WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 121613

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Bruce Courtright, Chairman of the National Institute for the Elimination of Catastrophic Wildfire, sent along a special edition of the Newsletter of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees (1). Windy, warm weather will keep Red Flag warnings in place through Tuesday in Southern California's Inland Empire (2); Wildfire NOTD subscriber Tom Lasser, a retired Lt. Colonel in the California National Guard, sending along a press release from CAL FIRE which highlights services available to military veterans interested in a fire service career (3); even as a 500-acre wildfire forced evacuations from communities around Big Sur (4). New Mexico's Gila National Forest is taking sign-ups for its Southwest Forest Fire Fighter recruitment program which will begin training wildland firefighters in January (5); while a woman who lost everything in Colorado's Black Forest Fire has moved into a new mobile home just in time for the holidays (6). A behind-the-scenes look at Idaho's National Interagency Fire Center is provided by the next article (7); the one which follows looking at some of the specialized gear wildland firefighters use (8); but America's aging air-tanker fleet is a concern over future wildfires, with comments by Wildfire NOTD subscriber Rick Hatton, CEO of 10 Tanker Air Carrier (9); a reporter from the Idaho Statesman considering what he's learned about wildfires in the past 25 years (10); investigative reporters launching a four-day series that delves into wildfire issues (11). Fresh off the Western Governors' Association meeting, Wyoming's governor touted the theme of that meeting in regards to states taking on more wildland firefighting responsibility on federal lands (12); while interested parties met at the University of Montana to discuss a variety of issues that could affect wildfires in that state (13). Fire officials in Kentucky announced that the fall forest fire season is over (14). In Massachusetts, Berkley Fire Department has been awarded an $1,190 grant to buy wildfire-fighting equipment (15); but the damage and benefits conveyed by a 2,579-acre wildfire in North Carolina's Linville Gorge Wilderness are still being tallied (16). The next article provides more details on Airbus Military's efforts to field the C295 as an air-tanker (17); while ominous warnings about future bushfires in Queensland, Australia, and across the continent were issued by the Climate Council (18). Cleanup efforts in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales were touted by government officials at a meeting in Winmalee (19); even as over 120 students from Winmalee High School left the bushfire devastation behind for some fun at a water park (20); but tourism continues to suffer two months after the blazes (21). A $3 million upgrade to Victoria's bushfire warning system will allow it to alert smartphones, tablets and computers of approaching bushfires (22); while National Emergency Medals were awarded to over 200 firefighters from the Grampians Region Country Fire Authority for their work during the Black Saturday bushfires (23). Although a bushfire has been contained near Toodyay, Western Australia, homeowners were warned to be prepared if it breaches containment amid windy conditions (24); but plans for an additional fire road out of Yallingup that was recommended following the Margaret River bushfires have been scrapped (25). And finally, we have an important safety note from the Washington State Patrol: be sure your oil/water separator is working properly before trying to extinguish an aviation fire!

(1) The Lookout Special Edition, December 12, 2013

(2) Wildfire Risk Remains High Across Inland Empire

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