CA Wildland Firefighting Legend Clayton Dies

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Brian Fennessy, San Diego Fire-Rescue's Fire Chief, honored the memory of wildland firefighting legend Bill Clayton, the most decorated firefighter in the history of CAL FIRE, who was a multiple winner of the Medal of Valor, the highest award given to firefighters in the state.

CA Wildland Firefighting Legend Clayton Dies

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CoreLogic: Wildfires, Floods Dominated Natural Hazards in 2017

CoreLogic has released its annual Natural Hazard Risk Summary and Analysis, which highlighted the 10 worst wildfires of 2017, when 9,791,062 acres burned nationwide.

CoreLogic: Wildfires, Floods Dominated Natural Hazards in 2017

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Strong Winds, High Temperatures Keep SoCal In Danger Of Wildfire

Windy, dry conditions prompted the National Weather Service to issue Red Flag warnings for greater Los Angeles due to record-high heat for January.

Strong Winds, High Temperatures Keep SoCal In Danger Of Wildfire

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Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport looks up to the skies

The Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport's manager discussed their work hosting two Neptune BAe-146 jet air-tankers, as well as other air-tankers during fire season, following a $7.2 million expansion of their runway, which was mostly funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport looks up to the skies

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NASA covers wildfires from many sources

A research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt discussed how NASA's satellite instruments are often the first to detect wildfires burning in remote regions, allowing NASA to send the locations of new fires directly to land managers worldwide within hours of the satellite overpass.

NASA covers wildfires from many sources

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County Supervisors Approve Major Investment in Webcams That Spot Wildfires

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a $400,000 investment Tuesday in the region's sophisticated High-Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN) backcountry webcam system that helps spot wildfires.

County Supervisors Approve Major Investment in Webcams That Spot Wildfires

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Following Wildfires, California to Reconsider Alert Systems

After rampant wildfires (and subsequent mudflows) forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes in late 2017, legislators and emergency preparedness officials are considering a major revamp of alert systems already in place to streamline emergency communication.

Following Wildfires, California to Reconsider Alert Systems

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State officials on high alert monitoring wildfires across Oklahoma

High winds and dry conditions led to several wildfires across the Sooner State on Sunday, with three large blazes reported near Weatherford, Perkins and Chickasha, as well as several smaller fires in Oklahoma County.

State officials on high alert monitoring wildfires across Oklahoma

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California Today: 100 Million Dead Trees Prompt Fears of Giant Wildfires

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Scott Stephens, Co-Director of UC Berkeley's Center for Fire Research and Outreach, discussed the dilemma California faces from over 100 million dead trees, after he warned in the journal BioScience that the dead trees could produce wildfires on a scale and of an intensity that the Golden State has never seen.

California Today: 100 Million Dead Trees Prompt Fears of Giant Wildfires

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Lawsuit: Utility caused wildfire that preceded mudslides

A lawsuit against SCE that states the company's equipment was responsible for causing the 281,893-acre Thomas Fire in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties has been updated to include a charge against the Montecito Water District Financing Corporation as being responsible, in part, for fatal mudslides after the fire.

Lawsuit: Utility caused wildfire that preceded mudslides

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Several Bills Put Forth To Ease Wildfire Recovery Process For Survivors

California lawmakers have put forth several bills and proposals intended to ease the recovery process for wildfire survivors, with some provisions that would affect survivors of future disasters as well.

Several Bills Put Forth To Ease Wildfire Recovery Process For Survivors

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Nolan calls on Forest Service to continue using Ely Airport; Agency may no longer land C-130s here

U.S. Rep Rick Nolan complained that it would be 'shortsighted' of the U.S. Forest Service to discontinue using the Ely Municipal Airport as an air-attack base for MAFFS-equipped C-130s after the base was recently renovated specifically to improve the runway’s ability to handle C-130’s.

Nolan calls on Forest Service to continue using Ely Airport; Agency may no longer land C-130s here

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Thomas Fire fully contained, as firefighting costs set new record

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Tom Lasser, a retired Lt. Colonel in the California National Guard, sent along an article about the final costs associated with the Thomas Fire, which scorched 440 sq miles of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, killing two people, destroying more than 1,000 structures and damaging 280 more.

Thomas Fire fully contained, as firefighting costs set new record

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Logging isn't the solution to our wildfire problems

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Heather Heward, an Instructor in the Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences at the University of Idaho, sent along an article in which a forensic biologist panned the Resilient Federal Forests Act, intended to reduce wildfires by increasing logging, due to its reduction in environmental oversight.

Logging isn't the solution to our wildfire problems

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Rivers of mud sweep through wildfire burn areas in California

NBC News provided a photo montage of the damage done to over 100 homes in Santa Barbara County's trendy Montecito neighborhood due to mudslides from the Thomas Fire burn areas.

Rivers of mud sweep through wildfire burn areas in California

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Southern California Edison Sued Over Los Angeles-Area Wildfires

Southern California Edison was blamed in a class-action lawsuit for three wildfires that destroyed more than 1,000 buildings and killed a firefighter last month in the Los Angeles area.

Southern California Edison Sued Over Los Angeles-Area Wildfires

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Los Angeles County Expected To Approve Firefighting Helicopter Contract Extension

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a $4.2 million contract with Helicopter Support Inc to maintain the county’s fleet of firefighting helicopters for up to six years.

Los Angeles County Expected To Approve Firefighting Helicopter Contract Extension

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Maps: Wildfire Burn Areas Threatened by Winter Storms in California

Interactive USGS maps provided a look at potential debris flow from areas in Southern California scorched by the Lilac Fire, the Skirball Fire, the Rye Fire, the Creek Fire, and the Thomas Fire.

Maps: Wildfire Burn Areas Threatened by Winter Storms in California

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Soaking storm may end Southern California wildfire season next week

The first significant storm of the winter season may bring drenching rain and heavy mountain snow to the southwestern United States, including Southern California, next week, reducing the wildfire threat across the region.

Soaking storm may end Southern California wildfire season next week

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After the Fires: Gratitude and Anxiety

A former Washington Post reporter who lives in Summerland discussed the mixed emotions swirling around in residents of Santa Barbara: gratitude to firefighters, and anxiety that the Thomas Fire won't be the last one to threaten their homes.

After the Fires: Gratitude and Anxiety

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CAL FIRE 2017 Year End Fire Totals

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Issac Sanchez, PIO for CAL FIRE's San Diego County Unit, sent along CAL FIRE's end-of-the-year statistics for 2017, which show that the Golden State experienced 7,117 fires that scorched 505,956 acres.

CAL FIRE 2017 Year End Fire Totals

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Editorial: Wildfires are natural disasters, but Congress refuses to budget for them

An editorial from the Los Angeles Times points to increased development in and around undeveloped open spaces, coupled with decades of fire suppression and a warming climate, as the primary causes of wildfires that are growing larger, more intense and more dangerous to communities.

Editorial: Wildfires are natural disasters, but Congress refuses to budget for them

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A wildfire in the hills west of Murrieta has burned several acres and closed one road

A force of 150 firefighters, supported by two helicopters and a pair of air-tankers, brought a 7-acre wildfire burning on a hillside in the Santa Rosa Plateau west of Murrieta to 50% containment yesterday afternoon.

A wildfire in the hills west of Murrieta has burned several acres and closed one road

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