InciNotes

01/21/2026

Who was the first forest supervisor for the Pisgah National Forest?

Was it…
A) Gifford Pinchot
B) Smokey Bear
C) Verne Rhoades

If you answered Verne Rhoades, you are correct!

Verne Rhoades, 1906 graduate of Dr. Carl Schenck's Biltmore Forest School and a pioneering North Carolina forester, served as the first forest supervisor of Pisgah National Forest from 1915 to 1925. He helped establish early fish and game regulations and laid the groundwork for wildfire protection strategies that still guide forest management today. His leadership helped shape Pisgah into the treasured public landscape millions enjoy today.

Visit our National Forest Library to view historical Forest Service documents and learn more about the history of our agency:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/library/

Verne Rhoades pauses on a rocky overlook. USDA Forest Service photo.

01/21/2026

When two wildfires ignited south of the border and raced toward California, the 1,800-acre fuel break stopped their advance, giving crews the upper hand in suppression efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border.

https://www.blm.gov/blog/2026-01-20/strategic-fuel-break-prevents-wildfire-spread-across-us-mexico-border?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPdKxRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR6q0he2gxMcKGbAENAWK4QwCha4Lb2Tu4a-xyzjsazQqrNt0f8o2vnIX4O1-w_aem_LIrAl_bAWRnuqhmF_b7r4g

At the intersection of two nations, the International Border Fuel Break—one of California’s most unique wildland urban interface projects—proved its value in June 2025 by helping firefighters protect property, critical infrastructure, and natural resources in the United States.

01/21/2026

01/21/2026

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/behind-the-smoke-what-it-really-takes-for-crews-to-fight-wildfires-head-on-as-heat-wind-and-risk-collide/ar-AA1Uwy3v?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPdKtZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR5iwG5FMFobE-LWzAMGW3O0a5bJr488oCsZ-sMmzcCX7CZEfy7lDLDlXIXQjw_aem_gGaUDKG59FeVQQGZ9kILkw

Image Credit: Survival World

01/21/2026

Disaster
State of Emergency Declared as Wildfires Decimate Popular Vacation Destination

A popular tourist destination has declared a state of emergency after wildfires left more than a dozen people dead

01/21/2026

🔥 South Africa Official Emergency Sources & Response Updates

🔹 Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) Fire Services
• CWDM leads the primary firefighting and incident response in Franschhoek with daily postings and alerts on their official channels (including Facebook updates on fire conditions, evolving risk zones, and suppression priorities). 

Key points from the latest CWDM guidance:
• Strong winds and rugged terrain are limiting both aerial and ground attack. 
• Crews are prioritising property protection, firebreak construction, and structure safety. 
• Any formal evacuation notices are issued directly to residents via local communications as needed. 

 📍 Situation & Safety Notices (Latest)
• A strong wildfire continues to burn out of control above Franschhoek, driven by strong winds and dense vegetation, making fire lines unpredictable and dangerous. 
• Local residents have experienced voluntary evacuations where smoke and conditions make homes unsafe. 
• Fire crews from surrounding areas (Stellenbosch, Worcester, Paarl) remain engaged under difficult conditions. 
• Smoke and heavy suppression operations (including waterbombing where possible) can reduce visibility and air quality — keep windows/doors closed if in impacted zones. 

🆘 Emergency Guidance & Safety Tips

If you’re tracking this fire for situational awareness or community support:
• Monitor CWDM official channels daily for new warnings or evacuation notices. 
• Pay attention to weather advisories from the South African Weather Service — high winds dramatically influence fire behaviour in this region. 
• Follow instructions from local authorities and emergency services — these sources issue the authoritative alerts.

01/21/2026

📹 Video of Ongoing Firefighting

— Firefighters struggle to contain Franschhoek blaze — video coverage of teams battling the fire (Fire crews in action on the ground):

⚠️ What’s Making This Fire So Dangerous

Key risk factors:
• Strong, gusty winds driving rapid flame spread. 
• Steep, uneven terrain that limits ground access. 
• Dense fynbos vegetation that burns intensely and can carry fire quickly. 
• Smoke reducing visibility and complicating aerial support.

🧡 Support & Safety

🙏 Our thoughts are with:
• Residents in the Franschhoek Valley who are impacted or on alert.
• Firefighters and crews working tirelessly in extreme conditions.
• Vineyard workers and farm communities whose livelihoods and landscapes are at risk.

▶️ Video:

Cape Winelands firefighters continue to battle a blaze raging near Franschhoek. Multiple teams are tackling the fire on the ground. Helicopters are strugglin...

01/21/2026

🔥 South Africa Wildfire Situation Overview

📍 Location & Spread
• A fast-moving wildfire continues to burn in the Franschhoek Valley, part of the Western Cape winelands region of South Africa. 
• Strong, shifting winds are pushing flames rapidly toward nearby farms, vineyards, and properties — significantly complicating control efforts. 
• The fire started in mountainous terrain and has spread across rugged slopes, including areas such as Assegaai-bos and toward Three Streams and La Bri (Holiday Farm). 

🚒 Firefighting Efforts
• Fire crews from Cape Winelands District Municipality Fire Services, together with CapeNature and the Winelands Fire Protection Association, are actively engaged in suppression and containment under extremely tough conditions. 
• Strong winds (reported up to ~50 km/h) are hindering both ground access and aerial support, limiting efforts to slow the fire’s growth. 
• Specialized crews such as Lewis Fire Crew B have been deployed toward the La Bri/ Holiday Farm area to protect structures and assist with active firefighting. 

🏘️ Community & Property Impact
• Some vineyards have sustained fire damage, though detailed damage assessments are still ongoing. 
• No large-scale property losses have been widely confirmed yet — and major estates such as La Motte Wine Estate reported no damage and remain operational. 
• Smoke is reducing air quality throughout the valley, and authorities are advising residents to stay indoors if possible, follow emergency guidance, and be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen. 

01/21/2026

While wildfires are controlled by firefighters, we have other crews who also arrive on scene — investigators, who are tasked with finding the cause and origin of the wildfire, and post-fire assessment teams, comprised of agency fire experts.

These teams are critical to the creation of statewide wildfire prevention and mitigation strategies.

Read more about our wildfire teams and how they help turn analysis into action here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/turning-analysis-into-action

01/20/2026

Southern California Edison has filed lawsuits accusing Los Angeles County, local water agencies and the Southern California Gas Company of a series of missteps that the utility says made last year's Eaton Fire more deadly.

For the full story, see the link in the comments

01/20/2026

Employment Opportunities

Looking for dynamic leaders 👀🔥Now hiring two GW-11 Zone Fire Management Officers! If you're ready to drive active fire management programs in our South Zone and our West Zone in , apply by 1/28! ➡️ www.usajobs.gov/job/854392000

📸 fire at Litchfield Wetland Management District in MN. AJ Hoffman/USFWS
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Careers