California legislature weighs fire tax again
Posted on Friday, March 5, 2010Financing the costs of fighting California’s wildfires and other disasters through a new property levy is back before the legislature – the third time in as many years that lawmakers have considered, and rejected, the controversial proposal.
Computer science aids wildfire fighters on the ground
Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010Innovative computer mapping tools and airborne imaging techniques can penetrate dense smoke and offer views of emerging dangers that firefighters lack on the ground. Yet research scientists' efforts to better understand fire spread and to create accurate predictive computer programs are often stymied by funding droughts. Duringactive fire seasons, research budgets quickly feel the pinch. Read more from a series of articles about wildfire technology in the science-focused magazine Miller-McCune.
NASF Fire Committee Chair Vicki Christiansen interviewed on FLAME Act
Posted on Monday, November 16, 2009NASF Fire Committee Chair and Arizona State Forester Vicki Christiansen was interviewed by Oregon Public Broadcasting last week about the recently passed FLAME Act.
Scientists study ecology after Station fire in Los Angeles
Posted on Wednesday, October 7, 2009A multiagency team of state and federal forest and wildlife representatives are studying the environmental aftermath of the changing burn pattern that has resulted from increasing frequency and size of fires.
Joint Fire Science Program requests research, synthesis and new science proposals
Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) has released three announcements requesting grant proposals on Wildland Fire Research, Synthesis of Existing Knowledge, and New Science Initiative focused on Social Science. Full details and instructions on preparing proposals are available at http://www.firescience.gov. The JFSP provides funding for scientific studies to address problems associated with managing wildland fuels, fires, and fire-impacted ecosystems.
Drought adds to wildfire threat and damage in CA
Posted on Thursday, September 10, 2009Though this year's fire season in California hasn't yet reached the level of destruction of the past two years, that could change soon. A prolonged drought, which is drying up vegetation and fueling a seemingly endless fire that has burned more than 250 square miles of Los Angeles County, could be the start of a fall siege in Southern California. "You can have a fire go through the same area, and the damage to a forest is always more significant in drought years," says Del Walters, CA State Forester and director of CalFire.
States send firefighting resources to aid in several wildfires
Posted on Friday, September 4, 2009Several states are sending crews to assist the raging wildfires in California and Texas:
- State Forester Vicki Christiansen is interviewed on the AZ firefighters headed west to help out (video)
- Idaho has sent a hot shot crew to California and others to Utah
- Forty Kentucky forest rangers just returned from firefighting in California (video)
- The Alabama Forestry Commission has sent another 14 firefighters to Texas to help fight wildfires
Wildfires: should property owners and the private sector have a bigger role?
Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2009A point-counter point discussion in the Los Angeles Times looks at the role of the private sector and the responsibility of property owners in wildfire protection in a cash-strapped state like California.
Texas drought produces long, busy fire season
Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009David Frederick, fire director for the Southern Group of State Foresters, reports that south Texas is currently about a week away from setting an all time record for number of days since significant rain resulting in extremely high fire danger. A recent USA Today article discusses the state's long drought and busy fire season.
Intense fire season predicted for the West
Posted on Friday, July 31, 2009Forest Service researchers are predicting a hot, dry and a bad fire year for much of the West. Higher-than-normal fire levels are expected in most of Texas, the Southwest, California and the Pacific Northwest this year, with huge fires projected for much of Northern California and the Sierra Nevada range.
