Category Archives: National Government

Prescribed Fires Planned to Begin Sunday on Williams Ranger District

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Due to the significant amount of moisture received over the last month, conditions on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are appropriate for fire managers to continue treatment of the 3,339-acre Kendrick Prescribed Fire project northeast of Williams and the 2,532-acre McCracken Prescribed Fire project south of Williams.

Above normal precipitation and cooler temperatures have produced ideal conditions to continue with treatments such as reducing hazardous fuels in both these areas. Ignitions may take place on several days but will only occur when weather and fuel conditions are within prescriptive levels.

During prescribed fire operations, community members and visitors may see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity. Smoke may also be present and may result in short-duration impacts to populated areas.

Prescribed fires are essential tools for restoring the forests in a fire-adapted ecosystem, and smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of these efforts. Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. Burns occur when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke away from homes and ultimately limit the number of days smoke is in the air.

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 fire information for Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

North Zone Readiness Review a Success

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2016 Readiness Review_NKRD_May 2016_#2: Wildland firefighters arrive on scene of a simulated wildfire. Here the initial attack Incident Commander sets the tone for the crews initial response by first completing a 360-degree size-up of the scene, reassessing as needed, developing and adjusting a tactical response and continuously communicating the strategy and objectives to the crew. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Wildland firefighters arrive on scene of a simulated wildfire. Here the initial attack Incident Commander sets the tone for the crews initial response by first completing a 360-degree size-up of the scene, reassessing as needed, developing and adjusting a tactical response and continuously communicating the strategy and objectives to the crew. Photo by David Hercher, U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

FREDONIA — Wildland firefighters from the Kaibab National Forest, Color Country Bureau of Land Management and Grand Canyon National Park trained together May 12 at the North Kaibab Ranger District for their annual readiness review training.

Personnel included six engine crews, three fire lookouts, a three-member fuels crew, three fire prevention specialists, four members of the Grand Canyon National Park helitack crew, four resource specialists from the Kaibab National Forest, fire leadership from both the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park, and law enforcement personnel from Grand Canyon National Park.

2016 Readiness Review_NKRD_May 2016_#1: During a simulated fire shelter deployment, a crewmember goes down, creating an incident-within-an-incident. Upon assessing the situation, suspected mechanism of injury, and the patient's ABCs, the incident commander for this scenario rolls the unresponsive patient into the lateral recumbent recovery position, while other crew members arrange for ground and air transport. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

During a simulated fire shelter deployment, a crewmember goes down, creating an incident-within-an-incident. Upon assessing the situation, suspected mechanism of injury, and the patient’s ABCs, the incident commander for this scenario rolls the unresponsive patient into the lateral recumbent recovery position, while other crew members arrange for ground and air transport. Photo by David Hercher, U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Participants rotated through a variety of stations working on a simulated wildfire, hoselays, water pumping, fire shelter deployment, medical emergency treatment and transport, tactical decision making, fire prevention and education, coordinating with fire lookouts and working alongside the North Zone dozer operator during wildfire operations.

Prior to commencing the day’s training, participants discussed the intent and expectations of the exercise, and Jay Lusher, Chief Fire and Aviation, Grand Canyon National Park, said, “Today we are here to take the time to build our team before we engage, to remember our fireline leadership core values: duty, integrity, respect.”

“Fires eventually will go out, trees will grow back, and homes can be rebuilt, but at the end of the day we want everyone to make it back home safely,” added Kaibab National Forest Fuels Specialist Drew Leiendecker, as both he and Lusher reiterated the wildland firefighting community’s “Life First” leader’s intent – to remind all wildland firefighters to commit to “Stop (assess the situation), Think (critically about what is going on) Talk (about what you see), and Listen (to what is being said and what your gut is telling you), before you Act (providing a level of risk management before blindly charging in as if it is just another routine task, assignment, or mission)” in order to help eliminate unnecessary exposure and increase the odds that everyone goes home.

Closing out the day’s training, participants conducted an after action review and provided fire managers with feedback on the day’s successes and improvements for next season.

“The day was a success. Our firefighters demonstrated that they’re ready for the 2016 fire season. We will continue to focus on the basics, build on our strengths, and constantly seek opportunities to improve, “said North Zone Fuels Specialist Dave Robinson. “Thank you to everyone who helped make the day a success, and remember to seek training opportunities, ask questions, and learn from each other daily.”

Information on current Kaibab National Forest wildfires and notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided through the following methods:

Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Kaibab website “News & Events”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Kaibab National Forest shares video of tribal partnership to restore springs

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest has posted a video to its website showing the partnership between the Hopi Tribe and forest on an important spring restoration project.

The video, which is available at http://bit.ly/Hopi-Kaibab, was filmed during portions of the Big Springs and Castle Springs Restoration Project on the North Kaibab Ranger District, which was the first tribal-Forest Service collaborative project to be implemented after the 2014 publication of the new Land and Resources Management Plan for the Kaibab National Forest. This was significant because the project put into action two important goals of the newly revised forest plan.

First, it implemented desired conditions for seeps and springs that had been developed collaboratively and identified in the plan. Second, it provided a setting for exchanging information between tribal elders and youth about land stewardship and offered an opportunity for the sharing of traditional ecological knowledge between the tribe and forest, which will contribute to future management actions on seeps and springs.

Over the course of a week in 2014, Hopi elders and cultural advisors [Hopi Cultural Resource Advisory Task Team] worked with 18 tribal youth from the Hopi Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program, Hopi cultural and natural resources staff, Kaibab National Forest leadership, and representatives from a variety of other organizations and programs to conduct key restoration actions at two natural springs sites on the North Kaibab Ranger District. Since then, additional phased restoration work has been accomplished, and annual projects are planned for the coming years.

Partners have removed graffiti at Castle Springs and eliminated a decaying corral, rusted barbed wire fence and trash in the area. They have also removed invasive vegetation encroaching in an adjacent meadow, constructed water catchments using traditional techniques for both wildlife and cattle, and built a fence to protect the spring. At Big Springs, a more visible path has been constructed in order to deter visitors from making their own paths, alleviating the spider web effect of footpaths that was damaging fragile soils. And, throughout the project area, Hopi ancestral sites have been restored and protected against potential impacts from recreation and public use.

The video, which is about 10 minutes long, shows much of this work and also provides perspective on the importance of the project and its meaning to tribal members, Forest Service representatives and other partners. It highlights the ecological importance of natural springs as well as their cultural significance to tribes.

“I hope people take the time to watch this video so that they understand the shared goals we have with our tribal partners and the work we have done and are continuing to do to achieve those goals,” said Mike Lyndon, tribal liaison for the Kaibab National Forest. “This project was originally the idea of a Hopi elder who said that we all needed to come together – elders and youth from the tribe and Forest Service employees – to do this work together on the ground and to learn from one another. That knowledge can be carried forward as we continue to work on our shared goals and shared vision for important places on the Kaibab National Forest.”

Several of the people involved in the Big Springs and Castle Springs Restoration Project and the production of the video will be traveling to Washington, D.C., next week to be honored with a national-level Forest Service award for their efforts. They will receive the 2015 “Rise to the Future” award for “Tribal Accomplishment” in the category of excellence and leadership in fisheries, hydrology, soil science and air programs.

“I feel humbled and grateful that the partnership would be recognized for its merits and acknowledge that it is but a starting point for continued collaborative efforts in the future,” said Everett Gomez, Reed/Bamboo Clan, Paaqavi Village, and a case manager for the Hopi Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program.

“This work is important in many ways such as bringing our youth and elders together to promote teaching and understanding; cultural identity and survival; preserving our environment encompassing land, air and water; strong partnerships and sharing of resources between the entities involved; education and employment pathways for our youth; and, understanding better the importance of the spiritual value surrounding all these things,” Gomez said.

Kaibab recruiting for Youth Conservation Corp

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azcc1The Arizona Conservation Corps is currently recruiting for Youth Conservation Corps crew members in communities adjacent to the Kaibab National Forest. Applications will be accepted through May 15. This is an outstanding opportunity for young people between the ages of 16 and 18 to learn conservation and job skills and earn financial support for college.

Crew members are being sought from the Williams, Tusayan and Fredonia/Kanab areas as well as other nearby communities. Of special interest, the Tusayan area crew is known as an Ancestral Lands Youth Conservation Corps crew and is specifically recruiting Native American students.

For additional information or to apply, the contact is Judy Tincher, Arizona Conservation Corps, 928-853-7760 or judy@conservationlegacy.org.

North Kaibab Ranger District fuelwood permits available May 2

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FREDONIA — Each year, approximately 3,000 cords of legally cut firewood are removed from the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. This year, the 10-cord maximum per household has been increased to 12 cords, while the price remains the same at $5 per cord, with a four-cord minimum.

“This is a big deal as we have more supply than demand here,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “We have an ample and naturally occurring supply of firewood on the Kaibab Plateau and this cord increase will aid in improving forest health while also giving our neighbors more fuel to heat their homes.”

On May 2, the district will begin issuing paid personal-use and post and pole fuelwood permits at the district office located at 430 S. Main Street between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. The fuelwood cutting season ends Nov. 30.

Below is a brief synopsis of prices and some regulations to be mindful of when harvesting any dead standing and dead-downed trees on the district. For more detailed information regarding all the permit criteria, regulations, restrictions and maps for the Kaibab National Forest, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/fuelwood.

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Free-use permits available for fuel-break piles near Jacob Lake

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FREDONIA — The North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will issue free, personal-use fuelwood permits within a designated 175-acre unit along Forest Service Roads 248, 248A and 247 beginning May 2.

Permits will be available at the North Kaibab Ranger Station in Fredonia. A maximum of four cords per household will be available until treatment of the unit is complete. Consequently, permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies within the unit last.

The free-use permits are valid through Nov. 30, 2016, and will include a specific designated free-use area. Fuelwood in this designated free-use unit may be collected from the horizontally-stacked piles, but the unit may be subject to temporary closure if active wildfire activity poses a safety hazard within the unit.

“Removing these piles within this designated unit will help improve wildlife habitat and forest health by increasing the presence of forbs, grasses and shrubs in the forest understory, reducing excess fuel loads on the forest floor, and decreasing the risk of excessive tree mortality losses from insects, disease and/or future stand-replacing wildfires,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker.

For more information about free-use and paid-personal-use fuelwood permits, please contact the North Kaibab Ranger District office at (928) 643-7395 or visit the Kaibab National Forest fuelwood webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/fuelwood.

Local fire units respond to 6-acre wildfire near Woods Subdivision

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WILLIAMS — Fire responders from the Kaibab National Forest, Coconino National Forest, and the Williams and Ponderosa fire departments responded to a wildfire yesterday about a mile south of the Woods Subdivision near Garland Prairie. The Dogtown fire, which was reported just after 2 p.m., was contained at 6 acres by fire personnel.

“Due to the remote location, poor access, and expected weather conditions, this fire had the potential for a much different outcome,” said incident commander Grayson Beckley.

High winds can cause rapid spread that can be problematic for firefighters, which may also create a threat to neighboring communities. In this case, however, firefighters were able to contain the wildfire quickly despite high winds.

The cause of the Dogtown fire is unknown and currently under investigation by Forest Service law enforcement. Crews will remain on scene today working to extinguish all heat and smoke found within the fire perimeter, and will monitor the area throughout the week.

With warmer temperatures, lower humidity and higher winds, springtime conditions warrant increased diligence, and visitors are reminded to use extreme caution when using fire in forested areas. Individuals can help in reducing the number of preventable, human-caused fires by completely extinguishing campfires before leaving their camp site.

Although there are no fire restrictions currently in effect on the Kaibab National Forest, managers continuously monitor conditions that may increase fire danger levels at any time. Fire restrictions can be monitored here.

Exceptional Health Products Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Soy And Milk Allergens In Angel Wings™- Daily Multi 120 Capsules

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ucm497171Exceptional Health Products of Tulsa Oklahoma is recalling Angel Wings™ – Daily Multi 120 Capsules because this product contains undeclared SOY and MILK allergens. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Soy or Milk allergens run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The following product was distributed nationwide to consumers through mailorder.

Product Name: Angel Wings™ – Daily Multi 120 Capsules

Lot Numbers: 14656, 14657, 15109, 15489, 15488, 15616, and 16007

This voluntary recall has been initiated because this product contains undeclared SOY and MILK allergens. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Soy or Milk allergens run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

No illnesses have been reported to date. This was brought to our attention by the Food and Drug Administration that found inconsistencies with our supplier’s allergen statement on the Amino Acid ingredients used in this formulation.

The recalled lot numbers began shipping nationwide on December 23, 2014. If you find the recalled lot numbers on the bottom of any bottle you have inventory you may return it to the address at the bottom for a full refund or replacement. If you have further distributed this product, please identify the recipients or your customers and notify them at once of this product recall.

If you have any questions, call 888-548-0477 Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST. We are sorry for this inconvience and appreciate your assistance.

Kaibab National Forest temporarily suspends issuance of personal use cinder permits for Moonset Pit

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is temporarily suspending the issuance of personal use cinder permits for Moonset Pit on the Williams Ranger District due to operations underway to expand and improve the popular cinder collection area.

Moonset Pit is located just west of Parks, off a dirt road, east of Spitz Springs and to the north of old Route 66. The Kaibab National Forest, working in conjunction with Coconino County, is undertaking a pit expansion project over the next two years in order to make the area safer and also easier to access and use for cinder collection purposes.

Specifically, several acres of trees will be cut and then removed. It is expected this wood will be made available to the public as free firewood once that work has been completed. Then, the existing material in the pit will be moved and rearranged in order to create a more stable and durable structure.

“This pit expansion project is really about public safety,” said Deirdre McLaughlin, lands and minerals staff officer for the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab National Forest. “We had personal use cinder collectors in the pit who would dig into the material and then have issues with the top collapsing in. We have to restructure the pit so that we don’t have those potentially dangerous situations.”

While the expansion and improvement project is underway, the Kaibab National Forest will not issue personal use cinder permits for Moonset Pit. However, cinder collectors will still be able to obtain personal use permits for W Triangle Pit, also located on the Williams Ranger District. Individuals interested in obtaining a personal use cinder permit should contact the Williams Ranger District office at (928) 635-5600.

A portion of Moonset Pit is also made available by Kaibab National Forest to members of the public to dispose of natural forest debris on specific days in order to assist residents in creating a defensible space around their homes and property. This public service will continue to be offered and will not be impacted by the expansion project. To view open pit dates and additional information on the wildfire risk reduction service, visit http://go.usa.gov/cuYbP.

Consumer Labels for Broadband Services

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Comparing prices, performance and network practices of broadband service providers can be challenging, even for savvy consumers. With this in mind, the FCC created Open Internet transparency rules requiring providers to convey sufficient information for consumers to make informed choices about available broadband services. Based on recommendations from its Consumer Advisory Committee, the FCC provides templates for broadband labels – one for landline and one for mobile – that service providers may use to supply consumers with information about their services.

If a provider uses a broadband label template, here’s the type of information you can expect to see:

  • Pricing details, including all of the various charges that seem mysterious to consumers – overage fees, equipment fees, early termination fees, other monthly fees beyond service fees such as insurance, administrative fees, or regulatory recovery fees.
  • Monthly data allowance – namely, the carrier-defined plan limit after which consumers will incur additional charges.
  • Broadband speed and other performance metrics.
  • Network management practices – namely, precautions providers may take to manage heavy traffic on their networks.

Service providers who use the labels will satisfy the FCC’s requirement to make transparency disclosures in the proper format, or a format that meets the needs of consumers. However, providers may still be in violation of FCC rules if the content of their labels is misleading or inaccurate or if they make misleading or inaccurate statements to customers in ads or elsewhere. In such cases, consumers can file complaints with the FCC at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.

The new rules will go into effect later this year, but service providers may begin using the broadband label templates anytime. The labels can serve as a helpful comparison shopping tool for consumers. Look for and consider them when you shop for service.

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