Yosemite National Park (CA)
Terminated Park Employee Convicted of Theft
On August 4, ranger Jack Hoeflich took a report of a video camera
stolen from a restroom at Camp 4 where the victim had left it to charge
the battery. Hoeflich followed leads that pointed to a seasonal
campground maintenance worker as the suspect. Hoeflich turned the
information over to special agent Mike Osborne for follow-up. During his
investigation, Osborne discovered that the same suspect, R.D.,
had also been seen stealing the wheels and tires from a disabled car
parked along the El Portal road. Agents recovered the wheels and tires
from the bed of R.D.'s campground maintenance truck. Osborne
interviewed R.D., who admitted to taking the camera and the wheels and
tires but said that he intended to return them to the owners if they
could be located. During the interview, agents smelled marijuana on
R.D.. When questioned about this, he admitted to smoking marijuana on
duty and turned over 3.5 grams of dope and a glass pipe from the pocket
of his uniform shirt. R.D. was terminated from his job and charged
with theft and possession of controlled substance. A trial was held on
December 18 in the Yosemite magistrate's court and R.D. was found
guilty on all three counts. He was sentenced to nine months in the
custody of the Bureau of Prisons. .
[Submitted by Mike Osborne,
Special Agent]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Fire and Aviation Management
Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher Website
2003 Revisions
Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher Website
Revisions to the Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) website will be launched on January 31, 2003. This website, developed under the direction of the Federal Fire and Aviation Safety Team (FFAST) was initially launched in March 2002.
The purpose of the WFSTAR website is to provide a one-stop shopping resource for instructors of refresher training to obtain information necessary to conduct high quality safety refreshers. The site identifies topics for refresher training and lists a wide variety of reference materials that support refresher training, including
- Publications
- Videos
- Training packages
- Lessons learned
- Investigation reports
The website includes links to the refresher training polices of the federal fire management agencies and NWCG direction for refresher training. The website also provides the opportunity for instructors to submit abstracts of their refresher training programs for use by others.
The website updates for 2003 include a new National Emphasis Topic and Hot Topics. The 2003 National Emphasis Topic is Driving Safety. Hot topics include Revised 10 Standard Fire Orders, New Fire Shelter Design, Thirtymile Fire, and other topics. The address for the WFSTAR website is http://www.nifc.gov/safety_study/index.htm. This address will get you to the NIFC Safety Page and then just click on the Refresher Training icon.
As a reminder, the NWCG has adopted language requiring annual fireline safety refresher training for all personnel who may be subject to assignments on the fireline, such as technical specialists and ground support personnel delivering resources to the fireline. This mandatory requirement applies to all NWCG members. The full text of the memorandum can be found on the WFSTAR website under "Policy Statements".
If you have any questions, please contact the NPS FFAST representative, Al King by e-mail or call 208-387-5967.
[Submitted by Al King, al_king@nps.gov, 208-387-5967] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL,MS)
GS-3/4 Lifeguards
The park has an opening for lifeguards in both the Florida and Mississippi Districts. The positions are at the GS-3/4 level; the announcements are GUIS S03-04 (FL) and GUIS S03-05 (MS). Nine guards will be hired in Florida and three in Mississippi. All are full-time and will continue through Labor Day. A performance test must be passed in addition to the basic qualifications for the positions. Pre-employment drug testing and a physical are also required. The announcement is available on USA Jobs or by calling 850-934-2601.
[Submitted by Kitty Lewis]
Pipestone National Monument (MN)
GS-5/7 Protection Ranger
The park is recruiting for a permanent protection ranger. The merit promotion and open competitive announcements are listed on USA Jobs. This is a GS-5/7 position with promotion potential to GS-9. The announcement closes on February 24. For more information, contact admin officer Sylvia Vogt at 507-825-5464.
[Submitted by Sylvia Vogt, Administrative Officer]
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.