Category Archives: National Government

North Zone fire managers plan for Tipover Unit

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FREDONIA – North Zone fire managers on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park plan to conduct additional hazardous fuels reduction treatments within the Tipover East prescribed fire burn unit as early as Tuesday.

Fire managers anticipate treating between 1,000 to 3,000 acres pending favorable weather conditions and resource availability with the goal of reducing the dead and downed woody fuels by 30 to 60 percent. Currently, fuel loading through much of the unit can be characterized as moderate to heavy with approximately 36 to 55 tons per acre and averaging approximately 40 tons per acre across the entire unit. To date fire managers have treated more than 6,000 acres in the last few weeks.

“Over the past month we have accomplished a lot of prescribed burning; we are very pleased with the results we have seen so far. Overall fuel loadings within the treated areas have been reduced, wildlife habitat is being protected and enhanced, we are moving towards desired conditions that promote healthy forests, and we have continued to return fire to our fired adapted ecosystems,” said North Zone Fuels Specialist Dave Robinson.

The total Tipover East project area is 10,296 acres in size, but the entire project area will not be burned at once. Fire managers have divided the project area into separate burn units that will be treated over the next 3 to 5 years. It is located on a strip of forested land along the boundary of Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest west of Highway 67 and is bound by FS 223 on the north, portions of FS 270 and Highway 67 on the east, the 2003 Poplar fire history area on the south, and portions of the NPS-W4, FS 268B and FS 268 roads on the west.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed fire burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area. Smoke is expected to be visible from Highway 89A, Highway 67, Marble Canyon and other high-use visitor areas. However, fire managers will strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. Smoke is expected to disperse during the daytime, but residual smoke may settle into drainages and low-lying areas overnight. Fire managers will only commence ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to adequately ventilate.

As a reminder, implementation of prescribed fires is dependent on weather and fuel conditions including winds, temperature, humidity, moisture of the vegetation and ventilation conditions for dispersal of smoke, as well as prior coordination with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. 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/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management.

Nutrisystem Retail Division Voluntarily Recalls One Product Containing Chocolate Cookie Dough Pieces

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nutrisystem-1Fort Washington, PA – Nutrisystem Everyday, LLC, the retail division of Nutrisystem, Inc., is voluntarily recalling the Nutricrush Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar, manufactured by Noble Foods, Inc. This bar contains a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient supplied by a third party supplier, which advised that its ingredient might potentially contain Listeria monocytogenes.

The product had very limited distribution of 1 lot/455 cases to ShopRite and Hannaford stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and online through Amazon.com and Walmart.com. No other code dates of this product or other Nutrisystem® products in retail are affected. No Nutrisystem ‘direct to consumer’ product is impacted in any way.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

This voluntary recall covers the Nutrisystem Nutricrush Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar. The bar was sold as a 5-count carton. The product can be identified by the UPC 6 32674 85579 4, Enjoy by Aug 22 2017 and Lot Code NF082216A. All code information is found on the back panel of the carton.

Nutrisystem is initiating this recall out of an abundance of caution. This recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Consumers should not eat the recalled product. Consumers may discard the product or return it to the ShopRite or Hannaford from where it was purchased for a full refund. Twenty-four customers of Amazon.com and Walmart.com have already been identified, instructed to discard the product, and will be issued a refund. No illnesses have been reported.

We continue to work closely with regulatory agencies, and remain committed to ensuring we are providing safe products for our consumers to enjoy. Consumers seeking information may call toll-free 1-866-293-8118, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., and 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Eastern Daylight Time.

Members of the news media requiring more information should contact Robin McConnell Shallow at 215-346-8068 or via email at rshallow@nutrisystem.com.

Kaibab National Forest prescribed fire projects to continue through the week

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300-16-10-13WILLIAMS — Fire managers with the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest plan to conduct two large prescribed fire projects over the next two weeks beginning today south of Williams and then moving to Pitman Valley west of Parks.

The first of the two prescribed fire projects to be implemented will be the McCracken Project, which is located east and west of County Road 73 between Coleman Lake and Barney Knoll about 6 miles south of Williams. Fire managers plan to treat 2,532 acres with aerial ignition using a helicopter. They anticipate ignitions over three days beginning tomorrow and continuing through Saturday.

Smoke from the McCracken Project is likely to be noticeable near Dogtown Lake, Sherwood Forest Estates, Pitman Valley, Parks, and Bellemont. While major smoke impacts are not anticipated in Williams, it is possible that smoke will be visible from the community and from Interstate 40.

Fire managers had planned to begin treatment of the McCracken Project area Monday but had to postpone due to precipitation received Saturday that increased fuel moistures to levels not conducive for achieving optimal fire effects. A few days of drying have created conditions that are once again ideal for treatment of this area.

If conditions remain favorable following completion of the McCracken Project, fire managers will move to the Green Base Project located in Pitman Valley just west of Parks to begin prescribed fire operations. About 14,181 acres are scheduled to be treated in this area, which is north of Interstate 40, south of Bald Mountain, and west of Spitz Hill. Fire managers plan to use a helicopter to complete aerial ignitions on the burn unit over several days, likely from Sunday through all of next week. Smoke from the Green Base Project is expected to be visible from Interstate 40, Spring Valley, Highway 180, Kendrick Park, and possibly the northern portions of Flagstaff.

Kaibab National Forest fire managers have a number of other prescribed fires planned for fall and winter on each of its three ranger districts depending on fuel moistures and weather conditions. Public notification will be provided prior to the implementation of additional projects.

Fire plays a beneficial role in maintaining the ecological stability of many landscapes, including the Kaibab National Forest. Managers use prescribed fire as a practical means to reduce risks associated with uncharacteristic wildfires that can pose significant threats to public health and safety.

Forest managers recognize that prescribed fires may create negative impacts to air quality at times. However, these efforts, which are essential to restoring forests in a fire-adapted ecosystem, can also significantly reduce the amount and limit the duration of smoke impacts associated with uncontrolled wildfire situations in the future. In order to minimize smoke impacts to businesses and residences during prescribed fires, managers closely monitor wind direction and ventilation and adjust operations accordingly.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed fires as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be present.

All prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest 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 https://www.azdeq.gov/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management.

Additional fire information for the 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 Massage – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Nestlé USA Initiates Voluntary Recall Of Nestlé® Drumstick® Club 16 Count Variety and 24 Count Vanilla Pack

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ucm524635Glendale, CA — Nestlé USA, Inc. is initiating a voluntary recall of its Nestlé Drumstick Club 16 count Variety Pack and 24 count Vanilla Pack (with cones marked for easy individual sale) due to a possible health risk. The two pack sizes contain 4.6 fl.oz. cones and were manufactured in Bakersfield, Calif. and distributed nationally. No other production codes, sizes or varieties of Nestlé Drumstick products are affected by this recall.

The company received positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes (LM) from equipment contact surfaces from a location on the production line where these products are made. There have been no positive test results for LM present in the Drumstick cones themselves. The products impacted by the voluntary recall were put into distribution inadvertently. No illnesses have been reported to date; the company is initiating this recall as a precautionary action to avoid any potential for consumer illness.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The Nestlé recall is limited to the Drumstick Club 16 Count Variety Pack and 24 count Vanilla Pack, made at the company’s Bakersfield, Calif. ice cream production facility. The product identification codes can be found on the back of the packages and on the individually marked vanilla cones from the 24 count pack. The two packs being recalled carry distinct UPC codes, as well as a “best before” date and production code.

Description

Production Code

UPC

Best Before Date

DSTK Club CP 16×4.6floz US

 6244580212 72554-11096

Between June 2 – June 15, 2017
6245580212
6246580212
6247580212
6248580212
6249580212
6250580212
6251580212
6252580212
6253580212
6254580212
6255580212
6256580212
6257580212

DSTK Vanilla 24×4.6floz US

 6258580212

72554-00160

Between June 16 – June 19, 2017
6259580212
6260580212
6261580212

Consumers who may have purchased the product listed above should not consume it, but instead should return it to the place of purchase or contact Nestlé Consumer Services for replacement. Please call or text 1-800-681-1676 or email Nestleproductinquiry@casupport.com; representatives are available 24/7. News about this recall also can be found on Nestléusa.com and Drumstick.com.

The quality and safety of Nestlé products remain our number one priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this action represents for both our consumers and retail customers.

Blue Bunny Hoppin’ Hollidoodle Ice Cream Voluntary Recall

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bluebunny524818Le Mars, Iowa — Wells Enterprises, Inc. is voluntarily recalling two lots of Blue Bunny Hoppin’ Holidoodle ice cream sold at retail outlets, because they contain snickerdoodle cookie dough pieces recalled by the supplier, Aspen Hills, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Wells has received no reports of illness attributable to this product.

Only Hoppin’ Holidoodle ice cream with the following lot numbers and best if used by dates are included in this recall. The recalled product is a seasonal holiday flavor with very limited geographic distribution in six states. Consumers should check the side of their ice cream packages to check for the following lot numbers and best if used by dates:

Product Name Size UPC, Lot #, Best Used by Date States Distributed
Blue Bunny Hoppin’
Holidoodle
Ice Cream		 46 fluid ounces  UPC 070640014644
LOT 60001 MM 19115 6228
BEST IF USED BY 02/13/18
UPC 070640014651
(High altitude)
LOT 60001 MM 19115 6229
BEST IF USED BY 02/14/18		 NE, OK, KS, MO, AZ,TX

No other Blue Bunny product is included in this recall.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Consumers with product matching lot numbers and best if used by dates should return the products to the retail outlets where purchased for a full refund. Anyone requiring more information should telephone Wells Enterprises, Inc. consumer affairs at 1-800-331-0830.

Mars Petcare US Announces Voluntary Recall of Limited Number of CESAR® Classics Filet Mignon Flavor Wet Dog Food

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caeser524703Franklin, Tennessee — Today, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of CESAR® Classics Filet Mignon Flavor product due to a potential choking risk from hard white pieces of plastic which entered the food during the production process. CESAR® Classics Filet Mignon can be purchased individually, as well as, in flavor variety multipacks. The Lot Codes listed below are the only affected products. All other CESAR® products can be safely consumed.

We encourage consumers who have purchased affected product to discard the food or return it to the retailer for a full refund or exchange. While a small number of consumers have reported finding the plastic pieces, to date, we have not received any reports of injury or illness associated with the affected product. The lot codes indicated below should not be sold or consumed.

Affected product was distributed to retail customers throughout the United States. Mars Petcare US is working with all of our distributors and retailers to ensure that the recalled products are no longer sold and are removed from inventory.

Recalled Pet Food

Two lot codes of CESAR® Classics Filet Mignon Flavor wet dog food with the production codes shown below are included in this voluntary recall. Each product will have a lot code printed on side of the tray that begins with 631FKKC, 631GKKC. A Best Before date 080418 (August 4, 2018) and 080518 (August 5, 2018).

The CESAR® Classics Filet Mignon Flavor can be found in variety packs with the following lot codes:

632D14JC, 633B24JC, 634A14JC, 634A24JC, 634B14JC, 634B24JC, 634E14JC, 635A24JC, 635B14JC, 636D24JC, 636E14JC

At Mars Petcare US, we take our responsibility to pets and their owners seriously. Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 800-421-6456 between the hours of Saturday, October 8, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm CST and Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm CST or visit https://www.cesar.com/notice.

Vascular Solutions, Inc. Issues Recall of Twin-Pass® Dual Access Catheters

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On September 16, 2016, Vascular Solutions, Inc., initiated a nationwide recall of Twin-Pass Dual Access catheters used in catheterization procedures. All unexpired lots of the product have been recalled because there is a potential for excess manufacturing material to remain at the tip of the catheter or within the distal portion of the rapid exchange lumen. It is possible that the excess material may separate from the catheter during use and pose a potential risk of embolism, which could result in serious injury or death. No injuries have been reported in association with this issue to date.

Healthcare facilities that have the affected Twin-Pass dual access catheters should remove the products from their inventory and return them to Vascular Solutions.

The recalled products were manufactured from October 2014 to August 2016 and distributed from October 2014 to September 2016.

The recalled products are all unexpired lots of Model Numbers 5200, 5210, and 5230. A listing of the recalled lots is available from Vascular Solutions and has been provided to each facility that purchased the affected products. A total of 15,896 devices have been manufactured, with 5,784 distributed in the United States and currently unexpired. The condition that led to the recall may affect approximately 9.2% of recalled devices.

Vascular Solutions, Inc. voluntarily initiated the recall on September 16, 2016 through an Urgent Medical Device Recall notification distributed to purchasers of the affected products. The notification identified the specific unexpired lots subject to the recall and included instructions on how to return the affected products.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified this as a Class I recall. FDA defines Class I recalls as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Consumers with questions may contact the company by phone at 1-888-240-6001 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central Time or by email at customerservice@vasc.com. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program Online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm (form available to fax (1-800-FDA-0178) or mail), or you may call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 to request a reporting form.

Kraft Heinz Recalls Ready-To-Eat Lunchables Ham and American Cracker Stackers

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lunch-1WASHINGTON D.C. — Kraft Heinz Company, a Fullerton, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 959 pounds of ready-to-eat “Lunchables Ham and American Cracker Stackers” packaged lunch products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains wheat and soy, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.

The ready-to-eat meat and cheese packaged lunch items were produced on September 21, 2016. The following products are subject to recall:

3.4-oz. boxes containing four-compartment plastic trays of “Lunchables Ham and American Cracker Stackers,” with a “USE BY” date of 25 DEC 2016 and production times ranging from 9:13 to 10:00 stamped on the side of the plastic container.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 537K” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Utah and California.
lunch-2
lunch-3
The problem was discovered on October 6, 2016, when the firm received a consumer complaint. There were no illnesses associated with the complaint.

The establishment determined that the “Lunchables Ham and American Cracker Stackers” products were incorrectly labeled with the back label for a “Nacho Lunchable” product. The back label contains the product ingredient statements and as such, the “Lunchables Ham and American Cracker Stackers” products that were mislabeled do not declare wheat and soy on the label.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact the Kraft Heinz Consumer Relations Center, at 1-800-573-3877. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Lynne Gaila, Corporate Affairs Director, Kraft Heinz Company, at (847) 646-4396 or lynne.galia@kraftheinzcompany.com.

Kaibab National Forest prescribed fire projects to begin south of Williams

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WILLIAMS —Fire managers with the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest plan to conduct two prescribed fire projects south of Williams beginning Monday, Oct. 10, and continuing through next week.

The first of the two prescribed fire projects to be implemented will be the McCracken East Project, which is located east of County Road 73 near Barney Knoll 6 miles south of Williams. About 839 acres are scheduled to be treated using hand ignition with drip torches over two days. Smoke from the McCracken East Project is likely to be noticeable near Dogtown Lake, Sherwood Forest Estates, Pittman Valley, Parks, and Bellemont. While major smoke impacts are not anticipated in Williams, it is possible that smoke will be visible from the community and from Interstate 40.

If conditions remain favorable following completion of the McCracken East Project, fire managers will move slightly west to treat about 1,693 acres in the McCracken West Project, which is located just west of County Road 73 in the vicinity of Ham Tank and Kunde Knoll 7 miles south of Williams. Smoke impacts from the McCracken West Project are expected to be similar to those of McCracken East. Fire managers plan to use a helicopter to complete aerial ignitions on the burn unit over two days.

Kaibab National Forest fire managers have a number of other prescribed fires planned for fall and winter depending on fuel moistures and weather conditions. Following implementation of the McCracken projects, they will consider other locations on the Williams Ranger District to complete similar fuels reduction efforts. Public notification will be provided prior to the implementation of additional projects.

Fire plays a beneficial role in maintaining the ecological stability of many landscapes, including the Kaibab National Forest. Managers use prescribed fire as a practical means to reduce risks associated with uncharacteristic wildfires that can pose significant threats to public health and safety.

Forest managers recognize that prescribed fires may create negative impacts to air quality at times. However, these efforts, which are essential to restoring forests in a fire-adapted ecosystem, can also significantly reduce the amount and limit the duration of smoke impacts associated with uncontrolled wildfire situations in the future. In order to minimize smoke impacts to businesses and residences during prescribed fires, managers closely monitor wind direction and ventilation and adjust operations accordingly.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed fires as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be present.

All prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest 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 https://www.azdeq.gov/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management.

Additional fire information for the 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 Massage – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

North Zone fire managers plan for additional treatments ahead

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FREDONIA — In the last two weeks, firefighters from the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service have worked together as the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program to successfully complete more than 4,000 acres of hazardous fuels reduction treatments on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. This week fire managers continue to track conditions for additional treatments within the Kaibab Plateau.

These hazardous fuels reduction treatments may start as early as Thursday beginning with the Jacob Ryan Lobo Unit if weather and fuel conditions remain favorable and extend into prescribed fire operations on the Tipover East Unit.

Jacob Ryan Lobo Unit (Lobo Rx): The unit is 1,952 acres and is bound by a series of dozer lines connecting Forest Service Road (FS) 248G, FS 636A, FS 636, FS 248, and FS 247 on the north, FS 248V to FS 248 to FS 248A on the south, FS 247 on the east, and FS 248A on the west.

Fuels within the Lobo prescribed fire burn unit are predominantly ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, juniper and a few scattered clumps of aspen. New Mexico locust and cliff rose can also be found throughout the project area, and goals include protecting human life and improvements, expediting the development of Northern goshawk habitat, increasing resilience to insects, disease and wildfire, and increasing the overall forest health and sustainability by returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem.

Tipover East Unit (Tipover East Rx): The total Tipover East project area is 10,296 acres in size, but the entire project area will not be burned at once. Fire managers have divided the project area into separate burn units that will be treated over the next three to five years. They are focusing on approximately 3,500 acres for this season. The total unit covers a strip of forested land along the boundary of Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest west of Highway 67 and is bound by FS 223 on the north, portions of FS 270 and Highway 67 on the east, the 2003 Poplar fire history area on the south, and portions of the NPS-W4, FS 268B and FS 268 roads on the west.

Fuels within the Tipover East prescribed fire burn unit are primarily a mixed conifer forest with occasional patches of spruce-fir forest, aspen forest, ponderosa pine forest, and grasslands. Fuel loading through much of the unit can be characterized as moderate to heavy, approximately 36 to 55 tons per acre with an average of about 40 tons per acre across the entire unit. One objective within the Tipover East burn unit is to reduce these dead and downed woody fuels by 30 to 60 percent.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed fire burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area. Smoke is expected to be visible from Highway 89A, Highway 67, Marble Canyon and other high-use visitor areas; however, fire managers will strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. Smoke is expected to disperse during the daytime, but residual smoke may settle into drainages and low-lying areas overnight. However, it is expected to dissipate quickly as fire managers will only commence ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to adequately ventilate.

As a reminder, implementation of prescribed fires is dependent on weather and fuel conditions including winds, temperature, humidity, moisture of the vegetation and ventilation conditions for dispersal of smoke, as well as prior coordination with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. 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.

Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns will be provided regularly throughout the season. Additional information on current and upcoming North Kaibab Ranger District 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
· InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5021/