News and opinion about wildland fire
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on How to prevent homes from igniting during wildfires 
Jack Cohen, a research physical scientist with the U.S. Forest Service, has spent much of his career studying how structures ignite during wildfires. In this video produced by the NFPA, Mr. Cohen expounds on that topic and talks about the actions that homeowners can take to help their home survive the impacts of flames and embers.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Daniel.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized3 Comments on White House releases video about impacts of climate change on wildfires This video released today by the White House features fire chiefs from around the country talking about how climate change impacts wildfires and their communities.
Von Castor, a storm tracker for KOTV in Tulsa, was out tracking wildfires and reporting on the wind that was gusting to 50 mph when he saw a herd of cattle about to be overrun by an approaching grass fire in a pasture. With some difficulty, he managed to open a gate which provided an escape route for the cattle. Not being the brightest animals on the planet, it took them a while to figure it out, but the cows finally, three minutes into the video, ran through the gate as the fire closed in on them.
The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for areas in Kansas and California.
The map was current as of 8:20 a.m. MDT on Thursday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts and maps. For the most current data visit this NWS site or this NWS site.
The fire insurance policy that the state of Oregon purchased from Lloyd’s of London did not kick in this year since the net expenses of suppressing state-responsibility wildfires did not exceed the $50 million policy deductible. If it had, their additional costs could have been covered up to $25 million. Premiums for this coverage were split between state and private timberland owners, who agreed to pay $3.75 million into the policy.
Below is an excerpt from an article in the La Grande Observer:
…As of Oct. 19, the ODF had recorded 1,001 fires, 73 more than their 10-year average, according to a letter from [Oregon Department of Forestry State Forester Doug] Decker sent to the co-chairs of the Oregon Joint Committee on Ways and Means last month. Those fires burned 91,487 acres of ODF-protected land, 63,948 acres more than the 10-year average.
The Forestry Department estimates that its large-fire costs for this season sit at $76.7 million, compared to the 10-year average of $22.3 million, Decker wrote in the letter.
Decker said about $19.5 million will be reimbursed by FEMA’s grant program. Another $25.5 million is expected to be recovered from other partners. Still, the ODF is requesting more than $19.5 million of general fund dollars to cover the state’s portion of large-fire costs, according to the letter.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized4 Comments on New BLM crew in Arizona has a name 
The new crew that the Bureau of Land Management is establishing in southern Arizona now has a name — Aravaipa. Last month the BLM announced that the crew will be stationed at Fort Huachuca thanks to a partnership between the BLM and U.S. Army. The agency hopes that after two to three years the crew will meet the standards to be designated as a Type 1 Hotshot Crew.
“The name for a hotshot crew is about representing where you come from, so we selected something that people in southeast Arizona can connect to,” said Timothy Shannon, Gila District Manager.
The BLM has also selected the superintendent for the new Aravaipa crew. Greg Smith, a seasoned wildland fire manager with more than 22 years of experience, will come on board in December, and will assist in hiring, training and supervising the 20-person unit. Smith has extensive experience as a hotshot superintendent with the Ironwood Hotshots, Jackson Hotshots and the Globe Hotshots and is also a four-year military veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Recruitment for the crew will emphasize the selection of military veterans, consistent with BLM’s national emphasis on bringing veterans into the wildfire workforce. The BLM’s long-term goal is for a crew made up entirely of veterans.
The crew will be seeking official hotshot designation during an intensive two to three year certification process, and will be stationed Ft Huachuca thanks to a partnership between the BLM and the U.S. Army.
Two crew captain job openings will be posted Nov. 11 at https://www.usajobs.gov/. In total, six year-round and 13 seasonal job positions will be posted in the coming months.
The Aravaipa crew will be the only hotshot crew (also known as a Type 1 crew) in Southern Arizona and one of only 12 BLM hotshot crews nationwide.
For more information about available crew positions, contact Lathe Evans at (928) 348-4514.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.
