WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 111813

An article from Forbes revisits the controversial issue of terrorists setting wildfires in American forests (1); but 10 years after it was drafted, recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Fire Commission issued following the 2003 fire siege in Southern California have met with mixed success (2). In New Mexico, White Sands Missile Range firefighters conducted wildfire training exercises that included a simulated helicopter crash (3). In the aftermath of this summer's massive wildfires in Colorado, US Forest Service indicated it is changing its strategy (4); but the debate over creating a state-sponsored air-tanker fleet has entered into the political arena as the Republican Primary gets underway (5). An article from Montana looks at the "Wildfire Wizard" program which can evaluate the likelihood of a home surviving a wildfire (6); while the Missouri Department of Conservation provided some useful tips to deer hunters on preventing forest fires (7). A 1,600-acre wildfire in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest is now 60% contained (8); and fire crews have fully contained a 536-acre wildfire in Alabama's Talladega National Forest (9). Forestry enthusiasts, conservationists and forest fire historians gathered at the annual Pennsylvania Forest Fire Museum Association meeting in Monte Alto on Saturday (10); while dozens of firefighters battled a wildfire which blazed across 5-7 acres Saturday night in Franklin County, Massachusetts (11). After a three-day battle, fire crews are returning home from fighting a wildfire on New York State's Clausland Mountain (12); their brethren on Long Island battling a three-acre wildfire which, in some cases, was burning up to 4 feet underground (13). A forecast of windy weather in Burke County, North Carolina, has firefighters battling the 2,275-acre wildfire in the Pisgah National Forest worried (14); the next article providing some photos from the firelines (15). Florida Forest Service reported that a 30-acre wildfire along the Palm Beach-Martin County line was quickly contained over the weekend (16). Fire crews were able to contain a bushfire threatening homes in New Zealand's Kauaeranga Valley (17); while the Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens Party has warned that more disastrous bushfires could happen across the nation if climate change is not taken seriously (18). A parliamentary inquiry into the death of an Australian air-tanker pilot in New South Wales found that he was reluctant to go up due to the poor weather conditions which ultimately killed him (19); environmentalists coming in for a drubbing from the Rural Fire Service Association over last month's bushfires (20); but high schoolers did their part to help NSW bushfire survivors by donating $700 from their Melbourne Cup Day winnings to relief efforts (21); and Churchill State School students are helping as well (22); while musicians plan to raise even more money at next month's Blue Mountains Benefit (23). As part of Victoria's $200 million effort to reduce bushfires sparked by powerlines, 22-kilovolt distribution feeders in the highest bushfire danger zones are being repaired or upgraded ahead of summer (24); while 43 Country Fire Authority firefighters were awarded the National Emergency Medal for their efforts battling the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 (25). And finally, a firefighter from the Corpus Christi Fire Department was honored for halting a carjacking, showing once again that criminals should beware the long arm of the... fire service!

(1) Fire Wars: Past And Future Terrorist Attacks On American Forests Warrant Priority Attention

(2) Report Card Issued on Calif. Panel Suggestions on Mitigating Wildfires

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