The firefighters are staying in primitive camps, and they prepare their own meals from delivered food boxes. (Photo: U.S. Forest Service)

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.--On July 5th, the Eastern Area Coordination Center in Milwaukee, WI, mobilized eight Initial Attack firefighting crews to the Stuart Creek 2 Fire in Alaska, approximately 25 miles east of the town of North Pole.  On the July 15 situation report the fire was over 85,400 acres.  Fire activity has included torching in trees and running in grasses.  Numerous structures are threatened, and local communities are in an evacuation watch.

The 20-person crews have been constructing fire line by hand, laying hose from the Chena River to protect structures, and mopping up and patrolling established containment lines, extinguishing any remaining hot spots.  Crew members travel by boat to the work site and work 16-hour shifts. The Eastern firefighters are acclimatizing to sleeping under the midnight sun and living with armed security personnel for protection from bears.  After a 14-day work detail on the fire, crews will head home. 

NA S&PF personnel on assignment in Alaska include Rob Clark (Durham, NH) serving as interagency resource representative; Michael Gilmore (Newtown Square, PA) serving as squad boss, and William Oldland (Morgantown, WV) working as a Type 2 firefighter.

Information on the Stuart Creek 2 Fire is available on a Web site maintained by the Incident Management Team for this fire.

As of July 15 the Eastern Area had 235 personnel on wildland fire assignments in Alaska and throughout the United States. Of these, 129 are State personnel, and the remainder are from the Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service. Information about Eastern Area resources is updated daily click here.  For a daily situation report and national fire news click here.

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Trees Remove Fine Particulate Air Pollution, Save Lives

Space Daily--In the first effort to estimate the overall impact of a city's urban forest on concentrations of fine particulate pollution (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns, or PM2.5), a U.S. Forest Service and Davey Institute study found that urban trees and forests are saving an average of one life every year per city. In New York City, trees save an average of eight lives every year.  Fine particulate air pollution has serious health effects, including premature mortality, pulmonary inflammation, accelerated atherosclerosis, and altered cardiac functions.  In a study recently published on-line by the journal Environmental Pollution, researchers David Nowak and Robert Hoehn of the U.S. Forest Service and Satoshi Hirabayashi and Allison Bodine of the Davey Institute in Syracuse, N.Y., estimated how much fine particulate matter is removed by trees in 10 cities, their impact on PM2.5 concentrations and associated values and impacts on human health.  Read more.

"This innovative research by the U.S. Forest Service will make baseball games safer for players and fans across the nation," said Secretary Vilsack. "The U.S. Forest Products Laboratory has once again demonstrated that we can improve uses for wood products across our nation in practical ways - making advancements that can improve quality of life and grow our economy."

Left to right: Rob Clark; Ginger Anderson, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR); Jay Maciejowski, FPR; Kristin Sharpless, Vermont Audubon; Stu Watson, Massachusetts Audubon; Steve Sinclair, State Forester; John Parry; Tony Ferguson; Bill Labich, Regional Conservation Partnership Network Coordinator (Highstead); Terry Miller; Peter Grima, Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation; Charlie Levesque, The Plum Line; and Roger Monthey. (Photo: Sam Schneski, FPR)

The Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2013-2018 identifies the most important forest-related challenges and opportunities we face and sets priorities to guide us as we work with others toward our vision for forests in the 21st century. Director Tony Ferguson added, "This plan is a living document.  We will regularly monitor our progress and make revisions when needed, consulting and collaborating with partners along the way." View Strategic Plan.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.--On June 25, during a virtual meeting, Director Tony Ferguson of the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry presented the following:

Natural Resources Specialist Tom Dilley--Engaging Urban America Award, for diplomacy, excellence, and dedication to projects in the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

Forest Entomologist Kevin Dodds--Excellence in Science and Technology Award, for leading the collection of unprecedented data on Asian longhorned beetle, increasing the likelihood of eradication or successful management in forests where eradication may not be possible.

Deputy Center Manager Beth Jablonski--Leading in Business Environment Award, for designing social media applications that make possible communication of time-critical data and information on fire status and personnel from the Eastern Area Coordination Center.

Fire and Emergency Operations Officer Bob Hartlove--Meeting America's Needs Award, for his key role in establishing an emergency operations center for interacting with the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Hurricane Sandy and rapidly responding to victims' needs.

Community Fire Planner and Fire Prevention Manager Maureen Brooks--Sustaining Forests and Grassland Award, for contributions towards the National Cohesive Strategy Plan that will address restoration, sustainability, and enhancement of national lands; and foster fire-adapted communities that can withstand a wildfire without loss of life or property.

Eastern Area Safety Team of Bob Hartlove, Beth Rankin (Eastern Region), Liz Smith (Northern Research Station), and Tom Jacobson (Forest Products Laboratory)--Safety Culture Award, for guiding national and regional Safety Journey sessions, which heightened awareness by all employees and promoted learning from previous mishaps, and for working to address hazards others have recognized in both field and office.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.--Ralph Crawford began his new position as Assistant Director, Forest Health and Economics, with the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry in Newtown Square, Pa., effective July 14, 2013. Crawford brings almost 30 years of experience with the Forest Service.  His previous position was National Program Leader for Rangeland Ecology Research, Research and Development in the Washington Office. He also has extensive experience as a research plant pathologist. Crawford has a Doctorate degree in Plant and Soil Science as well as a Master's Degree in Biology/Plant Pathology.  He has led and developed collaborative partnerships that produced diverse scientific products through consensus with diverse groups. 

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Decide ahead of time where you and your family will go if you have to evacuate. Know how to prepare your home and car before a hurricane arrives. Learn how you can prepare.  For additional tips, fact sheets, and podcasts, see the hurricane information on the CDC's Web site.