A federal judge has ruled that the federal Forest Service's plan for using fire retardant to fight wildfires violates the law because it does not ensure protections for threatened and endangered species of fish and other animals. The ruling ordered the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to conduct more rigorous environmental reviews on the effects of retardant on wildlife and to place more specific restrictions on how it is used.

Florida has found a diminishing need for fire towers, with ongoing urban growth and technology including aircraft, cell phones, radar and satellites to scout for brush fires. State officials say selling some old towers is a way for the state to cut costs and make a few dollars, considering that an increasing number of towers are sitting idle.

Wildfire Today reports that the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands have sent firefighters to Quebec, Canada, to assist the province with their wildfires. Both states are members of the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact, a mutual aid organization between the New England states, New York and four eastern Canadian provinces. Members of the Compact train together and their equipment standards and capabilities are interchangeable.

The NASF Forest Fire Protection Committee has prepared a briefing paper on improving state forestry agency collaboration with All-Hazard Type 3 IMTs for wildland fire support and all-hazard response, as well as a new NWCG pilot program.

The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Division of Wildland Fire Operations has recruited a diverse group of forestry, fire, public safety, and planning experts to comprise a Wildland Fire Operations Advisory Committee. NASF Fire Director Dan Smith will join representatives from federal, state, local and private organizations on the committee.