WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 071213

Author George Wuerthner weighs in on the dynamics of climate change and federal mismanagement of forests as the cause of the current crop of mega-fires in the US (1). The impact of wildfires on the supply of electricity to Southern California is covered by the next item (2); while CAL FIRE stepped up its wildfire readiness campaign with the unveiling of a new website (3). Rainfall in Nevada's Spring Mountains helped firefighters bring the 28,000-acre wildfire burning on Mount Charleston to 43% containment (4); but the ecological damage done to species found only in that area could be severe (5); and the fire has forced closure of some hiking trails in Red Rock Canyon (6). A procession of Southern Arizona firefighters, U.S. Forest Service personnel and Hotshot crews accompanied the body of one of the Granite Mountain Hotshots to his final resting place in Marana (7); even as memorials for the 19 dead Hotshots were placed in the Yarnell Hill Burn Area (8); and new information shows that officials originally thought some of those Hotshots had survived the fire (9); but an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter paramedic confirmed that all 19 were dead (10). A mudslide brought on by an afternoon thunderstorm from New Mexico's Tres Lagunas Fire Burn Area inundated a ranch in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (11). Wildfire activity in Colorado is summarized by the next article (12); and as the West Fork Complex Fire continues to burn near Pagosa Springs an Army Chaplain is doing what he can for the National Guardsmen manning checkpoints (13); but in the meantime, many cars burned in the Black Forest Fire are headed for the wrecking yards (14); while life goes on for one teenaged birdwatcher (15); however, a quick-thinking farmer used a tractor to help corral a lightning-sparked wildfire in Weld County (16). As fire crews continued to gain ground on wildfires in Utah, rainfall could provide much-needed assistance in the effort (17); the next article exploring possible causes of Utah's increase in major wildfires over the past decade (18). Warmer, drier weather forced officials at Montana's Bitterroot National Forest to impose fire restrictions after five small wildfires (19); an Op-Ed piece from the Billings Gazette discussing the life of one of the 19 firefighters killed in Arizona (20). As 341 wildfires continue to burn across Canada, scorching 616,000 ha, smoke from the blazes has been detected as far away as Europe (21); and with an increase in temperatures in British Columbia, the forest fire danger around the city of Nelson is climbing (22); while Ontario's Windsor Fire Department sent firefighters to help with blazes in Québec (23); but fuel supplies in western and central Labrador were getting dangerously low due to road closures caused by wildfires (24); and residents of Wabush endured the tenth day of a 'no consumption ban' after air-tankers were forced to use the town's water supply to fight wildfires, possibly contaminating the tap water (25); but rainfall helped to quench the 27,000-hectare blaze outside of town (26). Heading to Europe, wildfires were reported in France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey (27); but Tanzania National Parks Authority reported that a 40-hectare bushfire on the slopes of Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro is finally out (28). As the 15th meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution kicks off in Malaysia next week, recent wildfires in Indonesia will top the list of items for discussion (29); while Indonesian police are investigating a Malaysian palm oil firm over rampant wildfires on Sumatra Island (30); Greenpeace accusing the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil of limiting the investigation of firms responsible for the blazes (31). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Nathan Maddock, Communications Officer at Bushfire CRC, sent along a Fire Note which forecasts an above-average bushfire season in Northern Australia (32); the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities publishing a white paper that advocates more bushfire prevention funding (33). And finally, the forests' loss is the designer's gain as a new material gains popularity in home design: beetle-killed wood!

(1) The Wild Fires This Time

(2) Wildfires Spur Surging Los Angeles Power Costs: Energy Markets

(3) Wildfire readiness campaign underway

(4) Rain lets crews attack Mount Charleston wildfire on new front

(5) Wildfire could harm species found only on Mount Charleston

(6) Las Vegas: Wildfire forces closure of hiking trails in Red Rock Canyon

(7) Hot Shot, a former Marine, Takes Final Engine Ride

(8) Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Placed at Location Where 19 Firefighters Died

(9) Recordings show officials initially thought some firefighters killed in Arizona blaze made it out alive

(10) Records: DPS Paramedic Reported Firefighter Deaths

(11) Mudslide From Scorched Earth Buries N.M. Ranch

(12) 3 towns at risk from Colorado wildfires; 100-foot wall of flame reported

(13) Face of Defense: Army Chaplain Tends to Firefighting Flock

(14) Autos burned beyond recognition, ready for the crusher after Black Forest fire

(15) For a nature hike, see the bird boy of Black Forest

(16) Farmer risks his life to stop wildfire with tractor (VIDEO)

(17) Crews hem in Utah wildfires, hope storms will bring needed rain

(18) Analysis: Utah has had more big wildfires in past decade than in 1970s

(19) Bitterroot National Forest fire danger now high

(20) Gazette opinion: Firefighters stand between us and destruction

(21) Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Observed in Europe

(22) Hot, dry weather heats up forest fire risk around Nelson

(23) Windsor firefighter helps control massive Quebec wildfire

(24) Vehicle escorts allows boost of fuel supply in Churchill Falls

(25) Wabush water being tested for toxins

(26) Rainfall helps forest fire crews in western Labrador

(27) EFFIS - Current Situation

(28) Tanzania: Mt Kilimanjaro Bushfire Finally Extinguished

(29) Indonesian Forest Fire and Haze Risk Remains High

(30) Indonesian police probe Malaysian firm over haze

(31) Greenpeace accuses RSPO of selective investigation on forest fires

(32) Northern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2013

(33) Report calls for more bushfire prevention funding

(34) How a Design Trend Is Helping Prevent Wildfires in the American West