WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 051813

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Walt Darran, Chairman of the Associated Aerial Firefighters, sounds off about the air-tanker situation in the United States in our first article today (1); a USA Today video segment showing firefighters in the Southwest preparing for what could be a challenging wildfire season (2). An update on two Southern California wildfires is provided by the next article (3); the one which follows providing more details on the 575-acre blaze near Castaic (4); the impact of California's Public Safety Realignment Act on inmate firefighting crews being revisited by an article from the San Diego Union-Tribune (5); a press release from the US Forest Service showing how military vets are working with the California Conservation Corps to learn the ropes of wildland firefighting (6). An article from Nevada takes a closer look at "firescaping" to defend a home from wildfires (7). A summary of wildfire activity in Arizona, where 1,400 acres have gone up in smoke, is provided by the next article (8); while the C-27J Spartan, which has been touted by Congress as a potential air-tanker, is in the news again, this time in regards to having newly-built aircraft being sent directly to the boneyard at Arizona's Davis-Montham Air Force Base (9). Colorado Springs Fire Department drilled with residents to prepare for wildfire season with last year's devastating Waldo Canyon Fire in their collective thoughts (10); but with the signing of the new Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program, Colorado's fire agencies will have more resources available to help them prepare (11). A wildfire was reported near Kuna, Idaho (12); the Bureau of Land Management’s Twin Falls District Office reporting a 9% decrease in available funding to fight wildfires this season, resulting in the elimination of 12 seasonal firefighter positions and a reduction of engine crews from five to four personnel (13); while a former firefighter who admitted setting wildfires in Boise County is being evaluated for early release from prison (14). Over two dozen students got a taste of wildfire management at a Texas Forest Service training session in Hudson, Texas (15). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Mead Gruver, a Reporter for the Associated Press, interviewed Wildfire NOTD subscriber Dan Snyder, Chief of Operations for Montana-based Neptune Aviation, about a formal protest lodged by the company over air-tanker contract awards from US Forest Service that excluded some of their aircraft, something which concerns Colorado's US Senator Mark Udall (16); while a structure-wrapping team in the Bitterroot National Forest got a few pointers on how to protect historic buildings from wildfires (17); even as a bill passed by the Legislature created a new wildlife suppression budget account (18); which, hopefully, won't be needed this weekend due to cooler temperatures and light showers (19). Menahga, Minnesota's, Green Valley Fire, which destroyed over 50 structures, is now 80% contained (20); but a family from Minnesota lamented the loss of their cabin in Wisconsin's wildfires (21). Rangers from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation reported an eight-acre wildfire near Warrensburg (22). A letter to the editor of British Columbia, Canada's, Victoria Times Colonist argues in favor of an air-tanker contract for the massive Martin Mars flying boats (23); even as a 20-hectare wildfire was reported outside of Whitecourt, Alberta (24); however it appears that some overeager would-be firefighters have started a number of blazes in Saskatchewan themselves (25). As winter approaches Down Under, 800 tons of firewood is being made available to bushfire survivors in Tasmania (26). And finally, a parade of firefighting history will make its way through Corvallis, Montana, next month!

(1) Stalled Air Tankers

(2) Firefighters train for a ferocious wildfire season

(3) 2 stubborn wildfires persist after week full of blazes off I-5 north of Los Angeles

(4) Castaic blaze grows to 575 acres but firefighters gaining control

(5) Inmate firefighting program at risk

(6) Military Veterans Trained in Firefighting Techniques through Forest Service and California Conservation Corps

(7) Landscaping for wildfire defense

(8) Wildfires around Arizona cover over 1,400 acres

(9) C-27J Reemerges Despite AF’s Boneyard Plans

(10) Firefighters, residents train for the worst in Colorado Springs' Skyway neighborhood

(11) New Law Helps Protect Homes From Wildfire

(12) Crews responding to wildfire in Kuna

(13) Fewer Resources for Wildfire Season

(14) Firefighter who started Karney Fire gets six-month rider

(15) Students participate wildfire management training

(16) Udall tells Forest Service to override air tanker protest

(17) All wrapped up: Group learns methods for protecting historic buildings from wildfire

(18) Viewpoint: Bill creates new wildfire suppression fund

(19) Cool temps, light showers aid firefighting efforts

(20) Menahga Wildfire Now 80 Percent Contained

(21) St. Paul family mourns loss of cabin in Wisconsin wildfire

(22) Fire consumes 8 acres of forest in Warrensburg

(23) Huge wildfires require large-capacity air tankers

(24) Crews battle wildfire near Whitecourt

(25) Some wildfires started by would-be firefighters, investigator says

(26) More free firewood delivered to bushfire victims

(27) Parade of history planned for Corvallis firefighter gathering