WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 050113

The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag warnings for Southern California's Inland Empire which will last through Thursday (1); and San Diego County is facing much the same situation (2); followed by an editorial from Santa Barbara County which discusses the fact that people start many of the wildfires in the region (3); while CAL FIRE crews practiced fighting wildfires at a Fire Preparedness Exercise in Atascadero yesterday (4); but some crews got live fire experience battling four wildfires in Sonoma and Napa counties (5). Windy, dry conditions prompted the National Weather Service to issue Red Flag warnings in Nevada's Lake Mead region (6); even as a two-acre wildfire was fully contained in Sparks (7). A trio of wildfires was reported in Yavapai County, Arizona, yesterday (8); while Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Ware, Fire Prevention and Outreach Program Manager at New Mexico State Forestry, reported that a 15-acre wildfire in Otero County has been contained (9). With the approach of Wildfire Preparedness Day on May 4th, fire agencies in Colorado are asking for volunteers to fight wildfires (10); while the Moffat County Sheriff has been given $100,000 to fund better air support during wildfires (11); and helicopters were deploying mulch in High Park Fire burn areas of the Roosevelt National Forest (12); this as a 2.2-acre wildfire was contained in the Pike National Forest (13). Personnel from the newly-established Three Creek and Saylor Creek Rangeland Fire Protection Associations practiced with Bureau of Land Management firefighters near Castleford, Idaho, yesterday (14); but the legacy of the 98,115-acre Arapahoe Fire on Converse County, Wyoming's, water supply is examined by the next article (15). Although snow and rain are expected to fall in parts of Wisconsin, 10 counties remain at high risk from wildfires (16); wildfire activity across Massachusetts being covered by the next item (17); Alaska Division of Forestry's Deputy State Forester weighing in on preparations for wildfire season in that state in the article that follows (18). As fire season begins in Newfoundland, Canada, residents were reminded that burn permits are required through September and to keep vegetation 300 feet back from their homes (19); while firefighters battled a half-acre wildfire in the UK's Wareham Forest (20). An estimated 50 forest steppe fires were recorded in Mongolia during the month of April (21). The next article takes a look back at last year's fire season in India, in which 2,420 fires scorched 24,000 hectares of forest land (22); this at a time when inadequate equipment and manpower is hampering firefighters grappling with a wildfire in Kamakhyanagar (23). Fire officials in New South Wales, Australia, have announced the end of fire season (24); but in the Northern Territory, bushfire season is just beginning (25). And finally, firefighters in Kent, UK, performed a tricky extrication: getting a toy ring off a little girl's finger!

(1) County warns of high wildfire risk

(2) Gusty winds, warm weather, low humidity could increase risk of wildfires in San Diego mountains

(3) Taking wildfire seriously

(4) Firefighting Crews In Atascadero For Preparedness Exercise

(5) Crews battle four wildfires in Sonoma, Napa counties

(6) High winds, low humidity create wildfire danger

(7) Small Wildfire in Sparks Fully Contained

(8) Fire Season Is upon Us: At Least Three Wildfires Burned in Yavapai County during Red-Flag Conditions Tuesday

(9) Wildfire west of Alamogordo contained

(10) Wildfire prevention, volunteers needed

(11) Moffat County sheriff given more authority to spend money to fight fires

(12) Helicopters to swoop over national forest as High Park Fire restoration efforts resume

(13) Small wildfire burns in Rampart Range area of Douglas County

(14) Rangeland Firefighters Train With BLM

(15) Fires expected to foul fish habitat

(16) Despite expected snow, wildfire risk remains high; search resumes for missing Chippewa canoeists; state lawmakers busy Tuesday

(17) Brush fire season leaves firefighters from Western and Central Massachusetts running ragged

(18) Federal, state agencies prepare for 2013 wildfires

(19) Permits Required During Official Forest Fire Season

(20) UPDATED: Firefighters tackle Wareham forest fire

(21) 50 forest steppe fires lit in April

(22) Forest fires razed 24,000 hectares last year

(23) Forest fire rages, staff helpless

(24) Bushfire season finishes

(25) New equipment for the start of the northern bushfire season

(26) Firefighters to the rescue as girl gets toy ring stuck