Category Archives: National Government

Locust Fire update: Continues to meet multiple objectives

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FREDONIA — Today the Locust Fire has increased to a little more than 200 acres. Weather continues to be a driving factor in helping fire managers determine the strategy for managing the fire for multiple objectives. Some of those objectives are: allowing natural fire to play its role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem, enhancing wildlife habitat, improving forest health, and reducing potential for uncharacteristic high-severity wildfires in future years.

Today’s movement tracked east, northeast with prevailing wind gusts from south, southwest up to 25 miles per hour. Despite windy conditions, crews completed prepping the perimeter and are masticating smaller fuels into chips, which have a lower fuel classification. The mastication increases the efficiency of the prep-work and provides for firefighter safety.

Fuel classification is part of the National Fire Danger Rating System, in which fuels possessing common characteristics are grouped. Dead fuels are grouped according to 1-, 10-, 100-, and 1000-hour intervals; the time it would take for fire to completely consume that fuel source.

“The Locust Fire is meeting our objectives and behaving the way that we anticipated, thanks to the planning and prepping that was done, which is keeping us well ahead of the game,” said Brandon Allen, Locust Fire Incident Commander trainee. Fire behavior today continued to grow at a steady but persistent rate; roughly 132-feet-per hour.

Tomorrow, fire crews plan to continue chipping fuels around designated perimeter roads and implementing firing operations when necessary for managing the fire.

Tomorrow’s weather forecast calls for continued hot and dry conditions. Fire activity may likely increase as fuels continue to dry out.

Locust Fire grows slowly; continues to benefit forest resources

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FREDONIA — The Locust Fire continues to slowly grow near Rainbow Rim Trail on the North Kaibab Ranger District. The lightning-caused fire is located 39 miles south-southeast of Fredonia, Ariz., and northeast of Locust Point. The fire is approximately 37 acres in size and forest officials are managing the fire for resource objectives.

Over the coming weeks, fire crews will manage the fire within a 3,283-acre boundary. Roads, trails, and ridges will help crews maintain low to moderate fire spread within the management area.

The objectives fire managers are working to achieve include returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing accumulated fuels on the forest floor, recycling nutrients into the soil, enhancing wildlife habitat, and protecting the area from future high-intensity wildland fires. To help accomplish these objectives, fire crews are removing vegetation around designated perimeter roads. These and other predefined locations are known as Management Action Points (MAPs) where actions will be taken to slow, redirect, or prevent fire spread, to accomplish stated objectives.

Fire activity consists of low and slow surface fire with four to eight inch flame lengths. The Locust Fire is spreading in all directions but mainly to the east-southeast. For those planning a trip to this area of the forest, please be cautious as smoke may be present in and around the Rainbow Rim Trail during the day and overnight.

The weather forecast shows warm and dry conditions. Fire activity will likely increase as fuels continue to dry in the fire area and smoke may be visible from Arizona Highway 67 and Highway 89A. No road closures are in effect. Motorists are reminded to exercise caution when in the area.

Locust Fire being managed on Kaibab National Forest

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FREDONIA — Like the Jolly Fire, the Locust fire is a lightning caused fire in the Kaibab National Forest. The Locust Fire is located approximately 39 miles south-southeast of Fredonia, Arizona northeast of Locust Point near the Rainbow Rim Trail. The fire was discovered by fire personnel on June 15 at approximately noon during an aerial reconnaissance flight.

North Zone fire managers met yesterday to discuss strategies for managing a second fire in the North Kaibab Ranger District, and the possible impacts this managed fire could potentially have on forest visitors.

They plan to allow it to burn to rid the forest of Pine litter, down woody debris and grass fuels. The planning area is bound by Forest Service Road (FSR) 214 on the north, FSR 206 on the east, FSR 293 on the south and FSR 250 on the west. The Rainbow Rim will not be closed during this managed fire, and fire managers are aware of the anticipated increase in visitor use during this weekend’s scheduled bike festival.

Smoke may be visible from FSR 22, FSR 206 and Arizona Highway 67, Highway 89A and the scenic vista viewpoints on the Rainbow Rim. No closures are currently anticipated.

Kaibab National Forest manages Jolly fire for multiple objectives

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FREDONIA — Lightning activity on the North Kaibab Ranger District over the weekend resulted in several small fires, one of which is the Jolly Fire.

The Jolly Fire is located approximately 3 miles south of Jacob Lake. The planning area is bound by Arizona Highway 67 on the west, Forest Service Road (FSR) 200 on the east and FSR 634 on the north. The fire is currently less than 1 acre. Fire managers plan to keep the Jolly Fire within predetermined boundaries, and if the fire grows to the maximum boundary area it will reach about 1,514 acres in size. Smoke may be visible from Arizona Highway 67 and Highway 89A.

On Monday, fire managers met to discuss the likelihood of managing the fire to allow the fire to function in its natural ecological role within defined boundaries and reduce Ponderosa pine, aspen, and pine litter fuels within the planned management area.

Benefits of the burn include restoration of a fire-adapted ecosystem, reduction of accumulated fuels on the forest floor, recycling of nutrients into the soil, protection of the greater area from future high-intensity wildland fires.

Currently, the fire is a slow-moving ground fire, and fire managers are considering managing the fire for resource benefits as weather and conditions allow. No road or trail closures are in effect, but hazard signs are posted and motorist should exercise caution.

Northern AZ land managers recognized for leadership in fire management

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WILLIAMS — Managers of both the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona were recently recognized for the leadership role they’ve played in managing wildland fire across the landscape and jurisdictional boundaries for the purpose of improving forest health conditions.

From the Kaibab National Forest, former Forest Supervisor Mike Williams, North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker, Tusayan District Ranger James Simino, and Williams District Ranger Danelle D. Harrison were honored with the “Excellence in Line Officer Commitment to Restoration of Fire Adapted Ecosystems” award by the Forest Service National Line Officers Team. The group award recognizes the efforts made by the leadership of the Kaibab National Forest in the restoration of forest ecosystems through the use of a variety of tools including wildfire, prescribed fire, and manual and mechanical fuel treatments.

“This group award represents well-deserved, national-level recognition of the significant work accomplished on a landscape scale by these line officers and by all the employees of the Kaibab National Forest,” said Art Gonzales, fire staff officer for the Kaibab. “These individuals have provided an unwavering level of support that has allowed the Kaibab National Forest and its employees to be national leaders in restoring fire-adapted ecosystems.”

In 2014, the Kaibab National Forest treated almost 29,000 acres with wildfire managed to achieve resource objectives, including the approximately 11,000-acre Sitgreaves Complex Fire that was active for two months in an area extremely visible by local communities and members of the visiting public. Of particular note, the Kaibab’s average cost per acre of wildfires managed to benefit forest resources was about $133 per acre, versus the average cost of $2,500 per acre for wildfire with a full suppression strategy. The forest also treated thousands of additional acres with prescribed fire and various vegetation treatments.

From Grand Canyon National Park, Superintendent Dave Uberuaga was the recipient of the “Superintendent Fire Management Achievement Award” from the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service. The award is given annually to an Intermountain Region park superintendent who actively supports and is fully engaged with their unit’s fire management program.

“Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most complex programs within the agency both in terms of park and fire management,” read the letter to Uberuaga announcing his selection for the award. “The park has recognized that wildland fire is an integral part of the landscape. … Without your leadership the 2014 fire season would not have been as successful as it was.”

During the 2014 season, the park managed both the Kanabownits and Galahad fires over an extended period of time and had identified large planning areas for the potential expansion of the fires. Also noted in the award citation were Grand Canyon National Park’s mechanical and prescribed fire applications used to manage vegetation, and the Slopes Prescribed Fire project on the North Rim that was highlighted for its role in enhancing the park’s ability to better manage large fires in mixed conifer fuels in the future.

“Dave is very deserving of this recognition,” said Jay Lusher, chief of fire and aviation for Grand Canyon National Park. “He takes a hands-on approach with our fire program by making the time to interact and engage with crews on the ground during fire operations. To me, this instills confidence and camaraderie and allows for shared vision and purpose as we implement projects.”

Not only do Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park share borders both north and south of the canyon, but the managers of each share a commitment to restoring fire-adapted ecosystems on a landscape scale and providing the leadership necessary to accomplish that important work.

The forest and park work together daily across jurisdictional boundaries on a variety of projects and even share a fire management organization on the north side. The North Zone Fire Management organization includes personnel from both the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

“Managing fire on a landscape scale and across administrative boundaries is key to building resiliency throughout the ecosystem,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker, who was one of the recipients of the Forest Service award. “Together, we can maintain and build resilient landscapes; help protect the public, nearby communities and important infrastructure; and create a safe, effective and appropriate response to wildfire.”

Kaibab National Forest archaeologist honored with statewide award

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neil-weintraubWILLIAMS — A Kaibab National Forest archaeologist was recently recognized with a prestigious statewide award in public archaeology by the Arizona Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Commission.

Neil Weintraub, zone archaeologist for the Williams and Tusayan ranger districts, was named the 2015 “Professional Archaeologist” of the year by the commission for his significant contributions to the protection and preservation of, and education about, Arizona’s non-renewable archaeological resources.

“Neil’s commitment to public archaeology and education goes way beyond what is required of a federal archaeologist,” said Ann Howard, deputy state historic preservation officer and the person who nominated Weintraub for the award. “His dedication, commitment and enjoyment of sharing the stewardship message and ethic with the public make him stand out.”

Weintraub has been an archaeologist with Kaibab National Forest for 25 years. As part of his duties, he surveys National Forest lands for cultural resources, identifies and documents the sites that are discovered, and then ensures they are monitored and protected.

The Kaibab National Forest is particularly rich in historically and culturally significant resources, with more than 10,000 archaeological sites recorded on the forest. These historic properties, which Weintraub has helped locate and manage over his quarter-century-long tenure, are related to a long history of human occupation and use of the Kaibab National Forest dating back at least 12,000 years.

But it was for much more than his standard job duties that Weintraub was singled out by the Arizona Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Commission for excellence. Weintraub provides dozens of outreach and interpretive programs annually, reaching hundreds of people, including children, with his stewardship message. He also oversees many of Kaibab National Forest’s volunteer partners including Grinnell College interns, Arizona Site Stewards, rock art researchers, Passport in Time participants, and individual volunteers, who contribute thousands of hours each year toward the management, protection, documentation and interpretation of heritage resources across the forest.

“Given our challenging multiple use mission, protecting and preserving these sites would be nearly impossible if it were not for the relationships and mutual trust that have been built with our partners over many years,” Weintraub said. “We have countless examples in which permittees, seasonal employees, volunteers, local residents or others have told us about previously undiscovered sites. We investigate their discoveries by walking the landscape with them and having them help us with archaeological documentation. Forging these relationships has always brought mutual benefits, as I have often learned more from them than they do from me. Most importantly we have all those extra eyes helping us protect and preserve these ancient, fragile places.”

Weintraub’s contributions go beyond even cultural resource preservation, though, to a broader commitment to community, which Howard made sure to point out in her nomination of him. Specifically, she included Weintraub’s long-term work as a volunteer with the northern Arizona’s Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. She described how he always finds ways to get the youth involved in the program interested in Arizona’s precious past.

“Neil has a never-ceasing enthusiasm for raising the awareness of the citizens of Arizona, especially the children,” Howard said. “Making children sensitive to the fragility of our state’s non-renewable heritage resources is absolutely critical to the future protection and preservation of Arizona’s cultural resources.”

Weintraub was presented with his award in mid-May at an awards luncheon in Flagstaff as part of the 2015 Arizona Historic Preservation Conference.

Fire Managers plan for pile burn near Jacob Lake Lookout Tower

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FREDONIA — Taking advantage of the recent moisture, North Zone fire managers will continue to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health by conducting a pile burn as early as today on the North Kaibab Ranger District.

Forest visitors should be aware that the planned 8-acre treatment area will be located around the Jacob Lake Lookout Tower along Highway 67. Fire managers expect the piles to consume quickly with little to no smoke impacts expected to the surrounding area. However for the safety of forest visitors, “Smoke Ahead” signs will be posted, and ignitions are expected to be completed by 3 p.m.

As with all prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest, this burn 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 for any given day, visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

For additional information regarding the North Kaibab Ranger District pile burns, contact the North Zone Fuels Specialist, Dave Robinson, at (928) 643-8138.

Marine veteran bicycles through Williams to benefit charity

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marine-640-15-06-05-02

marine-640-15-06-05-01WILLIAMS — Last Friday, June 5, Air Force veteran, Detective Bob McCarty, escorted Marine veteran Toran Gaal through Williams on his bicycle trek to Arlington. His mantra is, The only limits in life are those we set on ourselves.

Toran left San Diego Monday June 1 followed in the chase car by Brian Reilly with the goal of reaching Arlington, Virginia in 52-days. You can follow the ride at Toran’s web site or on Twitter.

Both men are amputees from Afghanistan, but Torin does not concentrate on that. He meets in competition, surfs, does public speaking tours and even finds time to coach basketball.

On the ride he carries two flags. The American flag; the symbol of the freedom for which he fought. The other is the Marine Corps flag which represents him—the Marine. In his continuing service to the Marine Corp, this ride is to benefit the Semper Fi Fund.

Reforestation efforts continue on North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — Together North Kaibab Ranger District personnel and a crew from MP Forestry Inc., from Medford, Oregon, were able to take advantage of this winter’s relatively light snow pack and reasonably mild weather to successfully replant another 485 acres of ponderosa pine seedlings in the Warm V project area that was severely damaged by the 2006 Warm Fire.

During a 3-week window in late spring, crews replanted approximately 100,000 seedlings, made possible in part by a $12,200 grant from the American Forests’ Global ReLeaf program, a program dedicated to restoring forest ecosystems.

“This is a multi-phase reforestation effort with many facets that must be accomplished,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “Seeds must be harvested, grown, and the area salvage logged before any seedlings actually go in the ground.”

Salvage logging this project area and then replanting has been a high priority for the North Kaibab Ranger District. Logging the salvageable wood reduces the volume of potential fuel loads on the ground that could potentially pose a wildfire re-burn risk.

In addition to salvage logging, seeds must be harvested. Seeds for this reforestation effort were harvested from the Kaibab Plateau in 2009, grown at the Cal Forestry Nursery in northern California, and returned to the North Kaibab and stored in a large cooler where they were kept frozen until conditions favored their survivability.

“These replanting efforts are crucial to helping speed the recovery of this project area by reestablishing the native trees and creating a seed source for natural regeneration,” said North Kaibab Silviculturist Garry Domis.

Reforestation efforts will also help to stabilize sensitive soils, reduce erosion and provide improved habitat for wildlife, according to Domis.

To date, more than 5,000 acres have been reforested since this recovery project began, more than one million ponderosa pine and Douglas fir seedlings have been replanted, and this year’s reforestation project is the fifth replanting endeavor in the Warm Fire project area.

Over the last five years, this reforestation effort has been made possible through grants provided by the National Forest Foundation, American Forest Foundation, Salt River Project Trees for Change program, and the National Bank of Arizona’s Sustainable Initiatives program.

Bill to allow automatic restoration of voting rights introduced

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Frederica Wilson, D-FL24

Frederica Wilson, D-FL24

WASHINGTON — Representative Frederica Wilson of Florida introduced H.R. 1556 to allow non-violent felons to vote.

The bill would not allow the denial or abridgement of voting rights of U.S. citizens who commit non-violent criminal offenses once released. The bill excepts those currently incarcerated. The Attorney General would establish a list of felonies considered non-violent under federal and State laws.

If the individual is released on probation, their right to vote would begin at the end of probation if the probation is less than a year. If the person is on probation for more than a year, then their voting right would be automatically restored one year from the date probation began.

The law would establish notification requirements for prisons and jails. A State, local government or other person would not be allowed to receive federal funds to construct or improve, “…a place of incarceration unless that person has in effect a program under which each incarcerated individual is notified, upon release, of his or her rights under this Act.”

The bill only allows for voting in federal elections and does not affect State laws. Arizona Revised Statute 13-905 outlines the procedure for restoration of civil rights which begins at the end of any probation period after incarceration.

The bill, of course, does not go far enough. It does not allow the automatic restoration of Second Amendment rights for the same non-violent offenses.