Mount Rushmore National Memorial (SD)
Death of Concession Employee
J.S., 60, an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, died of an
apparent cardiac arrest on March 1st. J.S. was on duty during the
early afternoon, became ill, and went into the public restroom in the
restaurant. A visitor found him there a short while later, unconscious
and not breathing. Rangers administered CPR and made five attempts at
defibrillation with an AED, inducing a pulse for a short period of time.
J.S. never regained consciousness, though, and subsequently died. He'd
worked at the concession at Mount Rushmore for about three-and-a-half
years and was dining room supervisor. He was very well known to and
friends with many park employees, including some of those who attempted
to revive him. Joe would frequently greet and talk with park staff when
they ate at the dining room.
[Submitted by Mike Pflaum, Chief
Ranger]
Independence National Historical Park (PA)
Investigation of Possible Bomb Threat
On the afternoon of March 14th, rangers checked out a report of local
police activity at the intersection of Market and Fifth Streets. They
found SEPTA transit police on scene and learned that there was a
suspicious duffel bag on a train platform in the subway station adjacent
to the Liberty Bell block. Philadelphia PD officers closed the
intersection and a two-block area to pedestrian and vehicle access.
Rangers assisted with the closures. Access to the Liberty Bell block was
also suspended during the extended street closure. Police eventually
determined that the contents of the duffel bag were not threatening and
the area was reopened.
[Submitted by Alan Saperstein, Shift
Supervisor]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Friday, March 14, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Ninety new fires were reported on Thursday. Three large fires had not yet been contained, two in Arizona (BLM and Imperial NWR) and one in Missouri (Mark Twain NF).
Resource commitments to the Columbia Response and Newcastle Incidents remain the same as previously reported.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
3/4 |
3/5 |
3/9 |
3/10 |
3/11 |
3/12 |
3/13 |
| Crews |
169 |
149 |
160 |
173 |
139 |
181 |
181 |
| Engines |
6 |
6 |
2 |
13 |
22 |
50 |
52 |
| Helicopters |
36 |
36 |
36 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
2,697 |
2,438 |
2,601 |
2,758 |
2,620 |
2,747 |
2,728 |
National Team Commitments
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Incident/Fire |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
| TX |
T1 |
Lohrey |
Columbia Response |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| TX |
T1 |
Oltrogge |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
McCombs |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
Ferguson |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Hildreth |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| NV |
T1 |
Corley |
Newcastle Incident |
" |
" |
" |
Fire and Aviation Management
Southwest Area 2003 Fire Season Outlook
The March - July 2003 outlook provides information on weather, fuels, fire danger, and resources as well as an Energy Release Component (ERC) chart and map with "areas of concern" in the southwestern United States with regards to wildland fire.
The fire danger across some areas of the Southwest Area is expected to be above average during an overall normal length fire season. For a more complete picture of the season and daily, weekly, and monthly outlooks go to http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire/swapredictive/swaoutlooks/swaoutlooks.htm[Submitted by Jay Ellington, jayellington@fs.fed.us, 505-842-3473] More Information...
Fire and Aviation Management
Two New Publications from Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
The latest edition of the Scratchline, a Lessons Learned Center newsletter is now available on the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned website. The issue is devoted to Driving Best Practices - the National Emphasis Topic for 2003. http://www.wildfirelessons.net/Scratchline.htm
The latest edition of the Winning Series is now also on the Lessons Learned website. It is a handy guide to fuels, strategy, tactics, safety, and logistics for all the geographic areas around the country. It also contains sections on non-Fire assignments, Aviation, and Structures in the Wildland. http://www.wildfirelessons.net/Winning_Series.htm[Submitted by Paula Nasiatka, pnasiatka@fs.fed.us, 520-670-6414] More Information...
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Servicewide Training
Weekly Listing of Operations Training Opportunities
This calendar appears every Monday as an addendum to the Morning Report and a separate entry for InsideNPS. It is not meant to be replace the Learning Place; rather it is a quick summary of available training with links (as available) to relevant Learning Place pages. Please note:
- New entries are in bold face.
- Submissions for other training courses should conform to the style used here.
- Please include the URL to the web sites where readers can obtain the requisite forms and/or find out additional information about the training course. If a URL is not specifically listed, the announcement can likely be found on the Learning Place, the NPS training page found at http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/index.doc.
- Closing dates for applications are underscored.
- Contact names are listed at the end of each entry with parentheses and are given as email addresses.
**********************************************************************************************
March
March 31 — April 4: Fundamentals of Special Park Uses, Atlanta, GA. This course provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of special park uses, including the permitting process, compliance issues, filming and photography and First Amendment activities. [UPDATE: Although nominations were due in WASO by February 28th, there are still spots available in this course — one of only two scheduled for this fiscal year (the other will be in Albuquerque in August). If you're interested, fax a one-page nomination to Heidi Kunkel at 404-562-3266. For more information, contact Lee Dickinson at 202-513-7092 or Sandy Taylor at 404-562-3158. [Lee_Dickinson@nps.gov]
April
April 15 — April 18: OSHA 510, Construction Safety and Health, Siren, WI. The course introduces participants to OSHA construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926). Topics will include confined spaces, welding, tools, fall protection, ladders, scaffolding, electrical, construction health hazards, cranes and rigging and fire protection. Closes on March 19. For information on how to apply, contact Dorothy Printup at 301-663-8206 ext. 101. [Shirley_Rowley@nps.gov]
April 22 - May 1: Police Bicycle Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on March 20. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April 28 - May 9: Technical Investigative Equipment Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on March 24. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April 29 - May 1: Basic EMT Refresher, Zion NP, UT. Taught by Tod Levesh, a former parkmedic and current paramedic and FEM/A urban SAR team member. Tuition: $75. Lodging is at the Driftwood Lodge, 435-772-3262. For more information, contact Cody Cole, EMS coordinator, Zion NP, at 435-772-0163. [Randy-Coffman@nps.gov]
May
May 5 - May 9: High Angle Rope Rescue Training, New River Gorge, WV. The course will focus on basic to advanced high angle rope rescue techniques. All participants must be in good physical condition and be able to spend extended periods of time on fixed ropes. Climbing ability is not necessary. For more information, contact ranger Rob Turan at 304-763-3145 ext. 14. [Rob_Turan@nps.gov]
May 5 - May 16: Physical Fitness Instructor, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Training for physical fitness and wellness coordinators. Graduates will be able to give the PEB and additional assessments. Closes April 1. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 12: Park Medic Refresher, University Medical Center, Fresno, CA. Twelve hours of advanced life support continuing education. The course will cover a large portion of the NREMT mandatory core refresher requirements for EMT intermediates. To register, contact Donna Armijo at UMC (559-459-5105); for general information, call Debbie Brenchely at Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP (559-565-4334). [Randy-Coffman@nps.gov]
May 12 - May 16: National Wildfire Investigation Training (XP-NWITP-303), Prescott, AZ. Topics include determining fire causes and origins, processing crime scenes, arson laws, and investigative techniques. Closes on April 3. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 12 - May 23: Physical Security, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Physical security systems and procedures, physical security surveys. Closes on April 10. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 12 - May 23: Firearms Instructor Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 2. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 15 - August 25: Basic Law Enforcement Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 2. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 27 - May 30: Instructor Training for Non-Lethal Training Ammunition, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 22. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
June
June 2 - June 13: Technical Investigative Equipment Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 29. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
June 9 - June 20: Firearms Instructor Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 29. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
June 10 — June 19: Basic Law Enforcement for Supervisors, FLETC, Glynco, GA. This program provides trainees with the opportunity to develop and refined their supervisory abilities. The instructors are all current or former supervisory law enforcement professionals. Closes on April 29. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Petrified Forest National Park (AZ)
GS-11/12 Exotic Plant Management Team Liaison
The park has an opening for a GS-401/408/430/454-11/12 exotic plant management team liaison. The announcement (PEFO-03-05 for federal employees, PEFO-03-06 for everyone else), closes on March 28th. The Colorado Plateau exotic plant management team is looking for a highly-motivated person to serve as team liaison. Candidates should have strong communication and facilitation skills and be willing to travel. The person hired will coordinate weed management activities for parks throughout the Colorado Plateau, including GRCA, GLCA, ZION, ARCH, CANY, MEVE and PEFO. She/he will provide guidance and leadership on invasive plant identification, inventory and monitoring methods, mechanical and chemical control methods, data management, NEPA compliance, planning, and priority setting. For more information, contact Ferral Knight in personnel at 928-524-6228 ext. 243 or Karen Beppler-Dorn, chief of resource management, at ext. 263.
[Submitted by Karen Beppler-Dorn]
Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Division
GS-025-15 Senior Manager
Vacancy announcement WAS0-03-008 has been issued for the GS-025-15 senior manager of the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Division in WASO. It opened on March 14th and closes on April 3rd. The person selected will provide program direction, professional advice and assistance, and oversight for all divisional programs, including protection, LE, investigations, FLETC training, emergency services, and special park uses. For further information, contact Dennis Burnett at 202-513-7128. [Dennis Burnett, WASO]
[Submitted by Dennis Burnett]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
GS-11 Supervisory Park Ranger
The park has issued an announcement for a GS-11 supervisory park ranger. The announcement comes out today and closes on March 31st. the person selected will serve as assistant subdistrict ranger at Grant Village.
[Submitted by Lisa Helms]
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.