WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 081613

A total of 34 major wildfires continue to burn in 11 Western states (1); which has proved a boon for researchers studying the impact of wildfire smoke on cloud formation and climate change (2). An auto accident sparked a one-acre blaze in Southern California's Angeles National Forest along Glendora Ridge Road (3); the next article providing an update on wildfires burning in Northern California (4); where portions of Tahoe National Forest were closed due to the American Fire (5); while Interstate 5 reopened after a small wildfire 10 miles south of the Oregon border (6). Even though the 46,059-acre Douglas Complex Fire is still only 65% contained, Oregon Department of Forestry indicated that firefighters were making tremendous progress on wildfires in that state (7); including in the Willamette National Forest, where a number of lightning-sparked wildfires were reported (8); but a 311-acre wildfire in Grant County caused the sheriff to issue pre-evacuation notices to residents of Greenhorn (9); and Tillamook State Forest will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a "Return to the Burn" event this weekend (10). Smoke from California's American Fire is causing unhealthy air quality in Reno, Nevada (11); but as more Arizonans move into wilderness areas, increasingly ferocious wildfires may lead to a spike in insurance rates throughout the state (12). Wildfire smoke from fires in Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah is sullying the skies of Loveland, Colorado (13). Details on wildfires burning in Idaho are provided by the next article (14); where a wildfire in Blaine County forced evacuations (15). Numerous wildfires continued to rage across Utah, including the 25,400-acre State Fire (16); where fire officials have revised structural losses downward as some evacuees were allowed to return home (17). The next article profiles Texas Forest Service's Helping Hands program in which volunteer fire departments receive retired state firefighting equipment (18). Firefighters in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park are monitoring two lightning-sparked wildfires (19); but even though the Kootenai National Forest has seen 60 small wildfires this season, a lack of rainfall could have made the situation much worse (20). Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry has dispatched two dozen firefighters to help battle blazes in Alaska, Montana and West Virginia (21); and five months on, First Responders met to discuss Horry County, South Carolina's, destructive Windsor Green Fire (22). Firefighters conducted burnouts on the Mississippi Fire burning in Alaska's Interior as air-tankers shared the skies with military aircraft involved in an exercise (23). Heading to Canada, the next article takes a look back 10 years at British Columbia's summer of fire (24); while a lightning strike is being blamed for a wildfire along the shores of Cowley Lake in the Yukon (25). As China continues to suffer through a blazing summer, the State Headquarters for Forest Fire Control issued its highest alert for Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei Provinces (26); but at a bushfire arson trial in Nelson, New Zealand's, High Court, the accused arsonist suggested that police planted candles in his car to frame him (27). The Victoria, Australia, government has awarded $24.6 million to a consortium of telecommunications providers to purchase 6,000 GPS-enabled radios for Country Fire Authority (28); and Victoria's Emergency Services Minister announced the test of a mobile phone bushfire emergency system this coming Sunday (29). And finally, those who are interested in skateboarding (or know someone who is) can now purchase a tribute board for which 100% of the proceeds go to families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots!

(1) Idaho faces risk of 'explosive fire growth' as 34 wildfires rage nationwide

(2) Climate research targets Western wildfire smoke

(3) Update: 1 Killed in Vehicle Crash That Sparked Fire in Angeles National Forest

(4) Firefighters work to meet Butler, Salmon River wildfire containment dates: Corral Complex continues to grow

(5) Portion of forest near American Fire closed to public

(6) UPDATE: I-5 reopens about 10 miles south of Oregon border after fire

(7) Crews winning fight against Oregon wildfires

(8) Isolated, small fires continue to burn in Willamette forest

(9) Sheriff issues pre-evacuation notices in Greenhorn

(10) Tillamook State Forest marks 40 years with event

(11) American fire: smoke leads to unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups in Reno-Sparks area

(12) Costly wildfires may lead to spike in insurance rates

(13) Smoke doesn't pose a health hazard here, although ozone is high Friday

(14) Idaho wildfires: Beaver Creek fire gains ground, firefighters make progress on Elk, Pony complexes

(15) Mandatory evacuations in Wood River Valley

(16) Utah firefighters slowly gaining upper hand on wildfires

(17) Evacuations lifted, number of structures burned revised to 8 in Utah wildfire

(18) Forest Service lends 'Helping Hands' to East Texas VFDs with retired fire equipment

(19) Wildfires being monitored in western Wyoming

(20) Crucial part of fire season upon forest

(21) Massachusetts sends firefighters to other states to battle wild fires

(22) Horry Co. learns from response to Windsor Green fire

(23) Interior Alaska ‘Mississippi Fire’ threatens remote homes

(24) B.C.'s summer of fire, 10 years on

(25) Yukon storm knocks out power to 2 communities

(26) China sounds red alert for forest fires as heat wave persists

(27) Police planted evidence, says accused firebug

(28) Telstra group wins $24.6 million contract with Victorian firefighters

(29) Bushfire alert scheme put to the test

(30) Foundation : Hotshots Firefighter Tribute Board