Fighting fires in a way that makes sense

An editorial from the Modesto Bee warned that, in a year that has already seen 9,649 wildfires nationwide (mostly in the Southeast), funding shortfalls could adversely affect wildland firefighting in the Golden State, spawning conflagrations like the ones that led to 43 deaths in Northern California last fall.

Fighting fires in a way that makes sense

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

California fights wildfires aggressively - but prevention takes a back seat

A comprehensive look at the state of California's forests shows that a 19th-century forest would have held fewer than 50 trees an acre, but today's overcrowded forests have grown to an unnatural 300 to 500 trees an acre because the state is better at fighting fires than in preventing fires.

California fights wildfires aggressively - but prevention takes a back seat

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Air Tankers, Firefighting Crews Respond to 100-Acre Blaze on Santa Cruz Island

The National Park Service evacuated 30 people from Santa Cruz Island, off the Southern California coast, after windy weather turned a small debris burn into a 100-acre wildfire.

Air Tankers, Firefighting Crews Respond to 100-Acre Blaze on Santa Cruz Island

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

More veterans are heading west to fight a new battle: Worsening wildfires

As about 150 men and women performed their wildland firefighting fitness tests at Paramount Ranch in Southern California's Santa Monica mountains, members of Team Rubicon, which is composed of military vets who have found gainful employment as firefighters, discussed the program.

More veterans are heading west to fight a new battle: Worsening wildfires

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

New Top Northwest Wildfire Official Says 'Not All Fire is Bad'

The newly-appointed U.S. Forest Service Director of Fire, Fuels and Aviation for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska regions discussed the difference between fires that improve the health of forest ecosystems and destructive wildfires in a radio segment.

New Top Northwest Wildfire Official Says 'Not All Fire is Bad'

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base hosts visiting air tankers in training exercises

As wintry weather persists in Northern California, CAL FIRE Aviation Services has been training with six of their S-2T air-tankers out of Hemet-Ryan Airport in Riverside County during the past week.

Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base hosts visiting air tankers in training exercises

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

California utilities want customers to help pay wildfire damages. Will politicians oblige?

An announcement by Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders last week about making the Golden State more resilient against the impacts of natural disasters and climate change may mean that Californians will eventually have to pay more for electricity because of last year’s wildfires.

California utilities want customers to help pay wildfire damages. Will politicians oblige?

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

New Mexico ranchers urged to prepare for wildfire season

Following wildfires that have burned in Northern New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma, ranchers are being encouraged to make preparations now for what could be a long wildfire season.

New Mexico ranchers urged to prepare for wildfire season

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Editorial: Drones offer a new tool to firefighters

An editorial looks at the potential benefits drones can provide by patrolling to spot wildfires, as happened during a wildfire in the Umpqua National Forest last year when a BLM employee discovered a spot fire beyond the main blaze, saving an estimated $50 million in land and infrastructure value that would have burned otherwise.

Editorial: Drones offer a new tool to firefighters

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

City Club of Eugene: Lessons from 2017 California and Oregon Wildfires

In a National Public Radio segment, a trio of panelists discussed lessons learned from the wildfires of 2017, 1,069 of which scorched 451,863 acres in the Beaver State.

City Club of Eugene: Lessons from 2017 California and Oregon Wildfires

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Firefighters Battle Grass Fires in Central Oklahoma

Winds gusting up to 30 mph hampered Oklahoma City firefighters trying to rope in a 200-acre wildfire in northeast Oklahoma City Thursday afternoon that damaged two cars and a pair of buildings, as smaller blazes were also reported in Canadian and Grady counties.

Firefighters Battle Grass Fires in Central Oklahoma

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Enrollment numbers soar at northern Arizona firefighting academy

Firefighters from 23 states, Canada, and Australia boosted enrollment to record numbers at the Arizona Wildfire and Incident Management Academy at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott as more than 1,000 students attended.

Enrollment numbers soar at northern Arizona firefighting academy

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Risk of wildfires increases through Friday as temperatures expected to soar into 70s; haze and smoky smell creep into downtown Tulsa

As humidity levels hover around 15-25%, a combination of gusty winds and a warm front that will push temperatures above 70° will increase the risk of wildfires through Friday in northeast Oklahoma.

Risk of wildfires increases through Friday as temperatures expected to soar into 70s; haze and smoky smell creep into downtown Tulsa

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Wildfire risk rises with 43 million U.S. homes near land susceptible to blazes

A University of Wisconsin professor who is the lead author of a new study on housing construction in the WUI discussed findings that show that, between 1990 and 2010, the number of new houses increased by 12.6 million - 43% of all new houses constructed in the continental US.

Wildfire risk rises with 43 million U.S. homes near land susceptible to blazes

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Don’t be alarmed, or call one in — it’s just aerial firefighting tanker practice out of Hemet-Ryan Airport

CAL FIRE's Riverside Unit issued a press release informing residents that Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base will be hosting aerial firefighters this week as their annual refresher training gets underway.

Don’t be alarmed, or call one in — it’s just aerial firefighting tanker practice out of Hemet-Ryan Airport

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Crews work to contain 285 acre wildfire at Santa Ana

Embers from a controlled burn on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande River may have sparked a 285-acre wildfire in the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.

Crews work to contain 285 acre wildfire at Santa Ana

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

More than 3,500 acres burn

Strong winds worsened wildfires which scorched 3,500-4,000 acres across the Sooner State as multiple crews battled a large blaze that originated around the Hughes Ranch area.

More than 3,500 acres burn

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Wildfire-ravaged Sonoma County grapples with reality: It will burn again

Following January’s State of the State address, in which the governor committed to creating a task force of scientists and environmentalists to study managing wildfire threats, Sonoma County residents face the sobering realization that wildfires like the ones that raged through the area last October will occur again.

Wildfire-ravaged Sonoma County grapples with reality: It will burn again

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Texas A&M Forest Service monitoring fires in area

The Texas A&M Forest Service brought in a SEAT to help bring the 50-acre Red River 291 Fire, burning in Gray County south of Lefors, to 95% percent containment.

Texas A&M Forest Service monitoring fires in area

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

The Love-Hate Relationship Between Drones & Wildland Firefighters

Our first article today looks at the love-hate relationship that has developed between wildland firefighters and hobby drones, with a balanced appraisal of the benefits and detriments these high-tech aerial scouts bring to the fire service.

The Love-Hate Relationship Between Drones & Wildland Firefighters

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Sikorsky signs with San Diego fire-rescue air ops to deliver S-70i Firehawk

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Brian Fennessy, San Diego Fire-Rescue's Fire Chief, commented on how San Diego Fire Rescue Air Ops' acquisition of a Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk "vastly improves the odds of extinguishing a fire more quickly and is critical in protecting lives and property in San Diego."

Sikorsky signs with San Diego fire-rescue air ops to deliver S-70i Firehawk

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter

Lincoln National Forest and county prepares for fire season

New Mexico's Lincoln National Forest fire officials warned that the wildfire danger for Otero and Lincoln counties has been elevated to “MODERATE” due to the lack of snow and moisture during the winter.

Lincoln National Forest and county prepares for fire season

For the rest of today’s wildfire stories, please subscribe to the Wildfire News Of The Day newsletter