WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 110413

Over 200 biologists, ecologists and other scientists are arguing against more intense logging in western forests savaged by wildfires (1); while the National Association of State Fire Marshals is lobbying to outlaw Japanese sky lanterns which have sparked numerous wildfires (2). A woman who defrauded residents of Santa Barbara, California, of $4.8 million in wildfire relief funds has been sentenced to 35 years in prison (3); but now that Yosemite's Rim Fire is out, the concern has turned to its impact on the Tuolumne River watershed (4). Approximately 1,100 homes in Albuquerque, New Mexico, valued at almost $140 million are in danger from wildfires, according to data from CoreLogic's recent report (5). Following a week in which the Colorado Wildfire Matters Review Committee passed eight bills regarding wildfires, state and local leaders are advocating more wildfire mitigation efforts (6); an editorial discussing wildfire issues the Legislature will be tackling in January provided by the next article (7). Firefighters in Mercer County, Virginia, quickly squelched a forest fire along the Hatfield-McCoy Trail over the weekend (8); while Horry County Fire Rescue will meet with South Carolinians on Tuesday to discuss wildfire issues (9). Ontario, Canada-based Bombardier announced the first US sale of a CL-415 air-tanker to Tenax Aerospace LLC for $34.5 million (10); the Ministry of Natural Resources providing a summary of wildfire activity in that province in the next article (11). In South America's Amazon rainforest, it's estimated that wildfires destroyed 33,000 mi.² of timber between 1999 and 2010 (12). An overview of bushfire activity in several Australian states is provided by the next article (13); some bushfire safety tips being offered to visitors Down Under in the next item (14). Although no homes are threatened by a 7,000-hectare bushfire west of Kempsey, Queensland, some World Heritage sites are in danger (15). Fire crews in New South Wales are wrapping up a bushfire in the Southern Highlands(16); cooler temperatures helping firefighters rope in the remaining bushfires in that state (17); while 700 students impacted by the bushfires will receive support from the University of Western Sydney (18); and an outpouring of donations from Australians including actor Russell Crowe is helping a Springwood resident who lost everything recover (19); while many homeowners plan to rebuild their homes (20); but the head of New South Wales Volunteer Firefighters Association slammed people who were blaming climate change for last month's bushfires (21). Victoria's troubled fire alert system accidentally signaled 450,000 people about a nonexistent bushfire emergency on Sunday (22). South Australia's Country Fire Service is on the defensive about not using air-tankers against a 20-hectare bushfire in the Adelaide Hills (23); while a 10-hectare bushfire that threatened homes near Western Australia's Dingup State Forest has been contained (24). And finally, a firefighter from Massachusetts in search of his father found him and a little extra: 80 new relatives!

(1) Law would allow quicker logging of trees burned in western forest fires

(2) Japanese paper lanterns face state bans at hands of firefighters

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