WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092513

Fire crews brought a 250-acre wildfire in Southern California's Angeles National Forest to 75% containment (1); but a 200-acre wildfire that threatened dozens of homes in San Bernardino County continued to burn (2); while CAL FIRE crews quickly dealt with a small wildfire in Scotts Valley (3); and fire restrictions on the Eldorado National Forest were lifted (4). An article from John Day, Oregon, looks back at forest protection in 1928 (5); but in the ongoing case of a deadly 2008 helicopter crash in Northern California, employees of Oregon-based Carson Helicopters could face prison (6); while fire officials in Washington state's Kittitas and Chelan Counties are searching for ways to recoup firefighting costs from wildfires this summer (7). The Arizona State Forestry Division announced that it will release a full report on the Yarnell Hill Fire on Saturday (8). Actor Gary Sinise donated $60,000 to Colorado's Black Forest Fire Department, which is staffed largely by volunteers (9); while homeowners who lost property in the Waldo Canyon Fire counseled Black Forest Fire survivors at mentoring sessions Tuesday night (10). A summary of Wyoming's fire season to date, which was considerably less active than 2012's, is provided by the next article (11); the one which follows revisiting a plan to make changes to Michigan's Forest Development Fund, used to compensate local governments for wildfire costs (12). Wildfire activity was down considerably in Europe, where only six wildfires have cropped up in Spain, Bulgaria, and Turkey over the past couple of days (13); while American-based GelTech Solutions demonstrated its FireIce Gel product at the ISAF fire trade show in Turkey (14). A weather forecast for Australia predicts an increased bushfire risk with an abundance of growth from winter rains providing fuel (15); and with a prediction of soaring temperatures over the next two days, Queensland's North Stradbroke Island is gearing up for bushfires (16); residents of New South Wales being urged to have a Bush Fire Survival Plan prepared with the onset of bushfire season (17); while a researcher from Victoria's Deakin University argued that people should be prevented from living in bushfire-prone parts of Australia (18); 130 firefighters from the South-West earning National Emergency medals, which will be awarded in November (19); but exercise equipment in Gnarabup, Western Australia, is helping bring back a sense of normalcy to a community hard-hit by the Margaret River bushfires (20). And finally, a cautionary tale from Oregon's Portland Fire and Rescue shows that it's a good idea to take the keys out of your ignition while treating a patient!

(1) Progress made against 250-acre S. Calif. wildfire

(2) Brush fire burns in Cajon Pass; voluntary evacuations ordered

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