WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 081013

Despite wildfires being in the headlines lately, NASA satellites show that the US has had a normal wildfire season to date (1). Cooler weather has allowed fire crews battling Southern California's Silver Fire to bring the 18,000-acre blaze to 40% containment (2); providing powerline crews with an opportunity to repair damage done to transmission lines in the Twin Pines area (3); and allowing evacuees to return home (4); while the 150-acre Sharp Fire in nearby Wrightwood evoked memories of 2009's 7,500-acre Sheep Fire (5); even as an 80-acre blaze broke out near Lake Castaic (6); in the meantime, firefighters from Chico Fire Department headed out to battle a 9,100-acre wildfire burning in the Klamath National Forest (7); and three dozen firefighters have been dispatched from Marin to help fight wildfires across the state (8); while a 1,050-acre blaze in the Stanislaus National Forest is 60% contained (9); an ABC News segment discussing the difficult fire season ahead for the Golden State (10). The family of a water tender driver who was killed in a rollover fighting wildfires in Southern Oregon shares an account of his fatal accident in the next item (11); a photo spread showing the impact wildfires have had on Rogue River tourism (12). Despite pledges from the President and Vice President to support Arizona following the Yarnell Hill Fire which destroyed 100 structures, killing 19 firefighters, FEMA has denied disaster relief funds to Yavapai County (13); a Christian Science Monitor article asking whether this is political (14); while an editorial argues that more air-tankers are needed to deal with wildfires (15). Heading to Colorado, the exploits of C-130s from Peterson Air Force Base's 302nd Airlift Wing over wildfires in Oregon and Idaho are chronicled by the next article (16). Air-tankers assisted ground crews in bringing a 40-acre wildfire near Peck, Idaho, to heel (17); but wildfire smoke from Mountain Home sullied the skies of Boise on Friday (18); lightning being blamed for a couple of other fires that have merged into a single 8,000-acre blaze (19). US Forest Service dedicated a kiosk to three people killed in a Uintah County, Utah, wildfire in 2007 (20); and fire crews have controlled a 60-acre wildfire that rekindled from a previous fire in Upshur County, Texas (21). US Forest Service thanked people in Fremont County, Wyoming, for their vigilance in reducing the incidence of wildfires (22); while fire crews halted the 112-acre Indian Creek Fire near Sheridan, Montana (23). An Alaska Public Radio segment provides an update on wildfires in the Interior (24); while the fire situation in Ontario, Canada, was provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources (25). Although firefighters in Austria brought a 20-hectare wildfire outside of Wiener Neustadt under control, windy conditions have elevated the fire danger (26); and as a renewed air attack roped in wildfires that have scorched 8,000 acres on the Italian island of Sardinia, investigators were trying to determine whether the fires were deliberately set (27). Heading to Australia, firefighters battled a hillside blaze in Brisbane, Queensland (28). And finally, a collection of old photographs show how wildfires were fought a long time ago!

(1) Watching Wildfires from Space, NASA Sees Average Year

(2) SILVER FIRE: Blaze waning, but firefighters still cautious

(3) SILVER FIRE: Helicopter crews working to restore power

(4) Silver Fire: Some Residents Return Home

(5) SHARP FIRE: Blaze sparks memories of 2009 Sheep Fire

(6) Fire Ignites in Windy Angeles National Forest

(7) Chico firefighters deployed to fight northern blazes

(8) Marin firefighters battle wildfires across California

(9) Power fire in Stanislaus National Forest 60 percent contained

(10) Calif. Faces Longer, Tough Wildfire Season

(11) Family learns more about firefighter's death

(12) Wildfires impact Rogue River tourism near Grants Pass (photos)

(13) Feds deny Arizona's request for disaster relief funds to help wildfire victims

(14) Yarnell wildfire federal aid 'snub': Did Obama-Texas-Arizona feud play a role?

(15) Editorial: Air tankers are a need, not a want

(16) Colorado Springs airmen battle western wildfires from air

(17) Helicopters, air tankers and ground crews handle blaze near Peck

(18) Holy Smoke! It's as if wildfires are in Boise's backyard

(19) McCan Fire: Firefighters challenged by wind, steep terrain

(20) Forest Service dedicates kiosk to 3 Utah wildfire victims

(21) 60 acres burned in Upshur County forest fire

(22) Officials thank forest users for practicing fire safety

(23) Weather, firefighters stall Indian Creek forest fire near Sheridan

(24) Wildfires Grow Across Interior

(25) MNR provides update on forest fires

(26) Forest fire brought under control

(27) Fire in Sardinia, Italy, declared under control

(28) Bushfire threatens Keperra Parkland

(29) Vintage Firefighting: Taming the Flames (PHOTOS)