WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 021913

DynCorp International, which maintains CAL FIRE's fleet of S-2T air-tankers, has earned a Diamond Award from the Federal Aviation Administration (1); but as California's controversial fire fee program heads back for the Legislature, opponents plan to try to kill it (2). A wildfire has been reported in Arizona's Prescott National Forest (3). As Oklahoma's wildfire season gets underway, red cedars are being singled out as a major threat (4); even as wildfires popped up on the outskirts of Oklahoma City Monday (5). In Texas, the 12th annual Central Texas Wildfire Academy concluded classes at Camp Bowie yesterday with a small controlled burn (6); while firefighters in Manchester, Kentucky, are hoping that approaching rain will help snuff a wildfire which broke out near the Hal Rogers Parkway Monday night (7). Florida Forest Service feels that three wildfires burning in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are now under control (8); but a five-acre wildfire outside of Jacksonville forced closure of a road in the area (9); and another blaze has burned 500 acres in Baldwin County (10). Chile's National Emergency Office is distributing aid to people in Valparaíso impacted by a weekend wildfire which destroyed 100 homes (11). Fire crews battled a controlled burn which escaped containment near Ashburton, New Zealand (12); while 22 firefighters were planning to join 44 already deployed to bushfires in Australia (13). An Op-Ed piece from Australia discusses the virtues of the Titan Power Pole in bushfire-prone parts of the country (14); Australian Capital Territory's Rural Fire Service planning to conduct four controlled burns Wednesday night (15). A 9,000-hectare bushfire continued to burn out of control in Victoria's Grampians National Park (16); but rainfall is helping fire crews gain the upper hand on a 2,040-hectare grass fire near Epping (17); fire officials urging homeowners to remain vigilant as the next article reflected on bushfires of the past (18). Australia's Governor General visited Coonabarabran, New South Wales, where 53 homes were destroyed by bushfires last month (19). Bushfires continued to burn in Tasmania (20); even as people worked to clean up the damage already done by bushfires, the bill topping $3 million (21). And finally, firefighters from Illinois' Village of Northbrook Fire Department earned $2,000 in charitable contributions while winning the People's Choice Award at a chili cookoff!

(1) Five DynCorp International Programs Earn Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Diamond Awards for Excellence

(2) State debate rekindled over added rural firefighting fees

(3) Wildfire burning in Prescott National Forest

(4) Wildfire Season Underway; Red Cedars Big Threat

(5) Crews battle pair of central Oklahoma wildfires

(6) Wildfire academy ends as firefighters burn small area on Camp Bowie

(7) Forest fire breaks out in Manchester

(8) Threat from three wildfires minimal

(9) Wildfire shuts down part of St. Johns Bluff Road

(10) Firefighters making good progress against wildfire in Baldwin County

(11) Aid reaches victims of Chile’s worst forest fire in decades

(12) Firefighters battle blaze near Ashburton

(13) DOC officers to join Australian bushfire fight

(14) Bushfire Proof Power Lines

(15) Hazard reduction burns planned

(16) Grampians bushfire still burning

(17) Wind fear as grassfire threat downgraded

(18) Remember devastating bushfires of past to remain vigilant

(19) Governor General visits bushfire victims

(20) Rain offers respite from bushfire threats

(21) Bushfire clean-up bill mounts

(22) Glenview Firefighters Earn People's Choice Award in Chili Cookoff