WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 080313

A bicyclist who apparently set at least nine wildfires in Oceanside, California, has been arrested (1); while a 10-acre wildfire near Ukiah was quickly snuffed by CAL FIRE (2); fire crews bringing a 110-acre wildfire by Lake Orville to 30% containment (3). A roll call of wildfires currently burning in Oregon is provided by the next article (4); where the governor toured the firelines in the southwestern part of the state (5); and the Secretary of Agriculture issued a press release about the firefighter killed by a falling tree (6); the current situation prompting officials to bring retirees back to help (7); improving visibility helping a Illinois Valley Helibase get more aircraft aloft to fight the blazes (8); a summary of wildfires in the Willamette National Forest being provided by the next article (9); where the Sand Mountain Lookout Tower keeps an eye out for more (10); but despite smoke from nearby wildfires, the ASA Western National Softball Tournament continued in Jackson County (11); while Aetna insurance is doing its part to help members impacted by wildfires in that state (12). Firefighters brought a 27,000-acre wildfire near Satus Pass, Washington, to 82% containment (13); but organizers of Wenatchee's Watershed Festival are concerned that lightning-sparked wildfires could disrupt the event (14); while US Forest Service plans to move the Green Mountain Lookout Tower are under review following protests from members of Congress (15). A golf tournament at Scottsdale, Arizona's, Gainey Ranch Golf Club raised money for families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire (16). FEMA began accepting applications for Black Forest Fire relief funds from El Paso County, Colorado, on Friday (17); but individual financial assistance has been denied to residents impacted by the blaze (18); while survivors of the Waldo Canyon Fire offered advice to Black Forest Fire survivors at the Faces of the Fire Exhibit (19); and air-tankers were the topic of conversation at a forum in Estes Park attended by staff from Senators Udall and Bennett's offices (20). Fire crews in Idaho expected to have 17 lightning-sparked wildfires that scorched 20,700 acres under control by today (21); but lightning also sparked a trio of wildfires in the Payette National Forest (22). As Creek County, Oklahoma, marks the first anniversary of a devastating wildfire that scorched 50,000 acres, destroying more than 100 homes, the man accused of starting the blaze is still at large (23); while a meeting on August 12th will cover the finer points of wildfire protection in Bastrop County, Texas (24). As 75 wildfires continued to burn, a persistent heatwave across Alaska has elevated the fire danger in Sitka's normally-rainy Tongass National Forest (25); Sen. Murkowski asking for an explanation from the Army as to why they were doing artillery practice that ignited an 85,000-acre wildfire during a hot spell in July (26). Rainfall helped quell a 64.5-hectare wildfire burning near Winlaw, British Columbia, Canada (27); but lightning strikes sparked over 100 small wildfires across the province as campers head out for a long weekend (28); and 10 years after a 17,000-hectare wildfire devastated Kootenay National Park, the next article looks at regrowth of the area (29); aircraft from Yukon Wildland Fire Management grappling with a 1.5-hectare wildfire near Moose Creek Lodge, one of two which resulted from thousands of lightning strikes earlier this week (30). Following a busy July in which 24 wildfires burned nearly 20,000 ha in Québec, Canada, the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu has been getting a breather so far this month (31). In Europe, a dozen wildfires continue to burn in France, Austria, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece (32); firefighters in central Spain gaining the upper hand on one of a dozen wildfires burning across the country (33). And finally, the Bard would be appalled: Oregon wildfire smoke means that the show won't go on!

(1) Firefighters battle multiple brush fires near Oceanside

(2) 10-acre blaze near Ukiah extinguished

(3) UPDATE: Branch Fire Near Lake Oroville Swells to 110 Acres

(4) Update on Regional Forest Fires: 8-3-13

(5) Governor to visit smoky, southwest Oregon

(6) Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Firefighters in Oregon

(7) State calling back retirees to help with wildfires

(8) Improved Visibility Helps Fire Fight

(9) Forest fire closes trail in Cascades of Lane County

(10) Manned fire tower on Sand Mountain watches over Willamette National Forest

(11) Ore. Softball Games Continue Despite Wildfire Smoke

(12) Aetna Helps Members Affected by Wildfires in Oregon

(13) Mop-up work, controlled burns in store for wildfire areas

(14) New wildfires may affect Gorge country fest

(15) Officials want Green Mountain lookout to stay

(16) Golf tournament benefits victims of Yarnell Hill wildfire

(17) Applications for FEMA relief for Black Forest begin Friday

(18) Individual aid denied for Black Forest Fire victims

(19) Waldo Canyon Fire Victims Offer Advice

(20) Estes Park firefighting forum: more work, resources needed

(21) Firefighters Control Most of This Week’s Area Wildfires

(22) Three new fires start in Payette National Forest

(23) Suspect In Creek County Wildfires Still At Large A Year Later

(24) THE JUDGE’S CORNER: Wildfire protection talk set for Aug.12

(25) Alaska’s record heat causing fish kills, wildfires

(26) Murkowski taps Army for explanation on artillery training link to huge Alaska wildfire

(27) Forest fire near Winlaw gets help from wet weather

(28) Campers urged to be cautious as forest fire risk remains high in B.C.

(29) 10 years after huge fire, Kootenay park growing back

(30) Wildfire came close to lodge

(31) Quebec’s forest fire fighters get a break

(32) EFFIS - Current Situation

(33) Firefighters brought forest fire in central Spain under control

(34) Smoke from wildfires leads Oregon Shakespeare Festival to cancel Elizabethan Stage performances