Cuyahoga Valley National Park (OH)
Arson Conviction
On the night of January 26th, a series of arsons occurred in the park
and the city of Cuyahoga Falls. The subsequent investigation, conducted
by detectives from Cuyahoga Falls PD and ranger Mike Wilson, led to
charges being filed against three juveniles. Wilson and the detectives
were able to link the incidents together and produce evidence that led
to nine counts of felony arson being filed against the trio. Faced with
overwhelming evidence, they all pled guilty to the charges.
Investigation revealed that they'd driven around Cuyahoga Falls that
night, setting fire to eight motor vehicles and causing over $60,000 in
damage. They then drove into the park and set fire to a small house,
which burned completely to the ground due to its remote location. The
magistrate sentenced the juveniles to remain in jail until their 21st
birthdays, but included a provision for early release if they
successfully completed numerous youth offender programs. In the state of
Ohio, the parents of juvenile offenders can be held liable for up to
$8,000 in damages per victim. The park will be seeking restitution
through the state juvenile prosecutor's office.
[Submitted by Dale
Silvis, District Ranger]
Independence National Historical Park (PA)
Arrests for Vandalism and Drug Use
On March 28th, a plainclothes ranger walking through the Tea Gardens
behind the Second Bank smelled the odor of marijuana and contacted three
juvenile males and an adult male in the immediate vicinity. The ranger
also observed fresh, wet "taggings" on the benches that they were
sitting on and nearby trash cans. A consent search of the juveniles'
backpacks revealed several markers and a black notebook covered in
graffiti which matched what was written on the benches and trash cans.
These notebooks are known by taggers as their "guestbooks," in which
members of other tagger "crews" draw their tags (signatures). The
juveniles were also inhaling nitrous oxide and had three cases of
nitrous oxide in their possession. They were taken into custody and
released to their parents. All three are residents of the adjoining
community of Haverford. They appeared in court the following week, pled
guilty, and were ordered to pay a fine and complete community service. A
detective from Haverford Township subsequently heard about the incident
and contacted the park. He told rangers that he'd been investigating the
same trio of juveniles for similar vandalism and graffiti offenses for a
number of years. He was provided with a copy of the incident report,
which proved instrumental in his obtaining a search warrant for the
residences of the adult and one of the juveniles. Rangers assisted with
the execution of the warrants. A backpack with drug paraphernalia and
more graffiti tools were found at the adult's residence; numerous
articles associated with vandalism and graffiti were found in the
juvenile's home. State charges are pending.
[Submitted by Katherine
Korte, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Everglades National Park (FL)
Arrest for DUI, Fraudulent Documents
While on patrol in East Everglades on March 30th, ranger Kenny Clarke
saw a brown Cadillac being operated erratically and stopped it with
assistance from other rangers. The operator, A.R., was
arrested for driving under the influence and subsequently blew a .203 on
the breathalyzer — well over twice the legal limit of .08 in
Florida. During the related search, Clarke found that A.R. had a
fraudulent resident alien ID card and a fraudulent social security card
in his possession. Clarke worked closes with the US Attorney's Office
and the Border Patrol to bring felony charges against A.R. for
possession of the fake ID cards (18 USC 1546). Violations of this USC
provision carries a maximum sentence of five years and prison and a fine
of up to $250,000. Particular attention is being paid to prosecution of
this case because of the homeland security implications.
[Submitted
by Gary Youngblood]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Monday, April 28, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was light to moderate over the weekend. A total of 211 new fires were reported; all but three escaped initial attack, and all of those were quickly contained.
Three Type 2 teams remain assigned to the Columbia Response.
Fire Danger
| State |
4/22 |
4/23 |
4/24 |
4/25 |
4/28 |
| Arizona |
-- |
VH |
VH |
VX |
VX |
| Colorado |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Connecticut |
-- |
VH |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Indiana |
-- |
-- |
VH |
-- |
-- |
| Minnesota |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
| New Mexico |
-- |
VH |
-- |
VX |
VX |
| Wisconsin |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VH — Very high
EX — Extreme
VX — Very high to extreme
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
4/18 |
4/21 |
4/22 |
4/23 |
4/24 |
4/25 |
4/28 |
| Crews |
155 |
93 |
83 |
74 |
74 |
73 |
70 |
| Engines |
62 |
12 |
23 |
27 |
27 |
29 |
19 |
| Helicopters |
8 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
1,784 |
1,849 |
1,718 |
1,675 |
1,656 |
1,494 |
1,492 |
National Team Commitments
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Incident/Fire |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
| TX |
T2 |
Crisman |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Morcum |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Dietrich |
" |
" |
" |
" |
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Department of Clarifications
Correction on Previous Incident Report
On April 23rd, an incident report appeared in the Morning Report and InsideNPS on a special operation that had been conducted in April at Coronado NM. Except that it didn't appear as Coronado in either version of the report. Under our new web-based system, incident reports are entered once, then posted on each publication separately. Your editor inadvertently entered Organ Pipe Cactus NM when selecting the name for the submitting area from a pull-down menu of site names. That park appeared as the originating area on InsideNPS, which was bad enough, but — for reasons unknown and probably unknowable — the version that appeared in the Morning Report attributed the report to Crater Lake NP. Many wags have written in to ask when the border was adjusted. As one correspondent wrote, "we need to find out who stole either California or Washington." Well, the Organ Pipe error was mine, but not the Crater Lake error. That belongs to the realm of electronic gremlins. Incidentally, incidents are cross-posted in both InsideNPS and the Morning Report because the former goes largely to the NPS audience and the latter is now read primarily by an external audience that can't call up InsideNPS.
[Submitted by Bill Halainen, Editor]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Northeast Region
GS-023-11/12 Outdoor Recreation Planner
The National Park Service (NPS) seeks a highly motivated individual to coordinate projects and provide technical assistance for interpretation, public access and conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay region. The individual will serve as an Outdoor Recreation Planner in the NPS Chesapeake Bay Program Office (CBPO) in Annapolis, Maryland.
The CBPO coordinates NPS involvement in the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, which guides restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Chesapeake Bay Program partners include the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the federal government.
NPS roles focus on: enhancing interpretation and communication of Chesapeake Bay themes, enhancing public access to Bay and tributary waters, implementing Bay stewardship practices at existing NPS units, and assisting communities and organizations in developing locally based conservation efforts. A core aspect of NPS work is coordination of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, a partnership system of over 120 parks, refuges, historic sites, museums and water trails.
The individual selected will: provide technical assistance to Chesapeake Bay Gateways, NPS units, non-profit organizations and local and State governments on issues related to natural and cultural resource protection, outdoor recreation, public access and interpretation; administer the Gateways Network grants program, working with applicants on project concepts, organizing grant workshops, and assisting grantees; consult with the Gateways Network Working Group and others on strategies for managing the Gateways Network and achieving CBP goals; and coordinate implementation of various Gateways Network-wide initiatives and projects, including workshops for designated Gateways, development of thematic linkages between sites, and creation of Network-wide plans and strategies for public access and conservation.
This permanent, full-time position is being advertised at the GS-11/12 grade levels with a salary range between $48,748 - $75, 954 annually. For more information contact Catherine Mueller at 410.267.5720 or view the vacancy announcement at www.usajobs.opm.gov. Vacancy announcement number: MARO-03-13, also advertised for all sources at HRF 03-060. Job closes: May 9, 2003
[Submitted by Catherine Mueller, catherine_mueller@nps.gov, 410.267.5720] More Information...
Mount Rainier National Park (WA)
GS025-11 Supervisory Park Ranger
Dates: 04/29/2003 - 05/20/2003
Mount Rainier National Park has issued an announcement (readvertisement) for the position of Supervisory Park Ranger (Protection), GS-025-11. As the Climbing Program Manager, the incumbent is responsible for the planning, development, coordination and direction of the park's climbing program, including resource protection, search and rescue, and visitor use activities, on the upper mountain. Also coordinates the Mountaineering Cost Recovery program, a special-use fee program including planning and coordinating field implementation. The announcement is posted in USAJOBS: Control Number IN0714, announcement number MORA-2003-38. Applications must be postmarked by May 20, 2003. [Submitted by Patty Klump, patty_klump@nps.gov, 360-569-2211 x2363] More Information...
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.