Juvenile Charged in 2018 Fires on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

FOREST LAKES – A 16 year old male from Glendale, Arizona has lead guilty to starting 3 fires on the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves Nation Forest outside of Forest Lakes, Arizona.

The fires were started on May 27 and 28, 2018 in the area of Forest Road 178. The first fire was started on May 27th and reported around 7:30 AM. The fire burned to about 11 acres before fire crews could contain and control the fire.The second fire was started on May 28th and was reported around 1:57 PM and burned a quarter acre before fire crews could contain and control the fire. The third fire was reported while fire crews were fighting the second fire. This fire was contained and controlled at a quarter acre. United States Forest Service fire crews and Forest Lakes Fire Department responded to the fires and conducted containment and suppression operations.

The resident USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement officer in Forest Lakes conducted the investigation and found evidence all three fires were human caused. Investigators were able to identify the suspect as a 16 year old male. The suspect had been with several family members camping in the area. The suspect made statements that he had piled sticks or branches in a pile and lite them on fire for his cousins. The suspect said he was fascinated with fire and enjoyed watching the colors, but also acknowledged he knew the destructive potential of fire.

The suspect was initially detained, arrested and later released to his parents on three federal counts of Causing Timber, Trees and Grass to Burn. The United States Attorney’s later referred the case to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office due to the age of the juvenile suspect. The Juvenile was ultimately charged with three counts of Reckless Burning under Arizona State Law. The suspect plead guilty to one count of Reckless Burning with two counts being dismissed. He was ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution for the cost of fire suppression.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office supports the Forest Service in the protection of our natural resources through partnership by patrolling forested areas, camp grounds, and fires detection and suppression activities.

Search for suspect in Forest Lakes shooting continues

A multi-agency law enforcement team continues to look for the suspect in yesterday’s shooting incident in Forest Lakes, Arizona. Ground and air teams searched the area during the night and early morning in an effort to locate the suspect. Search efforts will continue today in both the forested area as well as through patrols of neighborhoods, businesses, and roadways. There are approximately 45 officers from multiple agencies on scene assisting.

The shooting incident yesterday occurred near Canyon Point Campground located on Hwy 260 milepost 287 approximately 19 miles west of Heber, Arizona, 4.5 miles east of the Rim Visitor Center. The campground remains closed at this time.

The public is reminded to continue to be aware of the situation and to stay out of the area if possible. Please do not pick up hitch hikers and immediately report any suspicious person or activity to law enforcement. Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is urged to call law enforcement.

Salt River Project and National Forest Foundation address critical aspen restoration on the Kaibab National Forest.

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Aspens mix with oaks in fall on Bill Williams Mountain to create an image of stunning beauty.

Missoula, MT — Two trees that give Williams and Flagstaff their most beautiful fall image are the oak and the aspen. The Kaibab aspen lines Perkinsville Road—also known as South Road in Williams—and Forest Road 111 which leads to the top of Bill Williams Mountain. The road to Dogtown lake has a number of aspens and oak.

In the spring and summer, the fully-leaved oaks and aspens provide shade for many of the hiking trails and camping spots. In the fall, the color of the leaves of the aspens mix with the changing color of the oak to create images of beauty.

Last March, Neil Weintraub—Kaibab National Forest Archaeologist—held a field trip to the Keyhole Sink. The trailhead to the Keyhole Sink is across from the Oak Hill Snow Play area along Route 66 east of Williams. There are a few aspens at the Keyhole Sink and during the tour, he brought to light the plight of the endangered Kaibab aspens. The aspens are dying off for a number of reasons.

There are groups, however, attempting to bring the aspens back to life.

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National Forest Foundation photo

The National Forest Foundation (NFF) [Facebook] recently expanded its partnership with the Salt River Project (SRP) to restore imperiled aspen forests on the Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona. A leading partner of the NFF’s reforestation efforts, SRP has been supporting landscape-scale reforestation in Northern Arizona through their Trees for Change program since 2009. This year, customer contributions collected through SRP’s Trees for Change program will restore aspen stands, a unique and imperiled forest type in Northern Arizona.
Aspen forests currently comprise less than one percent of forests on the southern half of the Kaibab National forest. Aspens provide particularly high ecological value and diversity, but these important biodiversity hotspots have declined in recent years due to competition from ponderosa pine, browsing damage from elk and deer, and fire exclusion. To improve the health of these important ecosystems, the NFF and the Kaibab National Forest have partnered on an ambitious two-year long, comprehensive aspen restoration project across 200 acres of the Kaibab National Forest.

With funding from SRP, the NFF and the Kaibab National Forest are constructing temporary fencing to exclude elk and deer, which allows aspen forests to regenerate. Additionally, the partners are planting young aspen seedlings to expedite aspen stand restoration. The project, now halfway completed, is expected to regenerate approximately 200,000 young aspen seedlings.

300-apsen-2“Last year, the Forest Service on the Williams Ranger District was successful in reforesting thousands of aspens with the Salt River Project’s contributions. The funding that SRP and the NFF provided was put towards work that would have taken many years to get completed with the regular budget,” said Richard Gonzalez of the Kaibab National Forest.

Since 2009, SRP has been a leading tree planting partner of the NFF, expanding the Forest Service’s capacity to accomplish critical reforestation projects following wildfire. To date, SRP has planted nearly one million trees on the Kaibab, Coconino and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in Northern Arizona. Native seedlings planted through this unique partnership help re-establish wildlife habitat, sequester carbon dioxide and stabilize watersheds after wildfires.

“As a long-term partner of ours, the Salt River Project’s commitment to support important reforestation projects is helping restore Treasured Landscapes in Northern Arizona. We are proud to partner with SRP and admire their commitment to improving Northern Arizona’s National Forests through innovative partnerships,” said Bill Possiel, President of the National Forest Foundation.

Across the country, the forested headwaters of our National Forests and Grasslands provide water for 123 million Americans in more than 3,400 communities. The Phoenix metropolitan area is no exception, relying on water that is captured by National Forests in the Salt and Verde River watersheds. Recognizing the importance of these forested headwaters, SRP has invested in critical restoration projects on these National Forests. In addition to the Trees for Change program, SRP and the NFF developed the Northern Arizona Forest Fund. Dollars contributed through the Northern Arizona Forest Fund are invested in other important forest health projects on National Forests in the Salt and Verde River watersheds.

“Thanks to the generosity of our customers and their commitment to reforestation efforts, we are proud to support the efforts of the National Forest Foundation,” said Lori Singleton, Director of Emerging Customer Programs.

New Hope Mills Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy in New Hope Mills Gluten Free Chia Pancake and Waffle Mix

FDA Photo. Click for larger view.

FDA Photo. Click for larger view.

WASHINGTON – New Hope Mills Manufacturing of Auburn, NY is recalling all Gluten Free Chia Pancake and Waffle Mix because it may contain undeclared soy. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

New Hope Mills Gluten Free Chia Pancake and Waffle Mix was distributed to distributors and retailers in NY, PA, NH, OK, and FL.

The affected product, New Hope Mills Gluten Free Chia Pancake and Waffle Mix, can be identified as a 16 OZ bag in a boxboard box. The box itself is primarily red and white, and includes on the front of box, the New Hope Mills logo along with a picture of the Chia Pancakes. The UPC code on the box reads “07470353012”. The boxes affected will have one of the following “Best By Dates” on the bottom of the box: 11/13/2014, 11/14/2014, 2/26/2015, 7/29/2015, 10/4/2015, 12/13/2015

No illnesses have been reported to date.

New Hope Mills was contacted on 10/15/2014 by The Raymond-Hadley Corp., the Contract Manufacturer of New Hope Mills Gluten Free Chia Pancake and Waffle Mix. The Raymond-Hadley Corp. notified New Hope Mills that they had discovered that New Hope Mills Gluten Free Chia Pancake and Waffle Mix was made with an ingredient containing soy and was produced and distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of soy.

Consumers who have purchased New Hope Mills Gluten Free Chia Pancake and Waffle Mix are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 315-252-2676. Monday – Friday, 8am-4pm, EST.

Woods Canyon Fire 40% contained

Springerville – While the Slide Rock Fire is garnering much of the headlines, firefighters are also battling a human-caused blaze in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. The 88-acre Woods Canyon fire approximately 22 miles west of Heber Overgaard is said to be 40% contained as of yesterday.

Dozer and handlines have been created on the east and west sides of the fire. Crews are still battling spot fires on the north side. No structures or powerlines are threatened at this time.

Resources on the scene include a single engine air tanker, hotshot crew, two Type 3 helicopters, two Type 2 crews, one water tender, and several engines. Helicopters are dipping water from Woods Canyon Lake. No injuries have been reported.

All campgrounds in the Woods Canyon Lake area and the Woods Canyon store are open. Some parking in the area is closed to visitors while it is being used for fire logistics. The Rocky Point day use area is open.

To make matters worse, there are reports of lightning-caused fires in the Clifton Ranger district 5 miles NE of Clifton near Sunset Mountain, 13 miles NE of Clifton near Pat Mountain and 35 miles N of Clifton, 18 miles SW of Alpine. The largest of these is the Sunset Mountain at 20-50 acres and all were reported at 0% containment as of yesterday. The Sunset Mountain fire is being fought by a Hotshot crew and helicopter and the others are being worked on by local fire firefighting responders in the area. They are mainly brush fires in contrast to the pine fuels burning in the Slide Rock and Woods Canyon fires.

The Apache-Sitgreaves and counties in the area have initiated Stage II fire restrictions. This means not open fires of any kind, including charcoal fires, even in developed campgrounds. No smoking except in vehicles or buildings and no operation of internal combustion engines that might create sparks. The use of explosive targets or tracer ammunition is prohibited, but the use of firearms is not prohibited as reported by Phoenix television—though it is probably not a smart idea.

3 Bodies Found at Fort Hood (2 Children)

wpid-Flickr_-_The_U.S._Army_-_Ambulances_outside_Fort_Hoods_Soldier_Readiness_Processing_CenterMark Hastings; Universal Free Press
(CNN)—The bodies of three people, two of them children, were discovered at an on-base residence in Fort Hood, Texas, the Army said in a news release.

The bodies — one man and two children — were found about 8:15 a.m. ET, and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command has launched a probe, according to the release.

No further details were available, and the identifications of the deceased won’t be released until the next of kin is notified, the Army said.

Chris Grey, spokesman for the criminal investigation command, could not provide further details but said, “We do not believe there is any further threat to the community at this time.”

Bomb found in Arizona Apache Sitgreaves National Forest

On the 16th, a portion of the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest was closed when forest service workers found a pipe bomb.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office says Forest Service workers found a metal pipe bomb near some trees while conducting a survey Monday along a forest road west of the community of Forest Lakes.

The forest area was closed for about six-hours to allow the Flagstaff Police Department bomb personnel to remove the device and search the area.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Lurkins says the pipe bomb was next to a tree and there apparently had been a failed attempt to detonate it. There is no indication how long the device was there.

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