WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 030213

Continued warm, windy weather in Southern California has ratcheted up the wildfire risk (1); and a fire in an RV park in Santa Paula sparked a small wildfire in an avocado grove (2); nevertheless, fire crews managed to bring containment on a 310-acre wildfire in Riverside County to 80% (3); but inmate fire crews may be seriously depleted across the state this fire season (4). North Carolina's educational forests are once again in the headlines (5). Several wildfires are burning in Florida (6); this at a time when sequestration cuts could hamper the response of federal fire agency personnel (7). The Harrietville bushfire which blazed through Victoria, Australia, has cost the local economy $40 million in lost tourist dollars (8); while a bushfire burning near the Shire of Northam, Western Australia is expected to burn for several more days, according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (9). A bushfire tribute is being planned in Hobart, Tasmania, to honor First Responders who helped out during recent bushfires (10). And finally, Wildfire NOTD subscriber Walt Darran, Chairman of the Associated Aerial Firefighters, sent along an article that shows that some BAe-146s, which are replacing propeller-powered heavy air-tankers in the US, are being outfitted by the British for a particularly hot spot: Afghanistan!

(1) Warmth in California Leads to Wildfire Risk

(2) Firefighters finish mopping up after fire damages 3 RVs in Santa Paula

(3) Firefighters contain 80 percent of Southern California wildfire

(4) California Firefighters Face 2013 Wildfire Season With Less Help from Inmates

(5) Learn about forests at Turnbull Creek

(6) Winds Fuel Wildfires in Central Florida

(7) Sequestration Cuts Include Firefighting, While Wildfires Rage in Florida

(8) Bushfire bites tourist dollar

(9) Northam fire to burn for days'

(10) Bushfire tribute planned

(11) BAe 146 modified for RAF combat operations