Tag Archives: Fredonia

Fire managers postpone prescribed fires on Kaibab Plateau

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FREDONIA — Effective immediately, North Zone fire managers have postponed this week’s plans to conduct both the Bridge Unit and Moquitch 4 prescribed fires due to predicted high winds on the Kaibab Plateau.

High wind activity could potentially cause implementation efforts to exceed acceptable parameters for the hazardous fuels reduction prescription. Therefore, fire managers will commence plans to test burn on both units once predicted weather, wind speed, and air quality conditions align favorably with prescription constraints.

Current future information on current Kaibab National Forest both upcoming prescribed burn notifications and wildfires will be provided through the following methods:

Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311

Prescribed Burn Planned on Kaibab Plateau

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FREDONIA — Pending favorable conditions, North Zone fire managers on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are planning to begin a prescribed fire within the 1,806-acre Jacob Ryan North “Bridge” Unit as early as Tuesday, May 24.

Once ignitions commence, fire managers expect the prescribed fire treatment to last three to four days.

As one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, prescribed fires are used to reduce forest fuels, recycle nutrients and increase habitat diversity by removing dead forest fuels.

“In addition to providing community protection and promoting forest health, this prescribed fire operation will be conducted with firefighter and public safety as our number one priority,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “The tradeoff is that we are on the cusp of tourist season and smoke is to be expected. Conducting a prescribed burn with no smoke is not really very realistic. However, to mitigate the impact, we burn when conditions are such that the smoke will disperse away from populated areas as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Smoke sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures as fire managers do anticipate smoke to minimally impact visitors in the vicinity of Jacob Lake, on Highways 67 and 89A, as well as hikers on a portion of the Arizona Trail (AZT) that passes through the unit for short periods of time during the prescribed fire operations.

To aid hikers on the impacted portion of the AZT, fire managers will post firefighters at the east and west ends of the unit where the trail and the prescribed burn area intersect in order to escort hikers through as necessary. No road or trail closures are expected. However, visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling along Highways 67 and 89A, and be aware of emergency vehicles in the area.

“The fuel samples we collected last week indicate that the conditions for this prescribed burn are within the optimal range to meet our objectives,” said North Zone Fuels Specialist Dave Robinson. “We’re right in the heart of perfect conditions for this prescription.”

The boundaries for this prescribed fire are Forest Service Road 247 on the north and west, FSR 487 to FSR 257 south to Highway 89A to FSR 247 on the south, and a series of dozer lines and connecting forest roads on the east.

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.

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

WildfiresNearMe: A new subscription, web-based application tool that provides the public with real-time text and email notification about wildfires that break out in their area. Users can follow any fire that has started within their area of interest. For more information, visit http://wildfiresnearme.wfmrda.com/.

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 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.

Fredonia, Kanab Elementary Schools receive grant for fourth graders

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FREDONIA — Fredonia Elementary School and Kanab Elementary School are each one of 186 sites recently selected to receive a field trip grant from the National Park Foundation for the 2015-2016 school year in support of the White House youth initiative Every Kid in a Park.

As the official charity of America’s national parks, the foundation officially made the announcement in December. A full list of grantees and their projects may be found at http://www.nationalparks.org/ook/every-kid-in-a-park. Leading up to this year’s 100th birthday of the National Park Service (NPS), President Obama announced the Every Kid in a Park initiative in 2015 as a call to action to get fourth graders outdoors spending time with nature, family and friends.

Specific to fourth graders, the Forest Service and other land and resource management agencies already have conservation education programs in place to connect 9-to-11 year-old children to learn about landscapes surrounding their homes and schools. Every Kid in a Park aligns well with these education programs.

Shortly after the program’s announcement in September, representatives from the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, Bureau of Land Management Kanab Field Office, Grand Staircase Escalante Partners, and the National Park Service’s Pipe Spring National Monument partnered together to visit fourth graders at schools in Fredonia, Ariz., Colorado City, Ariz., Centennial Park, Ariz., Hildale, Utah, and Kanab, Utah, in order to generate support for the program.

During these visits, each fourth grade student was given a one-year Every Kid in a Park pass, providing the student and anyone accompanying them in the vehicle with free entry to hundreds of parks, forests and sites across the country. In addition to the Every Kid in a Park pass, the National Park Foundation awarded grants to both schools in December. Grant funding will provide field trip opportunities for each fourth grade class to participate in three field trips during the 2015-2016 school year; one each hosted by the North Kaibab Ranger District, Bureau of Land Management Kanab Field Office, and Pipe Spring National Monument. The funding will be used to provide schools with funding for transportation, learning materials and meals.

“We are excited to have this opportunity available to our fourth graders here in Kanab and Fredonia,” said Wildlife Biologist Lisa Church, Bureau of Land Management, Kanab Field Office. “Anytime we can motivate students and teachers to get outside and enjoy nature, it helps the children better understand how they can care for and protect the natural treasures that we have right here in our own backyards for future generations to also someday appreciate.”

Church assisted with the grant application process, resulting in $3,700 being awarded to the Kanab fourth-grade class and $9,000 to the Fredonia fourth-grade class.

“The Every Kid in a Park program has been a great benefit for our students, especially when you consider our location,” said Fredonia Elementary School Principal Joe B. Wright. “Being surrounded by multiple parks and forests, this program provides even greater accessibility for our 4th graders and their families. We sincerely appreciate the federal employees who have spent time working cooperatively with Fredonia Elementary School. Our students are very excited about the grant funded field trips that will be coming up in the next few months.”

National Park Foundation grants have made it possible for more than 400,000 students (including this year’s grantees) to visit national parks and other public lands and waters.

“It is inspiring to see the National Park Foundation and many other partners step up to support our goal of getting fourth graders and their families into parks, public lands and waters that belong to all Americans,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. “These generous grants will ensure children across the country have an opportunity to experience the great outdoors in their community while developing a lifelong connection to our nation’s land, water and wildlife.”

Kaibab National Forest hiring window opens soon

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640_jobopsFREDONIA — It’s that time of year again; time to dust off and update the resume in preparation for the USDA Forest Service annual hiring of qualified applicants for 2016 temporary seasonal spring and summer positions. These seasonal job opportunities may include positions in wildland firefighting as well as other challenging and rewarding fields like recreation, range, engineering, archaeology, timber and visitor services.

At nearly 1.6 million acres in size, the Kaibab National Forest is a large area of land to care for with plenty of job opportunities to offer during the spring and summer months.

Please note that most vacancies will only be open for seven days. Applicants should refer to the positions listed in the table below for open/close dates. Specific duty location contacts are identified by each district, and multiple positions may be offered at each duty location. Interested applicants should contact duty locations for additional information regarding vacancies.

Applicants must apply through USAJobs prior to the deadline and are encouraged to apply for multiple locations if interested. This is the first and most important step to working for the USDA Forest Service. After creating an account, the process will enable applicants to apply for future positions, follow up after applying, and streamline the overall process for future applications an individual may submit.
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Fire equipment vendors invited to information session

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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

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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.