Daily Archives: January 9, 2018

Snowfall forecast on North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA – Fire managers plan to burn piles on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest tomorrow through Friday, weather permitting.

Crews will be active on approximately 125 acres at the southern end of the district near DeMotte campground and on 250 acres at the northern end of the district near Jacob Lake. The treatment is continuation of the Plateau Facilities Fire Protection Project, an ongoing wildfire mitigation project that includes a combination of prescribed burning and mechanical thinning designed to ultimately treat about 5,000 acres across the Kaibab Plateau.

The piles have cured over the last few years and are expected to consume quickly. Winds are expected to have a southerly influence, which would push any smoke produced to the north/northeast. However, fire managers anticipate smoke impacts to be very light as transport winds are forecast to be 10-to-15 mph. Individuals in the surrounding area who have smoke sensitivities are advised to limit their outdoor exposure during the pile burn.

General Information: Implementation of any particular prescribed fire, including a pile burn, is dependent on weather and fuel conditions including winds, temperature, humidity, moisture of the vegetation and ventilation conditions for dispersal of smoke. All prescribed fires are subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division and to view prescribed burn authorizations for any given day, visit http://www.azdeq.gov/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management.

No road or trail closures are expected. However, in the interest of safety, visitors are always reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed fires, as firefighters, fire-related traffic, and smoke may all be present.

Williams Ranger District plans small pile burns on Wednesday

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WILLIAMS – Fire managers on the Williams Ranger District are planning to burn two small units of slash piles totaling 16 acres on Wednesday of this week. A 2 acre unit of machine piles on the southwest side of Sitgreaves Mountain and a 14 acre block of hand piles near forest road 108 south of I-40 are the specific locations scheduled for treatment.

“Conditions are ideal for cleaning up these two areas with the impending weather forecast bringing snow overnight” said Fuels Specialist Zach Boness. “We expect full consumption of the debris with no potential for fire to carry on the ground.”

Smoke is expected to rise just above tree top levels and disperse rapidly to the east moving away from the local area. Short duration smoke impacts may occur on County Road 73, and on the south side of the district throughout the day however no overnight impacts are expected.

Visitors are always reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed fires, as firefighters, fire-related traffic and smoke may all be present.

All prescribed fires are subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division and to view prescribed burn authorizations for any given day, visit www.azdeq.gov/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management

County Board appoints James Jayne Interim County Manager

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Board of Supervisors selected James Jayne as Interim County Manager. Jayne is replacing previous Manager Cynthia Seelhammer, who resigned today.

Seelhammer, a 2017 Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award Winner, served as County Manager since 2013. She has more than 30 years of experience working for small towns, large cities and counties in three different states.

“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I want to thank County Manager Seelhammer for her outstanding work and dedication to the citizens of Coconino County,” said Chairman of the Board Matt Ryan. “Under Cynthia’s leadership, the County had many successes such as the education effort that led to the passage of Proposition 403 to fund county roads, the purchase of State Trust Land at Fort Tuthill and overhauled our outdated technology systems to save tax payer dollars and better serve our customers. We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

Jayne will serve as County Manager while the Board of Supervisors determines the process for hiring a permanent manager. Jayne has been with Coconino County since August 2017 serving as the Director of Special Initiatives, responsible for Public Affairs and Community Relations, Public Works and various special projects.

Prior to coming to Coconino County, he served as the Navajo County Manager since 2003. Preceding his time with Navajo County, he served as Executive Secretary for the Arizona Corporation Commission, the Chief of Staff in the AZ House of Representatives, worked at the Arizona Water Banking Authority and in the U.S. Congress. Jayne earned his undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University and his MPA and Certified Public Manager Certification from ASU.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity given to me by the Board of Supervisors and I look forward to working closely with the Board, other elected officials, department directors and the team members who serve the County,” said Jayne. “I will continue to build strong relationships and partnerships with the communities, local governments and organizations throughout the County to help meet the needs of our residents.”

The County Manager provides overall management of county government functions and serves as liaison between the County Board of Supervisors, County Elected Officials and Department Directors.