WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 052513

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dave Downey, a Reporter for the North County Times, discusses preparations in Riverside County, California, for fire season in our first article today (1); while firefighters in Ventura County have acquired a new helicopter based at Oxnard Airport which can help fight wildfires this summer (2); an 1,850-acre wildfire near Julian in San Diego County is now 70% contained (3); but fire crews at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar plan to ignite a few fires of their own this weekend (4); the next article providing a forecast of what could be a worrisome fire season in Northern California (5). Nevada Division of Forestry conducted refresher exercises on Mount Charleston for some of the 900 inmate firefighters the state employs to battle wildfires this week (6); even as discussions about "fire adapted" communities got underway at a Wildfire Awareness Week meeting at Lake Tahoe's MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa (7); while an air quality advisory has been issued for this weekend in Las Vegas due to smoke from the previously-mentioned wildfire burning in San Diego County, California (8). As the long Memorial Day weekend begins, New Mexico's Carson National Forest reminded visitors that Stage I fire restrictions are in effect (9); while a wildland fire management specialist has joined the faculty of New Mexico State University, bolstering their understanding of wildfires (10). In Idaho, it's a choice between fire and ice this weekend in the Boise and Payette National Forests (11). An editorial from San Angelo, Texas, takes another look at the health hazard posed by wildfire smoke (12); the article which follows checking on progress of a $185 million fund to compensate wildfire survivors in Bastrop County and across the state as it works its way through the Legislature (13). Florida Forest Service reported a 35-acre wildfire outside of Pensacola (14); followed by the report of a second wildfire in southwest Escambia County which prompted road closures (15); and yet another 3-acre blaze in St. Lucie County (16). The next article puts the spotlight on British Columbia, Canada's, Kamloops Bighorns, a First Nations firefighting team (17); while Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources reported a 1.5-hectare wildfire today (18). A small wildfire broke out near Falkirk, Scotland (19). And finally, firefighters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, probably won't complain about getting cats out of trees anymore after having to remove a 150-200 lb bear from a tree!

(1) Riverside County moves to prevent wildfires

(2) San Diego County wildfire 70 percent contained

(3) Military firefighters plan prescribed burns today, Sunday

(4) Oxnard Airport company acquires new firefighting helicopter

(5) Severe fire season feared for North Coast

(6) Inmates work on life skills while battling wildfires

(7) Wildfire Awareness Weeks starts with first-ever kick-off event Saturday

(8) Smoke from California wildfire could drift to Las Vegas

(9) Fire danger: Stage 1 restriction in effect near Taos

(10) NMSU studies wildfires

(11) Snow and fire danger in Idaho's national forests

(12) OUR OPINION: Wildfire smoke is putting more Americans at risk

(13) House bill passed to help 2011 Bastrop wildfire victims

(14) Wildfire breaks out in southwest Pensacola

(15) New wildfire prompts road closures in southwest Escambia

(16) Wildfire sparks up in St Lucie County

(17) Grabbing forest fires by the horns

(18) Latest Northeast region forest fire situation update

(19) Winds spread huge wildfire in central Scotland

(20) Colo. firefighters use ladder truck to rescue bear