2011 among the worst for wildfires
Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2012During 2011, a total of 73,484 wildfires burned an estimated 8,706,852 acres (35,235 square kilometers) of land across the United States. Wildfire activity during 2011 was exceptionally high and was only exceeded in the historical record by wildfire activity during the years 2006 and 2007, according to preliminary data released from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).
MORE: NASF has released its annual Communities at Risk Report, which helps provide a national snapshot of wildland fire risk, preparedness and capacity.
Firefighter overtime hurting management ranks in CA
Posted on Friday, January 27, 2012Some of California's rank-and-file firefighters earn so much money in overtime that the state has revived pay bonuses worth thousands of dollars to lure them into management. Along with the department's graying ranks and early-retirement incentives, the trend has depleted Cal Fire's leadership ranks. The state is again upping pay for some managers as a result.
In face of fire threat, state, counties deserve sovereignty over forests
Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2012An Arizona lawmaker is arguing the state should declare its sovereignty and take control of its national forests in response to devastating wildfires and perceived inaction by the federal government.
Forest Service finalizes aerial fire retardant policy
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2011USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell has cleared the way for continued use of aerial fire retardant as long as pilots use special maps to avoid hurting threatened or endangered species.
Unmanned airplane could help WV Division of Forestry battle fires
Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2011A recently tested unmanned aircraft could help the West Virginia Division of Forestry fight wildfires. The plane has a GPS system, cameras and the ability to locate and analyze a fire, information that is relayed immediately, without a pilot. Real world use is still five or 10 years away, said the testing group.
Managing tribal forestland helped stop Wallow Fire at reservation
Posted on Friday, December 9, 2011Jonathan Brooks, tribal forest manager for the White Mountain Apache Tribe, said forest-management strategies unhindered by environmental litigation and drawn-out federal government processes helped check the massive Wallow wildfire in Arizona this spring along the boundary of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in eastern Arizona’s White Mountains.
NFPA to develop fire adapted communities initiative
Posted on Thursday, December 1, 2011The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has recently been awarded a cooperative agreement by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to develop a Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) initiative aimed at raising the level of wildfire risk awareness among the public, and encourage shared responsibility and pro-active planning for living safely in high-risk areas. NASF is a collaborator on the project, which includes the development of a comprehensive website to be launched in Spring 2012.
Lawmakers, NASF ask Senate to reinstate wildfire prevention funding
Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2011Senators, states and conservation groups are urging the Senate to restore funding to programs that help prevent wildfires. The steep funding cuts proposed in a Senate Appropriations Committee draft spending bill would severely hamper agencies' ability to thin and burn forests vulnerable to severe wildfires.
Congressional briefing highlights NASF and state role in wildfire protection
Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2011NASF joined the National Fire Protection Association and members of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to bring wildfire safety messages to a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill on October 11 during Fire Prevention week. Said panelist Jim Karels, Florida State Forester and chair of NASF's Fire Protection Committee, "Federal fire assistance programs including the Federal Excess Property Program enable states to help build capacity among small rural and volunteer departments. We support them so that they can support us in wildfire suppression and management."
Hearing in Texas probes fed response to wildfires
Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2011A congressional hearing held at the Texas State Capitol this week aired anger from Texans at the federal response to the more than 24,000 wildfires sparked across the state since the beginning of fire season. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Forest Service said their agencies will review Rep. Michael McCaul's complaint of government taking two days to get federal aircraft from California to Texas to fight the fires.
