UK wildfire numbers more than triple in 2022 so far

by ActiveFeatured News

The number of wildfires in the UK has more than tripled in the year to date compared to the the number that took place in 2021.

So far in 2022, there have been 745 wildfires in the UK – more than three times the total figure of 247 for all of 2021 – including 150 in the past week alone.

Wildfires are classified as being large enough to cover an area the size of at least two-and-a-half football pitches.

Mark Hardingham, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, told BBC Radio 4 on Sunday that hot and dry weather had combined to create the perfect conditions for wildfires and that hundreds of grass and woodland fires happen in the UK every day.

“They are physically exhausting and demanding incidents to deal with,” said Haddington.

“Not only are you turning up as a firefighter in extreme, high temperatures, [but you’re] wearing your firefighter clothing, you’re chasing these fires across fields, you’re dragging heavy equipment, you’re keeping an eye out all the time for your own welfare and safety and those of your colleagues.

“Once you’ve dealt with that fire, more often than not you’re picking up another call to go to the next fire.”

Community Wildfire Defense Grant launched by US Department of Agriculture

by Featured News

The US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has announced the availability of up to $1bn in grant funding, appropriated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, for the establishment of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CDWG) Program.

As authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs funds will be made available and distributed to eligible applicants within the footprints of the Western States, Northeast-Midwest States, Southern States, and Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations.

There are two primary project types for which the CDWG provides funding: the development and revising of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) and the implementation of projects described in a CWPP that is less than ten years old.

The Act prioritizes at-risk communities that are in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, and/or have been impacted by a severe disaster.

The CWDG will help communities in the wildland urban interface (WUI) implement the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (Cohesive Strategy):

  • Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances, in accordance with management objectives. 
  • Create Fire Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can better withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property. 
  • Improve Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions. 

The grants are funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Applications are now available.

FBU calls for government investment as England braces for another heatwave

by Breaking News

A health alert lasting until Saturday has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) set to last until Saturday evening.

The alert will be in place from midday Tuesday 9 August to 6pm on Saturday 13 August for all regions of England the UKHSA said.

Whilst Temperatures are not forecast to reach the record-breaking levels of the most recent heatwave but are expected to rise throughout the week, potentially reaching mid-30 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday in the South East, London, the South West, and the East and West Midlands.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Temperatures will feel very warm again this week, particularly in southern and central parts of the country.

“We want everyone to enjoy the warm weather safely when it arrives but remember that heat can have a fast impact on health. It’s important to ensure that people who are more vulnerable – elderly people who live alone and people with underlying health conditions – are prepared for coping during the hot weather.

“The most important advice is to ensure they stay hydrated, keep cool and take steps to prevent their homes from overheating.”

UKHSA also noted that high temperatures also present a risk of wildfires, especially after long dry periods and that people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions such as asthma are most susceptible as breathing wildfire smoke may worsen their symptoms whilst children and older people may also be susceptible to health impacts.

Firefighter shortages

The Fire Brigades Union has warned that the fire service continues to be understaffed and needs huge investment, with another heatwave set to hit this week.

Andy Dark, Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary, said: “Just over a fortnight ago firefighters had to deal with many serious wildfires across much of the country. Several firefighters were injured and many people lost their homes.

“Heatwaves have been on the government’s National Risk Register since its first iteration in 2008. Wildfire as a national risk was added to the register in 2013. Instead of improving fire and rescue services we’ve had 11,500 firefighters cut since 2010. Understaffing has been so bad that throughout the last period of wildfires nearly all fire and rescue services in the most severely affected areas had to call up off-duty firefighters and ask them to perform extra shifts.

“If we are to properly protect life and property from wildfires the fire service urgently needs huge investment.”

Emergency Aircraft Act introduced to improve response to wildfires

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsProjects

US Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) have introduced legislation to make states eligible to receive excess planes from the Department of Defense (DoD) to increase their wildfire suppression and emergency response capabilities.

The Emergency Aircraft Act would also remove the current cap on how many excess planes DoD can transfer to other federal agencies for wildfire suppression purposes.

Currently, the DoD has a program to transfer excess aircraft to federal agencies for wildfire suppression, but this is capped at transferring only seven aircraft total to each agency. As wildfire fire activity has increased in recent years, states have stepped up and greatly increased their own wildfire suppression capacity.

States should now be allowed to utilise excess DoD aircraft to increase suppression capabilities, put fires out faster, and increase search and rescue capabilities.

The bipartisan Emergency Aircraft Act of 2022 would:

  • Remove the arbitrary cap (currently 7) on how many excess aircraft DOD can transfer to federal agencies for wildfire suppression efforts;
  • Allow states to receive excess DoD aircraft;
  • Expand the uses for these transferred aircraft from just “wildfire suppression purposes” to include purposes of “wildfire suppression, search and rescue, or emergency operations pertaining to wildfires;” and
  • Mandate an annual report from DoD to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on aircraft transferred during the previous fiscal year.

Senator Cramer said: “The Emergency Aircraft Act of 2022 removes arbitrary caps on the transfer of excess military aircraft to the Forest Service, states, and those on the frontline fighting fires. This bill is a no-brainer to aid our wildfire fighting capabilities.”

Senator Padilla said: “After years of increasingly catastrophic wildfires in California, it has become clear that the federal government must do more to support suppression efforts to get fires under control quickly, as well as support search and rescue efforts to keep our communities safe.

Padilla added: “This common sense bill will increase the tools at our disposal, including by allowing states – like California – to secure excess military aircraft to augment our aerial firefighting fleet.”

Largest wildfire in California this year remains uncontained

by ActiveAmericas - Featured NewsFeatured News

In what has become the largest fire in California this year, the McKinney wildfire has now burned 55,493 acres (22,457 hectares) of drought-stressed timber and remains at 0% containment, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.

The fast-moving fire went which began on Friday (29 July) has already become the largest fire in the state in the year to date. The blaze has forced around 2,000 residents to flee as it destroyed homes and critical infrastructure, mostly in Siskiyou County, home to the Klamath National Forest, according to a statement from Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday, a day after the fire was declared a state of emergency.

Two bodies were found inside a burned-out car near the Oregon border, authorities said on Monday, as crews battled the blaze for a fourth day and took advantage of rainfall in the area.

Authorities have yet to confirm the extent of property losses, but the Cal Fire said in an update posted on Monday that more than 4,900 homes were threatened by flames.

With lightning forecasted over the next few days, extra resources from elsewhere in the state are being brought in to help fight the region’s fires, according to the US Forest Service.

Southern Colorado establishes Interagency Wildland Fire Team

by Featured News

In response to the increase in fire activity a group called the Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team has been established led by Superintendent Shane Coyne.

The ‘South Group’ is made up of people from Security Fire Protection District, Hanover Fire Protection District, Fountain Fire Department, Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District, Fort Carson Fire and Emergency Services, and Southwest Highway 115 Fire Protection District.

This newly formed team will consist of highly trained, motivated, and experienced wildland firefighters from across the region.

“I am sober to the work that continues ahead but honoured and excited by this opportunity to create a new wildland fire team,” said superintendent Shane Coyne of the Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team.

“On these red flag days were actually manning extra apparatus or combining it with apparatus that are already down here. So that when the fire call does come out, we’re on scene way quicker and we’re not trying to respond from various locations throughout the county to get here.”

Chief Robert Fisher, Fort Carson Fire and Emergency Services said the formalising the partnership will allow them to cut the number of calls they will need to make to agencies to source available emergency responders.

Coyne continued: “In the big picture we just have to realise that fire season is all year long and that we can get a big fire anytime of the year. We can’t let our guard down, there’s no time to rest really. We always have to think that even if it’s December and we think there’s snow on the ground, we think it’s cold that fire could get up and move.

“Every time we’ve had a challenge or something to work through, we’ve made it through that and it has come together actually very quickly.” He added: “This team’s journey will always be a mountain with no top but we are driven by the desire to serve others.”

Wet weather delays fire season in New South Wales

by Featured News

Wet weather has slowed fire mitigation efforts in New South Wales, Australia, resulting in only 40 per cent of scheduled works being completed in the past 12 months, with authorities warning that summer fires could be on the way.

The NSW Rural Fire Service has treated 40,000 hectares through burning, grazing and clearing efforts – which will offer asset protection to 47,000 homes in the latest financial year – significantly short of its 102,600-hectare target. The previous financial year saw 176,000 hectares burnt.

However authorities have warned that the wet weather does not mean the risk of summer fires has disappeared.

NSW RFS deputy commissioner of field operations Peter McKechnie said: “While we have seen significant rainfall over most if not all of the state over the last 12 months, including significant flooding events, we have continued to see good growth in the grassland areas.”

He added: “Grass fires just start so easily, they move extremely quickly,” he said. “While all fires are influenced by wind, grass fires are whipped up quickly and the slightest gust of wind in any direction can see the grassfire change direction as well.”

It is hoped that the RFS will be able to give a better indication of the fire risk for the coming season towards the end of August.

McKechnie said people should still prepare for the possibility of fires by taking steps such as removing flammable material from around the home, cleaning gutters, trimming branches and preparing bushfire plans with family or those living on the property.

He added that while 5.5 million hectares of the state had burnt in 2019-20, these areas were regenerating and they would experience fires again.

California firefighters slow the spread of Oak Fire near Yosemite

by ActiveFeatured News

According to the latest update from Cal Fire, Monday was a successful day for aircraft and firefighters, resulting in minimal growth of the Oak Fire that that began on Friday and has since spread rapidly in forcing thousands of evacuations in the nearby area.

Helicopters dropped 300,000 gallons of water on the fire and crews continued to construct control lines and extinguish hot spots along existing lines. Cal Fire said fire is moving in a northeast direction and fire crews are working aggressively using bulldozers, hand crews and aircraft. Evacuation orders were reduced to fire advisements in some areas.

Fire restrictions and closures near the fire area are in place on the Sierra National Forest. This closure will support public safety by keeping public members out of hazardous burn areas and will allow firefighting resources to combat the Fire without public interference. 

The Oak Fire that closed within half a mile (0.8 km) from the town of Mariposa Pines, 10 miles (16 km) from Yosemite. By Monday evening, the fire had consumed 17,241 Acres and was 16 per cent contained.

More than 2,000 first responders from state and federal agencies were reportedly battling the blaze, attacking it both from the ground and the air. Fire officials said at least 21 homes and 34 other structures have been destroyed.

Around 3,800 people were under evacuation orders, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told a public briefing at a crowded auditorium in the town of Mariposa, the county seat. Cal Fire officials said they had robust firefighting teams on scene early on, but the fire progressed atypically and overran their best efforts.

California wildfire: Thousands evacuate as Governor declares state of emergency

by ActiveAmericas - Breaking NewsBreaking News

Fuelled by extreme heat, dry forests and underbrush, the Oak Fire that began on Friday has spread rapidly in California forcing thousands of evacuations in the nearby area, with more than 400 firefighters battling the blaze

Governor of California Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County on Saturday due to the effects of the Oak Fire. He said the state has secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire.

Firefighters have deployed air tankers, bulldozers and hand crews to battle a fast-moving wildfire just west of Yosemite National Park on Sunday that suddenly and unpredictably grew into what has become one of the largest fires of the year.

The Oak Fire that closed within half a mile (0.8 km) from the town of Mariposa Pines, 10 miles (16 km) from Yosemite. By Sunday evening, the fire had consumed 15,603 acres (6,314 hectares) and was zero percent contained, according to the latest update from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

Around 3,800 people were under evacuation orders, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told a public briefing at a crowded auditorium in the town of Mariposa, the county seat. Cal Fire officials said they had robust firefighting teams on scene early on, but the fire progressed atypically and overran their best efforts.

The fire was moving east up into the sierra, toward the town of Mariposa Pines and in the direction of Yosemite, Justin Macomb, a Cal Fire operations section chief, told the public meeting.

“The fire quickly outflanked us. We couldn’t even attack it with the resources that we had on hand,” Macomb said. “In my career, I haven’t seen fire behaviour like that.”

Daniel Patterson, a spokesman for the Sierra National Forest, said that climate change has made the region much warmer and drier over the past 30 years which has led to California experiencing increasingly large and deadly wildfires.

Patterson said: “The fire is moving quickly. This fire was throwing embers out in front of itself for up to two miles yesterday. These are exceptional fire conditions.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Surrey Fire and Rescue declares Farnham grassland fire ‘major incident’

by ActiveFeatured News

The police have closed roads and urged people to stay clear of the areas where a grassland fire took place around Hankley Common near Farnham, Surrey, which saw the fire brigade declare a major incident on Sunday.

At least eight hectares of land were affected by the blaze which was scaled down from being a major incident on Sunday evening. Three surrounding roads have been closed.

Crews are expected to remain on the scene today and people have been advised to avoid the area and to keep doors and windows closed amid large volumes of smoke.

The fire service later tweeted to ask those nearby to stop calling 999 to report smoke clouds, after receiving “an incredibly high” number of calls, adding some local roads had been closed as a result of the incident.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service issued a plea to the public, asking people to: “Please help keep our outdoors safe: pack a picnic instead of a disposable barbecue and dispose of cigarettes correctly.”

People were also warned to stay “far away from the fire as it can travel quickly”.

The grassland area is known for its appearance in the James Bond film Skyfall.