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.
The following message was
issued yesterday 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."
UPDATE, 11:30 a.m. EST, 12/24: By order of the
Secretary of the Interior, all flags are to be lowered to half staff,
effective immediately and continuing until sunset on Friday, December
27. Uniformed employees are authorized to wear black bands on their
badges; non-uniformed employees may wear black mourning devices such as
were worn after the 9/11 attack on the Trade Center. This will also be
effective through Friday, December
27.
[Submitted by Joe Fowler]
02-643
Tumacácori National Historical Park (AZ)
Death of NPS Archeologist Houston Rogers
Elvin Houston Rogers was killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday,
December 22, near Tubac, Arizona. He was the son of P.T. of
Amarillo, Texas, and J.R. of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Houston was
born on December 10, 1968, in Arlington, Virginia. He was a 1987
graduate of McLean High School and a cum laude graduate in 1995 from
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Early childhood experience in
West Texas on the Bridwell Ranch, which was managed by his grandfather,
and a particularly inspiring professor at VCU motivated him to study
archeology and to obtain a master's degree in anthropology from the
University of Wyoming in 2000. An innovative and energetic thinker,
Houston was in the early stages of a promising career with the National
Park Service, from which his father retired in 2000. He had participated
in an archeological study of the diet of 19th century enlisted men at
Fort Laramie NHS, worked for the Wyoming State Historic Preservation
Office, and participated in the archeological survey at Pecos NHP. At
the time of his death, he was an archeologist in the "Vanishing
Treasures" program at Tumacacori NHP, where he was developing a method
for documenting preservation work done on adobe ruins and also monitored
the effects of new construction on archeological resources. In addition
to his parents, he is survived by their spouses, N.B. of Santa
Fe and D.T. of Amarillo, a sister and brother-in law, T.C.
and D.C. of Leesburg, Virginia, a brother, J.R. and
companion L.A. of Ashburn, Virginia, a grandmother, H.S.
of Amarillo, and five nephews and a niece in northern Virginia.
Donations in Houston's memory may be addressed to the New Mexico
Heritage Preservation Alliance, P.O. Box 2490, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2490.
A funeral service is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 28, in
Vega, Texas. Messages of condolence may be sent to J.R. and to P.T.
[Submitted by Ann Rasor, Superintendent]
02-644
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Three Residential Fires
Park firefighters have responded to three residential structural fires since mid-November:
- A backdraft explosion blew out the back wall of a park employee's house in Gardiner around 6 a.m. on November 14. Mammoth FD responded on a mutual aid request from the Gardiner FD. The first units to arrive found the two-story structure heavily involved with fire. Crews controlled the fire within minutes, then continued to treat hot spots for over an hour. There were no injuries. The house can be repaired, but most of the contents were lost. The family was relocated to park housing.
- On the morning of December 18, a neighbor heard a smoke alarm in a park residence in Lower Mammoth. Mammoth and Gardiner FD's responded. The occupants were not home. Damage was minimal. Firefighters determined that the fire was started by an unattended candle in an advent wreath.
- A ranger on patrol on the morning of December 19 saw smoke issuing from the eaves of an unoccupied house in Lower Mammoth. Again, Mammoth and Gardiner FD's responded. Crews attacked a well-established fire in the attic and were able to save the structure. There were no injuries. The cause has tentatively been identified as an ignition caused by plumbers soldering in the building the day before.
[Submitted by Britton Gray, Fire Chief]
02-645
Badlands National Park (SD)
Rangers Assist in Search for Attempted Homicide Suspect
On the evening of December 19, residents of the town of Red Shirt
notified rangers of an alleged attempted homicide along the park's
western boundary in the Stronghold District. The person involved is one
of the key members of the group that has been illegally occupying
Stronghold Table since June 24. On the afternoon of December 19, Tony
Two Bulls reportedly got into a fight with Gene Fastwolf, brother of a
tribal park ranger who works within the Stronghold District. During the
altercation, Two Bulls allegedly got into his vehicle, pulled forward,
and "bumped" Fastwolf onto the ground. Two Bulls then back the vehicle
up, put it into gear, and ran over the fallen Fastwolf. Local
authorities arranged a medical life flight for Fastwolf, who was flown
to Rapid City Regional Hospital. The attempted homicide was witnessed by
a number of people who are cooperating with BIA criminal investigators.
Two Bulls was last seen fleeing into the park's South Unit. There's no
word at present on Fastwolf's condition. Alcohol is believed to have
been a contributing factor. Ranger Beth Kolb is working with BIA
criminal investigators and coordinating the search of three possible
sites within the park where Two Bulls may be hiding. Search efforts have
been extremely limited due to BIA's lack of resources.
[Submitted by Mark Gorman, Acting Chief Ranger]
02-646
Big Bend National Park (TX)
Smuggling Incidents Along Mexican Border
Rangers have been involved this month in a number of incidents of smuggling drugs and illegal aliens:
- December 9 - An off-duty ranger was flagged down by a stranded female motorist with a disabled van with a number of occupants. The ranger contacted the Border Patrol and asked that they investigate. The investigation revealed that the van contained six undocumented aliens, a loaded .38 revolver, and a small quantity of crack cocaine.
- December 13 - A vehicle was driven across the Rio Grande from Mexico and into the park at a remote location, then driven through the park to Midland/Odessa, where one arrest was made. Seventy pounds of marijuana was found concealed in the vehicle.
- December 14 - Rangers received an advisory to be on the lookout for three pickup trucks and a semi that were en route from the Houston area to smuggle a load of marijuana from the Big Bend region. According to the advisory, the semi would be staged in the Study Butte area outside the park and up to 2,000 pounds of marijuana would be transferred to the truck and moved back to Houston. The vehicles arrived in the Study Butte area on the evening of December 14 and five people checked into a local motel. Surveillance was begun. At about 5 a.m. the next morning, two pickup trucks entered the park. They traveled to a remote location on the Rio Grande, where members of the group rendezvoused with vehicles that had crossed the river from Mexico. A third vehicle parked on the road near the main park housing area, apparently watching for law enforcement officers. A total of 1,608 pounds of marijuana was transferred to the trucks. Customs aircraft watched the transfer of the drugs and followed the vehicles as they left the park. The trucks returned to the Study Butte area, where the marijuana was transferred to the gravel bed trailer, then covered with a load of bentonite from a local mine. Federal agents, assisted by officers from other area agencies, arrested all those involved and seized the vehicles and semi. Those arrested were seasoned smugglers who'd moved drugs through the region for the last three years.
- December 14 - Border Patrol agents at the Highway 118 checkpoint north of the park inspected a 1997 Dodge van occupied by two adult resident aliens and five children. They claimed to have visited Big Bend NP. Consent to use a K-9 was given and the dog alerted to the left rear corner of the vehicle. A fiber optic scope revealed cellophane and duct taped bundles hidden in a concealed compartment. Thirty-seven bundles of suspected marijuana weighing a total of 45 pounds were recovered from the vehicle.
- December 15 - Border Patrol agents at the Highway 385 checkpoint north of the park inspected a 2001 Ford pickup with Mexican plates. Both occupants presented citizenship papers but appeared nervous. The pair had inconsistent stories concerning the ownership of the vehicle. The passenger claimed ownership and gave consent for a search of the vehicle. Agents noted the rear seat was not a factory seat; upon closer inspection, they found that there were several bundles concealed under the seat. Both subjects were arrested and the back seat was removed, revealing 102 bundles of marijuana with a combined weight of 312 pounds. It appears that the drugs were smuggled across the border west of the park, then transported through the park. The park collected an entrance fee on their trip through the park.
[Submitted by Chief Ranger's Office]
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]
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.