WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 112213

Despite the damage wrought by Southern California's Mountain Fire in July, a pair of bald eagles continue to frequent Lake Hemet (1); while a wind-driven wildfire that consumed 300 acres outside of Napa is now 50% contained (2); and a 2-4 acre wildfire was also reported in Contra Costa County (3). As loggers prepare bids to harvest timber from Oregon's Pole Creek Fire burn area, observers are bracing for a backlash from environmentalists who oppose salvage logging (4); but in Colorado, the war of words between the Black Forest Fire Department Chief and the El Paso County Sheriff over the cause of the Black Forest Fire continues (5). Although West Virginia's Smoke Hole Fire has scorched 1,611 acres in the Monongahela National Forest, it's not the largest wildfire that state has seen (6); while fire crews in York, Maine, responded to the second wildfire in 24 hours (7). More details of a "person of interest", including a photograph, in regards to the 2,500-acre wildfire burning in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest have been released (8); but residents were told that they were not in danger from the wildfire at a meeting Thursday night (9). Horry County, South Carolina, hosted a multi-agency wildfire training exercise (10); while officials in Alaska are asking FEMA to pay a $1 million price tag for suppression costs related to an 80-acre wildfire this summer on the grounds of Clear Air Force Station (11). In Australia, AGL Energy Ltd. made a $25,000 donation in the form of two generators to New South Wales Rural Fire Service to help power a pair of fire stations during bushfire season even if power is knocked out (12); while the Gooloogong Country Club is preparing for a November 30th auction to provide funds to the Salvation Army's Bush Fire Appeal fund (13); and the Australian Air Force is doing its part to help clean up in the Blue Mountains (14). Two projects by the Warrandyte Community Association have been nominated for Victoria's 2013 Fire Awareness Awards (15); Department of Fire and Emergency Services personnel responding to six bushfires that ignited in Western Australia's Gnangara Pine plantation (16). And finally, science fiction is becoming science fact as a new mobile app that provides critical information to firefighters debuts with Philadelphia Fire Department!

(1) MOUNTAIN FIRE: Lake Hemet eagles remain after blaze

(2) Wind-Whipped Napa Wildfire Forces Evacuations

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