WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 121113

Southern California-based CoreLogic has released its annual Natural Hazard Risk Summary and Analysis which touches on, among other things, wildfire losses in 2013 (1); while officials in Northern California's Six Rivers National Forest will hold a public hearing to discuss 68 wildfires which scorched over 50,000 acres this summer (2). A Native American businessman from Arizona discusses how his Apache Fire Warriors help battle wildfires (3); where Yarnell has received a $225,000 donation to repair water system damage caused by the deadly Yarnell Hill Fire the summer (4); while Four Forest Restoration Initiative researchers from Northern Arizona University have determined that thinning forests had a $5,000-per-acre impact (5); an article from New Mexico taking a look at how forest thinning can better protect Santa Fe Municipal Watershed from wildfire damage (6). Colorado's Black Forest Fire Department has launched a probe into its response to this summer's Black Forest Fire (7); the El Paso County Sheriff offering his opinion in the next item (8); and a petition that calls for the fire chief's dismissal was tendered (9); while the first home lost in the Black Forest Fire has been rebuilt with more on the way (10); but as the 20th anniversary of the deadly Storm King Mountain fire approaches, the next article looks at efforts by residents of Glenwood Springs to memorialize the event (11). At the American Geophysical Union conference in Utah, the impact of climate change on wildfires was a hot topic (12). Wildfire NOTD subscriber Chris Mehl, Policy Director at Montana-based Headwaters Economics, sent along their Winter newsletter (13); and Wildfire NOTD subscriber Chuck Bushey, Past President of the International Association of Wildland Fire, sent along Montana DNR's 2013 wildfire report (14). After being 'shot, shot at, held hostage, and threatened', Maine's forest rangers may start carrying firearms (15); while at the 29th Farmers Day Celebration in Ghana, Africa, officials urged residents of Kintampo to step up their anti-bushfire efforts (16). In New South Wales, Australia, a Hornsby Heights family recounts the things they learned from a bushfire simulation test which took place just one week before bushfires ripped through the Blue Mountains (17); but unauthorized trade services are apparently preying on bushfire survivors in that region (18). Seven bushfires which cropped up east of Donnybrook, Western Australia, have been brought under control by Department of Parks and Wildlife fire crews (19); while firefighters battled a 2-hectare blaze in Yanchep National Park (20). And finally, firefighters in Miami, Florida, had a tricky extrication to perform: getting a cat out of a school downspout!

(1) CoreLogic Releases Annual Natural Hazard Risk Summary and Analysis Highlighting Significant U.S. Natural Disasters in 2013

(2) 'Above average' fire season: Six Rivers National Forest to discuss 2013 blazes today

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