WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 072013

As Southern California's Mountain Fire expands to 27,278-acres, fire commanders are worried about thunderstorms coming in over the San Jacinto Mountains (1); a Washington Post video segment providing some footage of air operations from an impromptu heli-base established on a local ranch (2); but as the fire spreads, residents of Pine Cove may have to evacuate (3); meanwhile, two wildfires were reported in Moreno Valley (4); and a 300-acre wildfire near Fort Tejon along Interstate 5 is drawing the attention of a quartet of air-tankers and 88 firefighters on the ground (5); the Fork Foundation doing what it can to raise funds for the families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, killed in Arizona in a burnover last month (6); and the University of California at Riverside provided a slate of wildfire experts from among their faculty and staff (7). A 400-acre wildfire near Grants Pass, Oregon, is now 75% contained (8); while Medford Airport welcomed a heavy air-tanker which will help battle wildfires around the region (9); their nimbler cousins operating out of La Grande Air Tanker Base (10). Several structures have been destroyed by a five-acre wildfire on the shores of Washington state's Lake Wenatchee (11). A Denver Post article gauges response to a proposal to keep wildfire sediment out of water sources (12); the next article touching on the important contribution inmate fire crews provide on the fireline (13); and a Farmers Market is being held at Pikes Peak Community College this weekend for Black Forest Fire survivors (14); even as the Black Forest Chapel will be opening its doors this weekend for the first time since the Black Forest Fire destroyed two outbuildings (15); but in a report expected to be released on Monday, Colorado Springs estimates it spent $650,000 to fight that blaze (16). Texas Forest Service reminded property owners of the importance of keeping trees around their structures healthy to reduce the wildfire danger (17). An elevated fire danger in Montana's Bitterroot National Forest, which has already seen 10 wildfires this season, has officials on edge (18); while smoke drifted into the Bitterroot Valley from a wildfire in Idaho's Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest (19). Rainfall has helped diminish wildfire activity in Québec, Canada, enough that the road near Baie-Johan-Beetz has reopened, allowing evacuees to return home (20); firefighters from as far away as Connecticut arriving to help battle wildfires in that province (21). Fire crews have contained a wildfire in Epping Forest outside of London, England, one of nearly 500 fires reported so far this month in the Greater London area (22); while firefighters in Antalya, Turkey's, Manavgat district converged on a 10-hectare lightning-sparked wildfire (23). The Pacific island of Fiji's National Fire Authority is concerned over the large number of wildfires that have been reported over the past six months (24); but in the wake of the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the Indonesian House of Representatives is supportive of ratification of the treaty, which aims to reduce the air pollution caused by wildfire smoke from Sumatra island (25). And finally, the rescue of a kitten from a house fire by a firefighter in Fresno, California, has become a YouTube sensation!

(1) MOUNTAIN FIRE: Thunderstorms pose threat to firefighting effort

(2) Two dozen wildfires burning across western U.S.

(3) Pine Cove residents told to be ready to flee Mountain fire

(4) MORENO VALLEY: Two wildfires burn in city

(5) California Highway Patrol: All lanes opened on I-5; Fire still blazing through Digier Canyon

(6) Fallen Firefighters Fundraiser – The Fork Foundation

(7) UC Riverside Wildfire Experts

(8) Progress on S. Ore. wildfire that threatened homes

(9) Critical Fire Resource At Airport

(10) Fast, agile single-engine retardant planes attack N.E. Oregon wildfires

(11) Fast growing wildfire burning near Lake Wenatchee

(12) Feds focus on keeping wildfire sediment out of water reservoirs

(13) Inmates fight wildfires, reclaim their lives

(14) Farmers Market Held For Those Affected By Black Forest Fire

(15) Black Forest Chapel returns following fire

(16) Black Forest fire cost city of Colorado Springs nearly $650,000

(17) Tree health vital component to prevent wild fires, injuries

(18) Bitterroot National Forest fire danger at high

(19) Smoke in valley from California Point Fire

(20) Road to Natashquan reopens after forest fire

(21) CT firefighters head to Quebec to battle wild fires

(22) Epping Forest blaze under control

(23) Forest fire in Turkey's Antalya yet to be brought under control

(24) Bushfires spark concern

(25) Indonesia House of Reps supports move to ratify haze pact

(26) "Lucky" kitten saved by firefighter gets his own movie