WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 092613

An article from Lloyd's of London discusses a new study that looks at wildfires worldwide from an insurer's perspective (1). Fire crews continued to make progress on two Southern California wildfires (2); while an attorney from San Diego County expounds on how homeowners can fight for a reasonable settlement after suffering losses in a wildfire (3); and following a wildfire in Cayucos yesterday, an article from San Luis Obispo defines the difference between "containment" and "control" of a wildfire (4); while the Stanislaus National Forest is lifting fire restrictions in some areas today (5); but the Tahoe National Forest has issued area closures for regions impacted by the American Fire (6). As the wildfire season winds down in Oregon, an article looks back at a year in which 240,000 lightning strikes ignited wildfires that cost $245 million to suppress and cost three firefighters their lives (7). Parts of Arizona's Prescott National Forest which were closed by the Doce Fire three months ago are reopening today (8); and the Small Business Administration is making $2 million available to businesses in Idaho impacted by wildfires (9). The benefits of controlled burns in Arkansas, where 300,000 acres are torched each year, are examined by the next article (10). Wildfire activity continued to diminish in Europe, where five new wildfires were reported in Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Bulgaria (11). Noreen Krusel, Manager of Research Utilisation at Bushfire CRC, sent along an invitation to a fire behavior conference taking place in Canberra, Australian Capitol Territory, in October (12); Redland City Council reiterating a warning by Queensland Fire and Rescue Service about the elevated bushfire danger in that state in the article that follows (13). A cold front moving through parts of New South Wales stirred up bushfires that threatened homes in Shallow Bay (14); the situation not helped by a quartet of teenagers who set a bushfire outside of a Scout camp near Newcastle (15); but the bushfire danger for much of the state has diminished (for now) (16); nevertheless, a fire ban is in place for Northern New South Wales (17). A family in Aberfeldy, Victoria, is struggling to return to normalcy following a January bushfire that devastated their farm (18). And finally, Ohio’s “entrepreneur of the year” discussed his product: bioluminescent paint which makes firefighter gear glow in the dark!

(1) Wildfires: Liability insurers on the hook?

(2) Progress made against Southern Calif. wildfires

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