US Forest Service is working with volunteer groups and nonprofits to help restore areas of Southern California's Angeles National Forest burned by the Station Fire in 2009 (1); while the Washington Prescribed Fire Council, which advocates controlled burns to improve wildlife habitat in the Pacific Northwest, is profiled in the next article (2). The Fire Adapted Communities Coalition released a new wildfire report and video which will be presented at the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Wildland Urban Interface 2013 Conference in Reno, Nevada, March 19th - 21st (3); and Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Ware, Fire Prevention and Outreach Program Manager for New Mexico State Forestry, sent along an announcement about a new website that provides fire restriction and closure information for that state, as well as several others across the US (4). A wildfire along Colorado's Front Range has scorched between 750 and 1,000 acres and is only 5% contained (5); stirring up some uneasy memories about last year's High Park Fire (6); but the unfolding wildfire situation is overshadowed by political dysfunction in Washington DC coupled with an ongoing drought (7); the situation further worsened by the fact that the federal aerial firefighting resources typically used to fight wildfires are simply not available at this time (8); forcing local officials to bring in a privately-owned helicopter to help (9); and an approaching rainstorm doesn't look strong enough to snuff the blaze (10). The problem of Oklahoma's Eastern red cedar trees is revisited in the next article (11). Firefighters in Harris County, Texas, battled a 100-acre wildfire (12); one of two wildfires burning north of Houston (13). Hundreds of firefighters will attend the South Dakota Wildland Fire Academy next week (14); while a 15-acre wildfire has been reported in Grainger County, Tennessee (15). Fire crews from multiple agencies battled a 100-acre wildfire in Hancock County, Mississippi (16); but the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is concerned about the wildfire hazard posed by trees knocked down by Superstorm Sandy during the winter (17). A 15-acre wildfire was reported in Madison County, North Carolina (18); five more causing problems for traffic on Interstate 64 in Nash County (19); while yet another blaze caused delays on Interstate 85 in Gaston County (20). The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a press release detailing a Red Flag Fire Alert across the state (21); and an update on wildfires burning there (22); Scott Hawkins, Public Information Director for South Carolina Forestry Commission, sending along a PDF that outlines safe burning practices for property owners (23); but a report of a wildfire in Horry County's Carolina Forest indicated that some structures were ablaze (24). As fire crews across several Florida counties are on heightened alert due to the extreme wildfire danger, the utility of their six-wheel drive Kaiser Jeep brush trucks is discussed in the next article (25); firefighters in Volusia County battling a five-acre wildfire outside of New Smyrna Beach (26). Approximately 50 acres of vegetation is burning in Georgia's Adjara region (27); but after dealing with 56 wildfires last month alone, Fiji's National Fire Authority is asking property owners on that Pacific island to better control their rubbish fires (28). And finally, Australian primary students in Coonabarabran, New South Wales, got a little bit crazy for a good cause: raising donations for bushfire survivors!
(1) U.S. Forest Service turns to nonprofits for help restoring 2009 Station fire damage
(2) Prescribed fires a hot topic for wildlife
(3) Fire Adapted Communities Coalition Announces Release of Wildfire Report and Video
(4) Fire Restrictions
(5) Early North Colorado wildfire scorches close to 1,000 acres
(6) Latest Larimer County wildfire deja vu for many Galena fire evacuees
(7) Western forest fire already!
(8) Few national resources available to help fight Fort Collins' Galena Fire
(9) Metro departments contract with private helicopter to fight wildfires
(10) Forecaster: Rain storm won't extinguish Larimer County wildfire
(11) Red Cedars Continue To Fuel Oklahoma Wildfires
(12) Firefighters contain grass fire overnight in north Harris County
(13) 2 wildfires burning north of Houston
(14) SD Agency Hosts Wildfire Training Academy
(15) Grainger Co. firefighters battle blaze of Hwy. 11
(16) Wildfire strikes in Hancock County
(17) Downed trees in NJ to hinder wildfire fighting
(18) Firefighters battle 15-acre blaze in Madison County
(19) Wildfires temporarily halt traffic on U.S. 64
(20) Wildfire causes backup on major highway
(21) Red Flag Fire Alert Issued Statewide by SC Forest Commission
(22) South Carolina Forestry Commission Wildfire Activity
(23) Think Before You Burn
(24) Breaking News: Fire at Carolina Forest
(25) Brush trucks play large role in controlling wildfires
(26) Firefighters battle brush fire in Volusia County
(27) Bushfire in southwest Georgia
(28) 56 bushfires in one month
(29) Joey's students go zany for bushfire fundraiser
Labels: air-tankers, bushfires, firefighting, forest fires, wildfire news, wildfire news of the day, wildfires