draft fire plan

(24) Wildfire forces evacuations south of Ashcroft

(25) Kamloops Forest Fire Centre Sends Crew to Large Brush Fire in Penticton

(26) UPDATE: Lodgepole fire grows in size; evacuation remains

(27) Charges Pending in KV Forest Fire

(28) EFFIS - Current Situation

(29) LMC bid to douse Lonar forest fire fails

(30) Fire fighters have uphill task in Tirumala forest

(31) Fire impact and risk evaluation

(32) Opposition demands bushfire probe

(33) Adelaide Hills bushfire - community counts cost

(34) Firefighters to trial night flights

(35) Ore. Smoke Jumpers Land in Pot Plant Garden