Fire equipment vendors invited to information session

The USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region announces an information meeting for vendors interested in providing resources to support wildfires and other emergency incidents.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, from 1 to 4 p.m. MST via video teleconference at Forest Service offices throughout Arizona.

The meeting will discuss a variety of topics including:

  • How to become a government vendor
  • How to locate and respond to solicitations through the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system
  • How to read and understand contract requirements for specific equipment

In fiscal year 2016, the Southwestern Region is seeking competitive quotations for Water Handling Equipment, which includes Engines, Support Water Tenders, and Tactical Water Tenders with trained operators to support wildfires during the course of a three-year agreement.

Interested vendors can obtain copies of the solicitations at https://www.fbo.gov. Type VIPR into the keyword search box and press Search to obtain a list of VIPR solicitations from all over the country. Look for the ones from the Southwestern Region, Region 3. You can also search on Solicitation No. AG-8371-S-16-7000.

Vendors can attend the meeting at any of the following Arizona locations:

Apache-Sitgreaves NFs — Supervisor’s Office
30 S. Chiricahua Drive, Springerville, AZ

Coconino NF — Supervisor’s Office
1824 S. Thompson Street, Flagstaff, AZ

North Kaibab Ranger District
430 South Main Street, Fredonia, AZ

Prescott Fire Center
2400 Melville Road, Prescott, AZ

Tonto NF — Supervisor’s Office
2324 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ

Tucson Fire Center
2646 E. Commerce Center Place, Tucson, AZ

For information about VIPR go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vipr.php or contact Anne Weiskircher, Region 3 Fire Contracting Officer, at aweiskircher@fs.fed.us.

Holiday Open House offers music, children’s activities, and more

FREDONIA — With Christmas tree permit sales now in full swing for the holiday season, the North Kaibab Ranger District will soon host a Holiday Open House.

Festivities will take place at the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center at Jacob Lake on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be holiday music, cider and treats available for all ages, an aspen-round ornament decorating activity for families, coloring pages for the kids, and of course tree permits for sale.

As a reminder, the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center will be open for Christmas tree tag sales on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 13.

Christmas tree tags may also be purchased at the district office in Fredonia from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5.

For more information, call (928) 643-7395.

North Zone fire managers to treat piles near Jacob Lake

FREDONIA — Fire managers on the North Kaibab Ranger District are planning to conduct pile burns in the vicinity of Jacob Lake as early as today, as part of the North Zone prescribed fire program.

Pile burning is typically completed in winter when snow is on the ground in order to mitigate fire intensity, remove excess fuel sources from the forest, and improve forest health by fostering a natural burn cycle designed to reduce the amount of vegetation that can physically carry fire from the forest floor into the treetops. This effectively reduces a wildfire’s potential ability to become a running crown fire.

Fire crews plan to treat 50 acres of piles near the water tank located just south of the Jacob Lake Admin Complex, and are expecting smoke to linger in the area through the weekend. No predicted smoke impacts are expected for Marble Canyon, Fredonia, or Kanab.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Additional fire information is available through the following resources: Inciweb; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Jumpup cabin rental now available on North Kaibab Ranger District

540x360FREDONIA — The North Kaibab Ranger District has added a new cabin to the Kaibab National Forest’s cabin rental offerings, which will be available for public use starting today as part of Arizona’s “Rooms with a View” cabin rental program, a program that provides visitors with unique recreational opportunities to experience an overnight stay in a historic Forest Service cabin.

Built in 1906 and situated at the mouth of Jumpup Canyon, the historic Jumpup cabin offers a panoramic view of Kanab Creek Wilderness, sitting within the southwestern portion of the Kaibab Plateau near the trailhead for Ranger Trail #41.

The rustic log structure is divided into two distinct areas. The first is a main living and cooking area that has a table and chairs and a small kitchenette with a wash tub. The second is a bunk room with two sets of double over double bunk beds. There is no electricity, running water, or propane, but there is a wood burning stove, which is the sole source of heat, and lanterns and cooking supplies are provided. Cabin renters need to bring their own water, food, firewood, sleeping bags, pillows, towels and personal accessories.

Outside there is an open-air composting toilet, a fire ring, and picnic table. Guests are reminded that this is a Pack It In, Pack It Out site and are asked to practice Leave No Trace Ethics in order to keep the cabin area nice for other users. Additional information may be found at the Jumpup Cabin webpage.
The rental rate is $60 per night from Nov. 23 to Nov. 30, 2015, and May 1 to Nov. 30, 2016, and reservations for the rustic two-room cabin can be made at Recreation.gov.

North Kaibab Ranger District Christmas tree permit update

FREDONIA — As a reminder, the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest is currently selling over-the-counter Christmas tree tags at both the district office in Fredonia and the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center in Jacob Lake, and all fourth graders are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit as part of the Every Kid in a Park (eKIP) initiative.

Specific dates and times for getting a Christmas tree permit for the North Kaibab Ranger District are as follows:

The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 13 for tag sales. The visitor center is located at the intersection of highways 89 and 67 in Jacob Lake and can be reached at (928) 643-7298.

The North Kaibab District office will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays, and on two Saturdays, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for tag sales. The office is located at 430 S. Main St. in Fredonia and can be reached at 928-643-7395.

To be eligible for a free Christmas tree permit from the North Kaibab Ranger District, all fourth graders must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and present their fourth grade pass. Additional information about the initiative and how to obtain a pass may be found at the official eKIP website.

For those not eligible for the fourth grade initiative, a $15 permit may be purchased.

All Christmas tree permit holders will be provided with a map showing their designated cutting area along with additional Christmas tree cutting instructions. North Kaibab Ranger District tag holders are authorized to cut a tree of any species that is less than 10 feet in height and within the designated cutting areas on the map provided. All sales are final, and no refunds will be made.
The Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab National Forest also have Christmas tree tags available. For detailed information on those tags as well as additional information on North Kaibab Ranger District tags, visit the Kaibab National Forest website.

Kaibab National Forest offers free Christmas tree permits to fourth graders

WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is pleased to announce that all fourth graders are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit, while supplies last, through the Every Kid in a Park initiative.

Every Kid in a Park is a nationwide call to action to build the next generation of conservationists. All fourth graders are eligible to receive a fourth grade pass that allows free access to federal lands and waters across the country for a full year.

In support of this initiative, the Forest Service is making available a free Christmas tree permit to every interested fourth grader with a fourth grade pass. For additional information about the initiative and how to obtain a pass, visit www.everykidinapark.gov.

In order to receive a free Christmas tree permit from the Kaibab National Forest, the fourth grader must be present with the fourth grade pass.

Contact information for each ranger district is as follows:

North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia, AZ 86022; (928) 643-7395.
Tusayan Ranger District, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023; (928) 638-2443.
Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Rd., Williams, AZ 86046; (928) 635-5600.

Visit the Kaibab National Forest website for additional information on Christmas tree permits.

Kaibab National Forest accepting applications for fire positions

Do you know someone who may be interested in a career in fire on the Kaibab? From Nov. 2 to Dec. 1, 2015, individuals can apply for fire positions on forests in the U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region, including on the Kaibab!

The Kaibab National Forest currently has three vacant positions that will be filled during Fire Hire. However, more positions could become available.

For additional information and resources, visit the Kaibab National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/home/?cid=FSEPRD478964 or follow us on Twitter by texting ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404. Detailed Fire Hire information for the entire Southwestern Region, which details all available positions and the process by which to apply to those positions, is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd476214.pdf.

South Zone fire managers to treat piles during predicted snow

WILLIAMS — Fire managers on both the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts will be completing pile burns across the two southern districts of the Kaibab National Forest. The pile burns help remove fuel sources from the forest, and can be conducted while snow is on the ground to help mitigate fire intensity.

Tusayan Ranger District: Fire crews will treat 122 acres of piles adjacent to Forest Road 311, near Russell Wash, to the east of Tusayan. There are no predicted smoke impacts to Tusayan.

Williams Ranger District: Fire crews will be treating 233 acres of piles near the intersection of Forest Road 141 and Forest Road 102, south of Sherwood Forest, near McDougal Flat. Smoke impacts to Sherwood Forest are expected to be minimal.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Additional information, photos and maps are available through the following resources: InciWeb inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/ and inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4113/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Kaibab National Forest to offer Christmas tree permits

WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest will sell over-the-counter and through-the-mail Christmas tree tags on a first-come, first-served basis for each of its three ranger districts beginning Nov. 16 and continuing until they are sold out. While tags will start being sold Nov. 16, cutting of Christmas trees can’t begin until Nov. 20.

The $15 permit will allow the holder to cut a tree of a particular species that is not more than 10 feet in height within a designated area on the Kaibab National Forest from Nov. 20 through Dec. 24. No refunds will be made, even if weather conditions prevent access to cutting areas.

Individuals who purchase tags will be provided with a map showing their designated cutting area along with additional Christmas tree cutting instructions. The number of available tags and tree species, locations and hours for purchasing the permits, and contact information for each ranger district are as follows:

Christmas Tree-1 Individuals can also purchase a Christmas tree tag through the mail by sending information to the mailing address of the ranger district they plan to visit. It is advisable to call the desired ranger district office in advance to ensure tags are still available. Individuals desiring to purchase a Christmas tree tag through the mail should provide ample time for their permit to arrive. Expect a turnaround time of about 10 business days.

Please include the following with any request for a Christmas tree tag through the mail:

> A self-addressed, stamped envelope (Attn: Christmas Trees)
> A contact phone number
> A check payable to USDA Forest Service

South Zone fire managers to conduct pile burns after wet weather

WILLIAMS — Fire managers on both the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts will be completing pile burns across the two southern districts of the Kaibab National Forest. Recent weather conditions have not proven to be conducive for larger-scale prescribed fire treatments, but are appropriate for piles located across the forest. The pile burns remove fuel sources from the forest, to reduce the impact and intensity of future wildfires.

Tusayan Ranger District: Fire crews will treat 226 acres throughout the week just to the west of the Grand Canyon Airport, south of Forest Road 2617, and on both the east and west sides of Forest Road 2607. Smoke impact to Tusayan are expected to be minimal.

Williams Ranger District: Fire crews will be treating small groups of piles across the district over the week. Due to the limited number of piles that are expected to be treated, there are no predicted smoke impacts to Williams.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Additional information, photos and maps are available through the following resources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/ and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4113/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.