WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 072313

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Max Moritz, Professor of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley, comments on the difficulties of hammering out a strategy to fight wildland fires that have caused tremendous damage so far this year (1). Now that firefighters have the upper hand on Southern California's Mountain Fire, the greatest danger may be posed by mudslides in the burn areas (2); CAL FIRE reported that an 18-acre wildfire outside of Copperopolis is between 40% and 50% contained (3); but a 350-acre wildfire near Lebec forced evacuations of Digier Canyon (4). A 22,000-acre wildfire outside of Warm Springs, Oregon, is now 20% contained (5); but a 400-acre wildfire in Klamath County forced evacuations (6); high temperatures not helping the situation (7). A media tour of the location where 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots died in a burnover outside of Yarnell, Arizona, has been organized for today (8); a benefit for the firefighters' families helping raise nearly $500,000 (9). Warm, dry conditions were hampering the fight against two wildfires in northwestern Colorado (10); while two Senators are pressing FEMA to identify funding obstacles for current wildfire mitigation programs (11); the next article offering a look at tourism in the region impacted by the Black Forest Fire (12); Representative Scott Tipton discussing how the federal government could save more money by preventing wildfires instead of fighting them (13); the article which follows profiling US Sen. Mark Udall's support for wildland firefighting (14). Fire crews managed to halt a 300-acre wildfire burning near Idaho's Redfish Lake Lodge (15); but with lightning in the forecast, Boise National Forest is bolstering its resources (16); and for those of you perplexed by odd-sounding names for wildfires, the next article explains all (17). Fire crews in Utah struggled to contain wildfires burning in that state (18); while an article from San Antonio, Texas, takes a look at the $3.5 billion price tag for wildfires this year (19). An interactive wildfire map from the Associated Press in Wyoming covers current fires along with some background material on home protection and wildland firefighting (20); a 1,200-acre wildfire forcing closure of Central Wyoming College facilities outside of Lander (21). Montana's Gallatin National Forest indicated that a 350-acre wildfire is 0% contained (22); and elevated temperatures prompted officials in the Lolo National Forest to increase fire restrictions (23); but despite forest fire smoke drifting into Butte, air quality in Silver Bow County is still okay (24). University of Illinois researchers led a study that published findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences which show that wildfires are converting the conifer-rich boreal forests of Alaska into deciduous woodlands (25). Canadian air-tankers mounted an attack on two wildfires south of Hope, British Columbia (26); where, although the wildfire season has been quiet so far, the Wildfire Management Branch warned that lightning strikes could change all that (27); Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources providing an update on wildfire activity in that province in the next article (28); while an air-tanker responded to a wildfire outside of Springdale, Newfoundland (29). Heading to Europe, wildfires were reported in Germany, Croatia, and Turkey (30); a satellite image showing wildfires burning in Russia's Siberia as well (31). As the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association vowed to expand their operations by over 5%, the next article takes an in-depth look at the forces behind massive wildfires on the island of Sumatra which cloak the region in smoke (32); where 252 hot spots were detected by satellite, prompting officials to begin seeding clouds (33). And finally, the Snake River Hotshots received an unexpected guest while battling a wildfire outside of Superior, Montana: Arnold Schwarzenegger!

(1) Firefighting's new reality: not every house should be saved

(2) Danger of mudslides follow Southern California wildfire

(3) Some Air Tankers Return To Base

(4) Lebec wildfire triggers mandatory evacuation in Digier Canyon

(5) 22,000-acre wildfire scorches land, but no buildings

(6) Wildfire in Klamath County causes evacuations as crews continue battling blaze near Warm Springs

(7) High Temperatures Expected As Wildfires Continue To Burn

(8) Media to tour site of 19 firefighters' deaths

(9) Dierks Bentley Helps Raise Over $476K For Firefighter's Families

(10) More warm, dry conditions in northwest Colorado where crews are fighting wildfires

(11) Wildfire mitigation plan

(12) Tourism looking healthy in Tri-Lakes region

(13) Tipton encourages forest upkeep to prevent wildfire

(14) Sen. Udall seeks info on firefighting

(15) Wildfire near Redfish Lake halted overnight

(16) Doubling the fleet; Boise National Forest prepares for fire starts

(17) Curious Mind: How Do They Name Wildfires?

(18) Crews battle heat, dry conditions as they hem in Utah wildfires

(19) Fed spending on wildfires increasing as more acres are burned

(20) Interactive: 2013 wildfires

(21) CWC Sinks Canyon Center remains closed; will offer resources to firefighting personnel

(22) Emigrant Peak fire grows to 350 acres

(23) Missoula County fire danger goes to 'very high,' Lolo Forest danger now 'extreme'

(24) Forest fire smoke arrives in Butte, but air quality stays OK

(25) Forest Fires Turning Alaska’s Boreal Forests Into Deciduous Woodlands

(26) Video: Two forest fires burning 15 km south of Hope

(27) Wildfire risk up in parts of B.C.

(28) Monday forest fire report

(29) Forest fire contained in Springdale after burning near homes

(30) EFFIS - Current Situation

(31) Fires in Eastern Russian and Siberia

(32) Indonesia Comes Under Fire for Forest Fires

(33) Indonesia set to begin cloud seeding as haze threatens

(34) Schwarzenegger visits Superior wildfire; ground crews report progress