Morning Wildfire Headlines

The following headlines are just a sampling of stories that are running accross the country this morning. You will note that ALL the fire news is not comming from the west.

In Nevada, a newspaper photographer covering a brush fire this week was roughed up, handcuffed and cited for obstruction, his editor said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/20/law-enforcement-restricts-media-wildfire-coverage/#ixzz1yJmjNNji

More wind and heat could hamper Colorado wildfire fight

The High Park Fire had consumed 59,500 acres of woodland by Tuesday, but it was about 50% contained.

Idaho wildfire destroys six homes southeast of Boise

A small but destructive wildfire driven by strong winds has destroyed six houses and five outbuildings in Idaho, while two much larger blazes threatened dozens of dwellings in Wyoming and Colorado, authorities said on Tuesday.

Wildfire hits and misses San Juan County residents

BLOOMFIELD - The path of the wildfire east of Bloomfield is a checkerboard of destruction and close calls.

Five family homes were destroyed in the County Road 4901 Fire, which was what first responders named the 352--acre wildfire that started east of Bloomfield on Monday afternoon.

UPDATE: Croatan National Forest wildfire grows to 21,000 acres

CROATAN NATIONAL FOREST, N.C. – The wildfire at Croatan National Forest has more than doubled in size from yesterday.

Officials say its now 21 thousand acres.

The U.S. Forestry has 100 people trying to control the wildfire.

Brush fire threatened Charlotte County homes

Shifting winds challenged firefighters

Charlotte County and Florida Division of Forestry firefighters spent nearly three hours Monday night battling a brush fire that threatened several homes.

New Mexico wildfire threatens Smokey Bear's home

The "Little Bear" fire is burning in the Smokey the Bear Ranger District, White Mountain Wilderness and Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico near Ruidoso. The forest is where the scared bear cub was rescued in 1950.

Massive NM Fire Threatens Endangered Fish
The wildfire that has ravaged southwestern New Mexico is the largest in the state's recorded history, and it's endangering an already threatened species of trout. Biologists say the ash, sediment and charred debris will wash into streams with summer rains and that's a deadly recipe for the Gila trout found in the Gila National Forest.

What Forest Fire Events happened in 1950?

I was looking for some wildfire news for my blog today and came across a story about a huge fire in Alberta Canada in 1950. So I got thinking what else happened in 1950 besides this fire in Canada. It didn’t take much thinking because 1950 was the year Smokey Bear was rescued from that large forest fire in Capitan Mountains of New Mexico. Many of you probably already know the Smokey Bear Story if not check out www.smokeybear.com to learn more about Smokey and the longest and most successful ad campaign in American history.

Here is a brief introduction to the story of that 1950 Canadian blaze. More info can be found at the noted links at the end of the blog. I hope you enjoy.



BLACK SUNDAY
September 24, 1950

A mysterious day when the sky became dark as night during the middle of the day. The explanation by local officials was that a forest fire had occurred in Canada - but none were ever recorded on this date for Eastern Canada. Moreover, there was no smoke involved in the darkened skies as there has been in all other forest fires around the country since that date. Most people at the time thought that the world was coming to an end and that it was a sign from the heavens. Was it actually a Western Canadian forest fire? Or, was it really a 'sign' that marked the 'end of times', as man has begun to play God.

Norman P. Carlson puts a face on the dark day, which supports the 'forest fire in Canada' reason for black Sunday. Read his detailed account of the Canadian forest fire here.

These may or may not have been some of the firefighters in Canada at the time but they are circa 1950 forest fire fighters. They did not have all the tools of the trade that we rely upon today but they had the same "toughness" and dedication that are found in every firefighter today and they paved the way for our modern wildfire suppression efforts today.

I want to than everyone of them and everyone of you today who put your life on the line and put your personal life on hold when the call comes to protect lives, homes, property and the natural resources.

THANKS