WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 071113

A new study of forests in the northeastern US published in the journal Nature shows that trees take on water more efficiently as carbon dioxide levels rise, which could exacerbate climate change (1). As San Diego County, California's, 7,000-acre Chariot Fire continues to burn, our next article takes a look at the early start to that region's fire season (2); but a 615-acre wildfire burning in Northern California's Eldorado National Forest is now 95% contained (3). Traffic came to a halt on Interstate 205 in Clackamas, Oregon, as the funeral procession for a wildland firefighter killed in Arizona brought his remains home to be buried (4); while a 2,098-acre wildfire near Lake Chelan in Washington state is now 70% contained (5). A 27,968-acre wildfire burning on Nevada's Mount Charleston has reached 15% containment (6); and moist air is helping ease the pollution caused by wildfire smoke in the Las Vegas Valley (7). US Forest Service pronounced Arizona's 13 mi.² Yarnell Hill Fire fully contained late Wednesday night (8); while a 518-acre wildfire southeast of Phoenix is now 50% contained (9); but the annual arrival of monsoons in the Southwest holds the promise of quenching some wildfires while sparking others (10). Fire crews grappled with two small wildfires in Larimer County, Colorado (11); the next article providing an update on two wildfires near Trinidad (12); but an article about State Farm Insurance, which insures about 22% of the homes in Colorado, requiring policyholders to take steps to prepare for wildfires has generated a great deal of controversy (13); while Gov. Hickenlooper petitioned the federal government for disaster declarations in the Black Forest and the Royal Gorge burn zones (14); but fears of wildfires don't seem to have dampened tourism in the Pikes Peak Region (15); however, police have determined that thieves targeted evacuees' possession-laden cars during the Black Forest Fire evacuation (16). Utah's wildfires are the focus of the next article (17); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Ray Rasker, Executive Director of Montana-based Headwaters Economics, discussing the economics of wildfires in the one which follows (18). The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reported that Canadian wildfire smoke is blanketing much of the state (19); even as the body of a Wisconsin firefighter who was killed in Arizona's Yarnell Hill Fire returned home (20). Firefighters from Maine and Massachusetts have deployed to Québec, Canada, to help fight wildfires that have burned over 1 million acres in that province (21). An 11,416-acre wildfire outside of Red Lake, Ontario, continues to grow (22); Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources asking for input in developing new strategies to deal with wildfires (23); followed by an update on wildfire activity in Labrador (24); while firefighters quickly got the upper hand on several small wildfires outside of St. John's, Newfoundland (25). A spate of new wildfires broke out in Europe yesterday, with a 2-3 km² gorse fire being reported on Northern Ireland's Shanlieve Mountain (26); a smaller blaze cropping up in Berkshire, UK's, Highwood Nature Reserve (27); and yet another wildfire being reported in Shropshire's Grinshill Woods (28); while a number of blazes were reported in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus (29). The Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore published a new study which suggests that forest fires could have an impact on Himalayan glaciers, impacting water sources for mountain communities (30). The Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia has asked the federal government to investigate whether wind turbines are creating turbulence which can be a hazard to firefighting pilots during a bushfire (31); but six months after bushfires ravaged Dunalley, Tasmania, a psychologist discussed the potential for a mental health disaster (32). And finally, even the massive wildfire outside of Wabush City, Labrador, couldn't stop two Canadians from tying the knot!

(1) As CO2 Levels Rise, Trees are Using Water More Efficiently

(2) Early wildfire lesson: San Diego burns

(3) Forest Service reports Kyburz fire 95 percent contained

(4) Strangers stop on I-205 to honor firefighter

(5) 25 Mile Wildfire remains 70 percent contained

(6) Carpenter 1 wildfire nearing 30K acres in size

(7) Moisture in air easing pollution in Las Vegas Valley caused by wildfire

(8) Arizona wildfire that killed 19 firefighters fully contained

(9) Kearny wildfire reaches 50% containment

(10) Southwest Monsoon: Flooding, Wildfire, Dust Storm Risk

(11) Crews fighting two wildfires between Estes Park and Loveland

(12) 2 wildfires burning on Fishers Peak Mesa SE of Trinidad

(13) SIDE STREETS: Wildfire insurance creating a ruckus

(14) Congressional delegation urges disaster declaration for Black Forest, Royal Gorge fires

(15) Tourism in Pikes Peak area holding up after Black Forest fire

(16) Black Forest Fire thieves targeted cars

(17) Firefighters move to douse blazes ahead of thunderstorms, lightning

(18) The Economics of Wildfire

(19) Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Affects Minnesota

(20) Wisconsin firefighter's body comes home after deadly Arizona wildfire

(21) 15 Massachusetts wildland firefighters to battle Quebec forest fires

(22) Fire keeps on growing

(23) MNR wants input on managing forest fires

(24) Forest fires in central Labrador

(25) Crews douse forest fires in St. John's

(26) Firefighters tackle Mournes gorse fire on Shanlieve Mountain

(27) Forest fire caught early in Woodley

(28) Grinshill Woods: More than 40 firefighters tackle blaze

(29) EFFIS - Current Situation

(30) Forest fires could melt glaciers faster: report

(31) Fire-fighting pilots want Federal Government to investigate turbulence risk of wind turbines

(32) Psychologist warns of 'second disaster' after Dunalley fires

(33) Forest fire a minor detail for newlyweds