WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 061513

A video segment from Porterville, California, profiles CAL FIRE's S-2T air-tankers (1); and Aero Air has begun modification of 2 MD-87 aircraft that form part of the US Forest Service's "Next-Generation" aircraft in Hillsboro, Oregon (2). As Southwest Zone Interagency Fire Dispatch Center staffs up for wildfire season, wildland firefighters from Idaho arrived at Tucson, Arizona, ready for deployment to the firelines (3); while an air-tanker helped firefighters contain a 26-acre wildfire in Northern Arizona's Coconino National Forest (4). Providential rainfall has allowed firefighters to bring containment on Colorado's Black Forest Fire, which has destroyed 419 homes as it scorched 25 mi.², up to 30% (5); allowing some evacuees to return home (6); some of whom were probably trying to recover livestock they set loose as they evacuated (7); a CNN article providing some photos from the firelines (8); and a Climate Central article offering an interactive map to track wildfires in Colorado and the West (9); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Tom Lasser, a retired Lt. Colonel in the California National Guard, sending along a Defense Department article about the Air Force Reserve 302nd Airlift Wing's exploits over the Colorado wildfires (10); Nebraska doing its part by supplying a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter to the fight (11); Wyoming and Utah mobilizing resources to help as well (12); President Obama calling the governor to express his support and condolences for families of those killed by the blaze (13); but several popular wedding venues have been ravaged by the fire, disrupting weekend nuptials (14); and adding insult to injury, one homeowner was mistakenly told by DirecTV that he would be billed $400 for the loss of their equipment when his house burned (15); but a rookie wildland firefighter had a memorable first day on the job (16); and the "Black Forest Fire 2013" Facebook page is helping keep people apprised of progress against the fire (17); a Christian Science Monitor article revisiting the issue of whether climate change is fueling Colorado's wildfires (18); but practically forgotten next to its larger, more deadly cousin, the Ward Gulch Fire expanded to 300 acres in size, forcing evacuations of the town of Rifle (19). A trio of wildfires cropped up in Utah, where a hot, dry weekend was in the forecast (20). And finally, three kids are in trouble for starting a wildfire in Flagstaff, Arizona, while burning ants with a magnifying glass!

(1) Airtankers Offer Support at a Moment's Notice

(2) Firefighting aircraft get local builder

(3) Idaho wildland firefighters arrive in Tucson

(4) 5:15 p.m. update: Wildfire northwest of Flagstaff confined to 26 acres

(5) Surprise rain helps firefighters gain ground on Black Forest Fire

(6) Colorado wildfire: Some evacuations lifted

(7) Black Forest Fire: Some horses left behind during evacuations were spray painted with phone numbers

(8) Residents hope for best, brace for worst as wildfire sizzles near Colorado Springs

(9) Interactive Wildfires Map Tracks the Blazes in Colorado

(10) AF Reserve C-130 Crews Drop Flame Retardant on Colorado Fire

(11) Nebraska to supply firefighting helicopter to Colo

(12) Neighboring States Pledge Help Against Colorado Wildfires

(13) Obama calls Colo. governor to talk about wildfire

(14) Wildfire wrecks weddings this weekend in Black Forest

(15) DirecTV apologizes to victim of Black Forest fire

(16) Rookie Col. Firefighters Save School from Flames

(17) Facebook page on Black Forest fire sparks solidarity

(18) Colorado fire: Is global warming one of the culprits?

(19) Ward Gulch Fire Continues to Spread -- Evacuation Orders Issued

(20) High wildfire danger, three blazes already burning in Utah

(21) Flagstaff juveniles burning ants start wildfire