WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 083113

As Labor Day weekend gets underway, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection warned people enjoying the outdoors of a 'high risk' of accidentally sparking a wildfire (1); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Tom Lasser, a retired Lt. Colonel in the California National Guard, sending along an Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) bulletin in which their Director announced three new Regional Administrators who will lead emergency and disaster response coordination efforts for in the state (2); while a three-acre wildfire in the Southern California community of Monterey Park sent four firefighters to the hospital (3); but although Yosemite's Rim Fire is 35% contained, it still managed to burn 6,000 acres more overnight, bringing its size to 219,277 acres and suppression costs to $47 million (4); forcing more mandatory evacuations in Mariposa County (5); wildfire smoke once again hindering air attack on the blaze (6); that same smoke also choking cities in the San Joaquin Valley (7); while investigators are looking into the possibility that an illicit marijuana farm may have been the source of the blaze (8); the next article providing a behind-the-scenes look at Grass Valley's Interagency Command Center, which has been the nerve center for wildland firefighting in California (9); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Rick Hatton, CEO of 10 tanker Air Carrier, discussing the contribution the mighty DC-10s have made fighting California's wildfires in the next article (10); but the evacuation of Yosemite's Evergreen Lodge dashed wedding plans for three couples (11). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Ray Rasker, Executive Director of Headwaters Economics, discusses how more homes in wilderness areas are hampering wildland firefighting efforts in Colorado (12). A trio of new wildfires were sparked by lightning in Idaho's Payette National Forest (13); while a firefighter from Canyon County discusses the importance of preparedness in dealing with wildfires in the next article (14). A 30-acre wildfire outside of Dubois, Wyoming, forced evacuations (15); two new wildfires also cropping up in Gallatin National Forest (16). Heli-tankers responded in force to a 20-acre blaze outside of North Rattlesnake, Montana, on Friday (17); even as firefighters in the Kootenai National Forest continued to battle 16 small wildfires (18); but rehabilitation efforts are underway in the Rock Creek Fire burn area (19). A firefighter from Fox Lake, Illinois, recounts his experiences battling wildfires in the West as part of an Attack Wildland Fire Crew (20); while a researcher from Penn State expounds on the twin problems of climate change and a century of fire suppression "priming the pump" for worsening wildfires in the US (21). In Europe, five new wildfires were reported yesterday in Spain, Greece, and Turkey (22); a photo spread showing wildfires in Portugal, where 250 vehicles and over 2,000 firefighters battled wildfires (23); more details on wildfires in Spain and Portugal provided by the next article (24). Two people have been apprehended after setting bushfires to clear plantation land in Pelalawan and Pekanbaru, Indonesia (25). Fifty years of fire suppression is being blamed for catastrophic bushfire conditions on Western Australia's Barrow Island (26); but volunteer bushfire brigades voiced concern about state plans to roll them under the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (27). And finally, firefighters in Guildford, Western Australia, used to getting cats out of trees had something a little larger to deal with this time!

(1) Cal Fire, Forest Service warn of 'high risk' weekend for fire

(2) Cal OES Director Announces Regional Administrators

(3) Four firefighters hurt in Monterey Park fire

(4) Massive California wildfire is still 'very active'

(5) Rim Fire - Saturday Update: Sheriff's Office Orders Mandatory Evacuations

(6) Smoky Air Puts Tankers on Standby

(7) Progress seen in Sierra Nevada wildfire battle but smoke pushes into San Joaquin Valley cities

(8) Possible marijuana link to massive California wildfire

(9) Battle against California fires is waged from Grass Valley command center

(10) Jumbo Jets Lead Air Attack Against Rim Fire

(11) Wedding bells a casualty of massive Yosemite blaze

(12) Homes in forests limit fighting fire with fire

(13) Three lightning-caused fires spark in Payette National Forest

(14) Local crews stand ready to deploy for wildfires

(15) Dubois evacuating people and horses as a precaution

(16) Two new fires reported southwest of West Yellowstone

(17) Fire crews douse North Hills blaze, save homes

(18) USFS keeps busy with fires

(19) Rock Creek fire crews transitioning to rehab effort

(20) Firefighter’s dream of working in forest comes true

(21) We Are All Making Forest Fires Worse

(22) EFFIS - Current Situation

(23) Wildfires rage across Portugal (PHOTOS)

(24) Firefighters tame wild Spain blaze, Portugal struggles

(25) More suspects arrested

(26) WA Government document shows Barrow Island at risk of "catastrophic" bushfire

(27) Volunteer fireys seek clarity on role

(28) Firefighters rescue man stuck in tree