WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 042613

With fire season arriving two weeks early throughout California, CAL FIRE seasonal crews are finishing up a weeklong fire training academy in Jackson (1). The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Medford (Oregon) District plans to conduct between 1,300 and 1,500 acres of controlled burns this spring to reduce wildfire fuel (2); but an outdoorsman reflects on the sad sight of the devastation wrought in Eastern Oregon by last year's wildfires (3). Fire crews in Yakima County, Washington, plan a score of controlled burns as part of their preparation for wildfire season (4). A person of interest is being sought by officials in Arizona's Coconino National Forest following a 35-acre wildfire that blazed through the area April 13th (5); while a National Science Foundation article takes a closer look at the legacy of New Mexico's 2011 Las Conchas Fire, which blazed through 61,000 acres of the Jemez River Basin (6). Residents of Summit County, Colorado, will be able to log on to the Colorado Forest Service website to determine their wildfire risk (7); even as State Senator King appealed to the Colorado Legislature to fund the proposed state-owned air-tanker fleet (8); and a wildland firefighter responds to yesterday's editorial about the connection between fewer smokers equating to fewer wildfires in that state (9); while the following article provides some wildfire statistics from the National Interagency Fire Center (10); and the next touches on a special series done by radio station KRCC about living with wildfire (11). A new bill which would protect people from any liability while helping the Texas Forest Service fight wildfires is now ready to go to the governor's desk (12); but arson investigators are checking out a suspicious wildfire's origins in Lewis and Clark County, Montana (13). Fire crews quickly brought a two-acre wildfire in Wilkes County, North Carolina, under control (14); while an abundance of rain appears to have restrained wildfires to only 162 in number in the Cape Fear region since March 1st (15). The cause of a 15-acre wildfire in Palm Beach County, Florida, is under investigation (16). A wildfire injured one Canadian outside of Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador (17); and in the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources discussed the threat wildfires pose to the National Greening Program's project areas (18). Heading to Australia, the efforts of BlazeAid to repair fenceline destroyed by bushfires in Gippsland, Victoria, is examined by the next article (19); while more of the $9 million Red Cross has reportedly raised for Tasmanian bushfire survivors will be released soon (20). And finally, firefighters from Utica Fire Department gave an upstate New York six-year-old who suffers from cerebral palsy a day to remember!

(1) Firefighters start training early for California wildfire season

(2) If you see smoke, don't look for forest fire

(3) Pete Zimowsky: Wildfires change sagebrush communities

(4) Forest Service Preparing for Fire Season

(5) 'Person of interest' sought in Flagstaff wildfire

(6) Trail of Fire Leads to Less Snow, Threatened Water Resources

(7) Colorado Forest Service sets up wildfire web site

(8) King makes final push for firefighting fleet

(9) Cigarettes and wildfires, round two

(10) Wildfires: A statistical wrap-up

(11) Recent series from KRCC shows burning homes, looks at 'living with wildfire'

(12) LEGISLATURE: Bill benefits Texas Forest Service during fire emergencies

(13) Officials: Wednesday wildfires’ origins suspicious

(14) Two-acre wildfire threatens home in Wilbar late Thursday evening

(15) Fire season in Cape Fear region is starting off slowly

(16) Greenacres wildfire: Cause still not known

(17) Forest Fire in Torbay

(18) DENR steps up campaign vs forest fires

(19) Helping farmers rebuild with BlazeAid

(20) More bushfire relief funds on way

(21) Boy unable to walk due to cerebral palsy gets to be firefighter for a day