02-639
Katmai National Park & Preserve (AK)
Ranger/Pilot Tom O'Hara Killed in Plane Crash
Ranger/pilot Tom O'Hara, 41, was killed on Thursday, December 19,
when his plane went down on the tundra east of Upper Ugashik Lake. His
passenger, Corey Adler, 30, a biologist for the Fish and Wildlife
Service, survived the crash and is hospitalized in Anchorage in stable
condition. The two flew out of King Salmon on Thursday to conduct a
moose tracking survey in Alaska Peninsula NWR. When they failed to
return in accordance with their flight plan, the Rescue Coordination
Center dispatched an Alaska Air National Guard C-130 and a Coast Guard
UH-60 helicopter to search for them. At first light on Friday, fourteen
single-engine aircraft and a helicopter flew out of King Salmon in
search efforts coordinated by the NPS, Fish and Wildlife Service and
Alaska State Troopers. Most were piloted by volunteers and friends of
Tom, who was a life-long resident of the Bristol Bay area. The crash
site was found late in the afternoon, and Adler was evacuated to Naknek.
A joint investigation is being conducted by state troopers and officials
from NTSB, FAA and OAS. Tom O'Hara had logged over 11,000 hours as a
pilot in command. He had a dozen years of service as a commercial pilot
in the Bristol area, and had provided aerial support for Katmai and Lake
Clark NP's, Alagnak Wild River, Aniakchak NM, and other Department of
Interior agencies. Tom was a dedicated employee, son, husband, father,
and community member. His passions were his family, flying, and
stewardship of the resources and lifestyle of rural Alaska. Tom was
active in his community of Naknek-King Salmon where he grew up. He was
the assistant wrestling coach for the junior high and high school team,
and was active in his church at all levels, most notably flying children
to bible camps. His co-workers describe him as energetic and exuberant.
He provided a strong link between the residents of Bristol Bay and the
National Park Service which will be missed. Tom is survived by his wife,
Lucy, and their three young children. Memorial services in celebration
of his extraordinary life will be held on Friday, December 27, in
Naknek. His family asks that donations be made in lieu of flowers to a
memorial fund in Tom's name for his children. Donations can be made to
Tom O'Hara Memorial Fund, Wells Fargo, King Salmon Alaska branch,
Account # 5198027038, Routing # 125200057. Letters of condolences can be
sent to Lucy O'Hara, PO Box 252, King Salmon, AK 99613. At the request
of the family, uniforms are optional at the service. No defensive
equipment is to be worn. The uniform of the day is service winter dress,
with outer wear recommended.
UPDATE, 11:30 a.m. EST,
12/23
The following message has been issued by
Deputy Director Murphy regarding attendance at the funeral:
"Last
week, the National Park Service lost Tom O'Hara, one of its finest, in
the line of duty as a result of an aviation accident. Tom was a
protection ranger and pilot at Katmai National Park and
Preserve.
"Arrangements are being made to have former Katmai
National Park and Preserve employees, who are also close family friends,
represent all of the regions at the memorial service in Alaska. To date,
this involves employees currently located in the Pacific West,
Intermountain and Midwest Regions. I am authorizing their attendance
using regional funds. In addition, each park in the Alaska region will
be represented. If additional employees of the National Park Service
wish to attend, please contact Karen Weerheim at 907-257-2687 for
information on what commercial air services might be available. It is
anticipated that there may be transportation logistical
difficulties.
"Additional details, including an address for
condolence letters and a memorial donation account, can be found in
InsideNPS and the Morning Report. Thank you for the support of Tom's
family, the park, and the National Park Service
family."
[Submitted by Joe Fowler]
02-640
Cape Cod National Seashore (MA)
Man Sentenced for Dumping Toxic Mercury in Park
On December 17, M.R., 45, of Brewster, Massachusetts, was
sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty last September to
illegally disposing of hazardous waste in the park without a permit, a
violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. M.R. was
sentenced to three years' probation, with the first six months to be
served in home confinement, and ordered to pay the NPS $10,000 in
restitution. M.R. was employed as the golf course superintendent at
the Chequessett Yacht and Country Club in Wellfleet. On April 4, 2000,
he disposed of a four-pound bag of Calo-Gran, a mercury-based fungicide,
by dumping it in a deserted location near the sixth fairway - a segment
of land owned by the park. The fungicide contained concentrations of
mercury far in excess of permitted levels. The case would have gone
nowhere if chief of resource management Nancy Finley had not questioned
an initial analysis of mercury levels submitted by a private
environmental firm that were below established reporting limits. Finley,
a toxicologist who used to work on superfund site cleanups, conducted
another analysis that showed a level of mercury contamination ten times
higher than the established reporting levels. The case was investigated
by special agent Bill Hooper.
[Submitted by Bill Hooper,
Special Agent]
02-641
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (PA)
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident
C.R., 18, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, died from
injuries sustained in a two-car accident on Route 209 just north of
Bushkill around 10:40 p.m. on the night of Saturday, December 21.
M.M., a passenger in C.R.'s Accura, is in critical but
stable condition in a hospital in Bethlehem. Four teenagers in the other
vehicle were treated at a local hospital and released. Both cars were
heading north on 209. C.R.'s car left the road at a very high rate of
speed, flipped over as it literally flew through some trees, traveled
several hundred feet through the air, and landed upside down on the
highway. C.R. and M.M. were both ejected. The second vehicle then
hit their vehicle. Rangers are conducting an investigation.
[Submitted by Karl Merchant, Acting Chief Ranger]
02-642
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Drug Seizure
Rangers stopped a 2002 Nissan Xterra pulling a box trailer on
December 17. Although the registration came back as a white Nissan
Xterra, the vehicle identification number (VIN) did not match. A check
of the VIN revealed that the truck was stolen. All three occupants were
taken into custody at gunpoint. The trailer was registered to one of the
passengers. A hidden compartment inside contained 29 packages of
marijuana weighing just over 463 pounds. D.L., 53, B.W.,
27, and J.N., 21, all of Avondale, Arizona, face charged of
possession of narcotics and a stolen vehicle. Assisting agencies
included Customs and the Border Patrol.
[Submitted by Bo
Stone, Park Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
Update on Center Projects
The Lessons Learned Center, an interagency resource center for the wildland fire professional, continues to develop, providing firefighters with in formation in both the field and classroom. Recent developments include the following:
- The new Lessons Learned Center website was launched on November 1. Visit the site at http://www.wildfirelessons.net. Among the features on the home page are the center library, a growing collection of wildland fire information including research, studies, periodicals, and reviews. A site search will assist you in locating specific information.
- The second issue of Scratchline, a quarterly lessons learned newsletter, has just been released. It can be viewed at http:// www.wildfirelessons.net/Scratchline/fall2002.pdf. Feature articles include "Lessons Learned - Driving and Wildland Fires." The winter edition will highlight crew lessons. If you have any ideas on possible inclusions, please contact the center.
- Approximately 80 after incident reports (AIR) on lessons learned have been submitted to the center this season. The center continues to use the information to share lessons learned and best practices with the field. Learning Curve and Scratchline are two publications used to update the wildland fire community with lessons learned and best practices to help improve safe work performance. Please continue to submit AIR's for any Type 1 to Type 5 incident, wildland fire use or prescribed burn. The information still has value and can be included in upcoming publications or posted on the website. Remember to also include any innovative work practices or job aids that can be used by others.
- Four lessons learned information collection teams interviewed overhead teams, line overhead and crews this summer on three wildland fires and on one district. The teams collected information on lessons learned, best practices and a variety of current issues. Highlights from interviews at the Tiller-Umpqua Complex in Oregon appear in the new Scratchline.
- Dave Christenson joined the center as the assistant center manager in late September. Dave brings strong skills in website and database development.
Additional updates will appear in future Morning
Reports.
[Submitted by Paula Nasiatka, Lessons Learned
Center]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
GS-0303-4 Visitor Use Assistant
The park is recruiting for a permanent, mixed tour, GS-0303-4 visitor
use assistant for its Rincon Mountain District, and would like to
hear from any current career or career-conditional VUA's interested in a
lateral transfer reassignment. They are also considering individuals
eligible for consideration under special appointing authorities,
including reinstatement, veteran's readjustment appointments (VRA), 30%
compensable disabled veterans, Peace Corp/VISTA, handicapped, student
temporary employment program (STEP) and student career experience
program (SCEP). Saguaro borders Tucson, Arizona. The Tucson area has a
rich cultural heritage and unique blend of Native-American, Spanish,
Mexican and Anglo-American influences. The Sonoran Desert is blessed
with an unsurpassed climate, including 360 sunny days a year. Abundant
recreational and educational opportunities exist. If you're interested
in working at a great park, please contact fee program manager Rena Bob
at 520-733-5121, or chief ranger Bob Love at 520-733-5110.
[Submitted by Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Several Permanent GS-9 Ranger Positions
The park is seeking candidates for several permanent GS-9 ranger positions. Yosemite is one of the most complex and busiest parks in the National Park Service. In 2001, Yosemite rangers handled hundreds of criminal cases (ranging from felonious assaults to major resource violations), nearly 200 search and rescues (many of which were high angle, technical rescues), and hundreds of medical aid calls. Aside from general road patrol duties, rangers have excellent opportunities to be involved in the following programs:
- Horse patrol
- Bike patrol
- Special response team (if qualified)
- Structural/wildland fire
- A multitude of other programs
Positions are available in all three of the park's districts (Valley,
Mather, Wawona). Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through
vacancy announcement YOSE-03-31-IK-MPP (merit promotion), which is
currently on USA JOBS (Closes 01/10/03). For candidates without status,
an all sources vacancy announcement is pending and should be out on USA
Jobs during the next several weeks. For additional information on jobs
in the Wawona District, contact Lulis Cuevas at 209-375-9520; in Mather
District, contact Dave Lattimore at 209-379-1897; in Valley District,
contact Jim Tucker at 209-372-0224.
[Submitted by Cameron
Sholly, Deputy Chief Ranger - Operations]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.