WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 121313

The National Science Foundation has awarded a grant to California State University Channel Islands to study the impact of wildfires on chaparral and watersheds in parts of Southern California (1); but Red Flag conditions will exist across San Diego County this weekend due to high winds and low humidity (2); even as several acres went up in flames on Northern California's Fremont Peak (3). At the Western Governors Association in Las Vegas, Nevada, several governors promised to do more to assist the federal government fighting wildfires in their states (4); climate change once again getting the blame for worsening Western wildfires (5). The US General Services Administration awarded an $8.7 million contract to Montana-based Neptune Aviation for a pair of BAE-146 jet air-tankers for the 2014 fire season (6); state leaders applauding the award (7); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Chuck Bushey, Past President of the International Association of Wildland Fire, sending along a link with the following comments: "Comment being asked for on revisions to FEPP and FFP programs that helps many smaller, rural, underfunded departments and rangeland fire protection associations receive the equipment they need" (8). A wildfire in eastern China's Zhejiang Province was apparently sparked by a military helicopter crash (9); while in New South Wales, Australia, the 'Embers of Empathy' project will consist of artists using charred fragments from houses and land destroyed in the recent Blue Mountains bushfires to create unique artwork (10). And finally, Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters freed a dog whose leg was trapped in a drain pipe in the Southern California community of Lancaster, proving once again that firefighters are a dog's best friend!

(1) CI Earns NSF Grant to Study Wildfire Effects

(2) Heightened wildfire risk this weekend due to strong winds, low humidity

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