WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 050413

A summary of wildfire activity across Southern California is provided by our first article today (1); where homeowners joined firefighters in battling wildfires (2); firefighters quickly knocking down a 75-acre wildfire in Glendale's Chevy Chase Canyon (3); while the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing provided heavy air-tanker support from the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in Port Hueneme (4); but several blazes slowed commuters on nearby freeways (5); and as the National Weather Service lifted Red Flag warnings issued for the region, many marveled at the fact that a 30,000-acre wildfire in Ventura County damaged only 15 residences and destroyed none (6); but CAL FIRE estimates that around $170 million of the state's $220 million emergency fund has already been spent, and it's only May (7); and a JPL meteorologist predicts more of the same over a long, hot summer (8); nevertheless, strategies learned from 1993's Green Meadow Fire, which destroyed 53 homes and consumed 44,000 acres, allowed firefighters to craft a better response this time around (9); and CAL FIRE's early activation of 50 firefighting aircraft weeks ahead of schedule undoubtedly helped as well (10); but although few homes were damaged or destroyed by this batch of wildfires, the next article shows that to get insurance coverage, homeowners have to be "fire-smart" (11); CAL FIRE firefighters helping extinguish a 120-acre wildfire on San Diego County's Otay Mesa (12). The Bay Area Air Quality Management District warned of unhealthful air throughout the San Francisco Bay region due to wildfires in Northern California (13); but Santa Clara County officials have dropped all charges against a contractor charged with starting the 2008 Summit Fire (14); while the Panther Fire is at 6,665-acres and still only 20% contained (15). With their summer fire crews yet to deploy, Oregon Department of Forestry officials worried that hot, windy weather could lead to wildfires before they are prepared to fight them (16); and an article from New Mexico explores the possibility that large trees across the southwest that burn down in wildfires may never come back (17). A volunteer firefighter accused of setting 14 field fires in Reno County, Kansas, has had his day in court (18); while officials at Michigan State University indicated that a wildfire on the campus grounds was probably started accidentally (19). Air-tankers from Pennsylvania's Moshannon Tanker Base assisted firefighters on the ground battling a 358-acre wildfire in Cameron County (20); but a propane tank which exploded inside a shed in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, caused a one-acre wildfire (21). After several small wildfires, people in the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) nervously eyed Western wildfires and wondered if they could be next (22); a 2 1/2-acre wildfire outside of Rome, New York (23); and another in Fort Ann not doing anything to settle their nerves (24). Residents of South Carolina's Windsor Green are wondering what's taking so long to clear wildfire debris from the Carolina Forest Fire which happened six weeks ago (25); meanwhile, Quebec, Canada's, Société De Protection Des Forêts Contre Le Feu reported 80 wildfires in the province this past week (26). Officials in Bhopal, India, are investigating the failure of their fire alert and messaging system during a wildfire in northern Panna (27). And finally, something else for arson investigators to look for at the scene of a fire: shiny dog bowls!

(1) Swarm of fires keeps Southland firefighters busy

(2) Firefighters, Residents Work to Extinguish Growing Calif. Wildfire

(3) Glendale: Firefighters gain upper hand on 75-acre brush fire

(4) California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing Joins State Firefighting Efforts

(5) Wildfires slow commutes in north Los Angeles County

(6) California wildfires: Homes still threatened but none destroyed

(7) Springs Fire: California has spent $170M of $220M emergency firefighting fund

(8) 'Long, hot, incendiary summer': Early wildfires bode ill for California

(9) Destructive 1993 blaze led to new firefighting strategy

(10) California Firefighting Aircraft Ready To Battle Wildfires Weeks Ahead Of Normal

(11) Wildfires spark home insurance preconditions

(12) Firefighters extinguish large Otay Mesa grassfire

(13) Wildfires, high temps, low winds prompt Spare the Air Alert

(14) Summit wildfire: DA to drop all charges against man accused of starting 2008 blaze

(15) Panther burns on: Mapping helps shrink blaze, but then it kept growing

(16) Heat, wind bring worry of forest fires

(17) Forests slow to recover after wildfires

(18) Firefighter accused of setting fires hires attorney

(19) MSU officials believe afternoon bush fire started accidentally

(20) Forest fire contained, but still burning

(21) Lanesborough Shed Explodes; Firefighters Prevent Forest Fire

(22) As Wildfires Rage Out West Experts Warn That The Tri-State Area Is Not Immune

(23) Firefighter hurt while battling large grass fire in Rome

(24) Firefighters battle Fort Ann forest fire

(25) 6 weeks after fire, Windsor Green debris remains

(26) Authorities say forest fire under control on Mount-Saint-Grégoire

(27) Trees, wildlife charred in northern Panna forest fire

(28) Official: Shiny dog bowl sparks Calif. house fire