WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 053113

Eight air-tankers and hundreds of firefighters battled a 1,400-acre wildfire burning in Southern California's Angeles National Forest (1); a video segment from CBS asking whether the wildfire was caused by arson (2); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Andrew Madsen, Public Affairs Officer for the Los Padres National Forest, announcing that the White Fire, which burned nearly 2,000 acres, has finally been contained (3); the contribution of female inmate firefighters fighting those wildfires being explored by the next article (4); CAL FIRE increasing its readiness across Northern California as Red Flag conditions were forecast for the region (5). Northern Arizona University has estimated that 2010's Schultz Fire and resultant flooding cost between $133 million and $147 million (6); but a suspected arsonist has been deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial for starting six wildfires in the Flagstaff area (7). As federal officials contemplate further wildland firefighting cuts, the State Director of The Nature Conservancy in New Mexico worries about the impact it will have on firefighting in that state (8); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Bill Derr, a former Special Agent with the US Forest Service, discussing how better to fight fires in that state at a meeting with US Forest Service in Ruidoso, scene of 2012's devastating Little Bear Fire (9); but a 40-acre wildfire has been reported in the Santa Fe National Forest (10). A wildfire on Colorado's Pueblo/Otero county line is causing traffic disruptions on Highway 50 (11). A training exercise that took place in Cassia County, Idaho, aimed to improve communication and efficiency during a wildfire (12); and Texas Forest Service joined the Abilene Fire Department in a cooperative wildfire drill Thursday to sharpen skills for the real thing (13). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Mikel Robinson, Executive Director of the International Association of Wildland Fire, sent along a reminder that the deadline for submissions to their upcoming International Smoke Symposium, to be held at the University of Maryland in October, is July 1st (14); while the Chairman of the South Carolina Wildland Interface Curriculum Commission announced two new wildfire courses to be offered to fire departments in that state (15). Florida Forest Service continues to battle numerous wildfires in the Panhandle (16); and a 10-acre wildfire in Alaska's Mat-Su Borough destroyed a cabin and a shed (17). A forest fire was blamed for the disruption of drilling operations in Northern Ontario, Canada (18); while two small blazes were reported in Watson Lake and Whitehorse in the Yukon, opening that province's wildfire season (19). Heading to Europe, wildfires continued to burn in Costa Verde and Santa Margherita di Pula, Italy, Patra, Atalanti, and Aliartos, Greece, and Sakarya and Manisa, Turkey (20); the Turkish Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs lending an air-tanker to Libya to help with wildfires there (21). A Black Saturday bushfire suit against Australian utility Powercor will be decided by the Victoria Supreme Court today (22); but sediment from the Harrietville bushfire is fouling the Ovens and Buckland rivers, sparking health alerts (23). School kids in Western Australia are learning more about the bushfire danger in an educational program put together by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (24). And finally, Boo-Boo the bear, a black bear cub seriously burned in Idaho's Mustang Fire near Salmon last year, is finally going home!

(1) Angeles National Forest fire grows to 1,400 acres, 15% contained

(2) Arson to blame for fast-moving Calif. wildfire?

(3) Firefighters contain White Fire

(4) Female Inmates Helping To Fight Wildfires

(5) Fire Danger: Red Flag Warning Prompts Increased Firefighting Staffing

(6) NAU study estimates financial impact of wildfire

(7) Flagstaff arson suspect not fit to face charges

(8) We can’t afford to trim firefighting

(9) Ruidoso a good starting point for new fire policies

(10) Officials Say Wildfire Burning North of Pecos

(11) Wildfire forces closure of Highway 50 east of Pueblo

(12) Agencies Gather in Albion for Wildfire Training Exercise

(13) Abilene, Forest Service firefighters sharpen wildfire-fighting skills at practice

(14) International Smoke Symposium

(15) Calhoun firefighters advised of new courses on wildland blazes

(16) Crews gaining on area wildfires

(17) Cabin and shed destroyed in Point Mackenzie wildfire

(18) Bold Ventures Inc.: Forest Fire Interrupts Drilling Program

(19) Homeowners cause 2 Yukon wildfires

(20) EFFIS - Current Situation

(21) Turkey sends plane to put out Libyan forest fire

(22) Lawyer hopes court ruling hastens bushfire compo claims

(23) Health alert for Ovens, Buckland rivers

(24) Students learn about bushfire danger

(25) Bear cub burned in Idaho fire returned to wild