Servicewide News
Follow-up on Operation Liberty Shield
The Type 1 team charged with coordinating the NPS response to the higher level of security brought about by increased threats of terrorism continues its work. Yesterday, the team:
- Began planning for putting a program in effect to provided personal protective equipment for people who may have to deal with weapons of mass destruction.
- Completed a communications plan in conjunction with WASO Public Affairs.
- Staged special events teams for pre-positioning at key locations.
- Continued setting up the incident command post at Shenandoah NP.
- Continued to monitor intelligence regarding both specific and non-specific threats to national park resources.
There were no significant incidents in the parks pertaining to either
the war in Iraq or terrorism threats.
[Submitted by Katie Lawhon,
PIO, Type 1 IMT]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Rangers Assist in Pursuit, Arrest of Drunk Driver with Weapon
On March 17th, rangers in the park's West Subdistrict were called to
assist Montana Highway Patrol and Madison County SO officers in the
pursuit and capture of a drunk driver who was heading down Highway 287
at about 100 miles per hour, brandishing a shotgun out the truck's
window. He was heading toward Highway 191 and a junction that would take
him either through part of the park or the town of West Yellowstone.
Rangers helped West Yellowstone officers divert traffic at several
locations and place spike strips on the highway. The man drove past
rangers and officers with the shotgun barrel still pointed out the
driver's side window. He drove over the spike strip, which deflated his
front tires, then stopped a little further down the road. Officers
attempted to surround him, but he resumed driving. At that point,
Montana Highway Patrol officers fired into the truck's rear tires in an
attempt to disable it. The driver continued for another half mile, lost
control of his truck, and went off the road. A standoff ensued in which
the driver continued to point his shotgun out the window. He refused to
comply with commands, so a SWAT/tactical team was summoned from Bozeman,
about 80 miles to the north. A park special agent trained as a crisis
negotiator was also called in, but deputies and rangers were eventually
able to subdue the driver. He lost his shotgun in the process and was
taken into custody without further incident. He faces numerous state
felony charges. [Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent, YELL]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Conviction for Abusive Sexual Contact
Rangers Kristin Fey and Allan Bush investigated a report of an
assault on a woman in the Mammoth Hot Springs concession dormitory by a
drunken male on the evening of February 21st. L.E. was
arrested on suspicion of being under the influence. Extensive follow-up
and interviews with the victim and witnesses led to the development of
strong evidence showing that L.E. had engaged in numerous incidents
of disorderly conduct, abusive sexual contact and public intoxication
over a period of 48 hours. He had previously been arrested in the park
and convicted of disorderly conduct and being under the influence of
alcohol and was still on probation. A criminal complaint was filed in
magistrate's court for abusive sexual contact (18 USC 2244(b)) and
public intoxication. L.E. pled not guilty at the arraignment, but
was found guilty of both charges at a trial on March 4th. His probation
was also revoked. L.E. was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail, with
another 120 days suspended, and three years probation. He was also
ordered to pay $500 in fines. The case rangers did an exceptional job on
the investigation, victim and witness assistance, and court testimony.
The effective intervention of the rangers at the beginning of the
incident prevented L.E.'s behavior from escalating to the felony
assault level.
[Submitted by Dan Kirschner, Special Agent]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Monday, March 24, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Only 47 new fires were reported between Friday and Sunday. Three of them were large fires — two in Oklahoma and one in Texas. The latter was in Amistad NRA (see below).
Resource commitments to the Columbia Response and Newcastle Incidents remain the same as previously reported, except that Corley's Type 1 team has concluded its assignment on the latter.
Fire Danger
| State |
3/17 |
3/18 |
3/19 |
3/20 |
3/24 |
| None |
X |
X |
X | ||
| Arizona |
VH |
||||
| California |
VH |
VH — Very high EX — Extreme
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
3/13 |
3/16 |
3/17 |
3/18 |
3/19 |
3/20 |
3/24 |
| Crews |
181 |
161 |
176 |
166 |
148 |
155 |
174 |
| Engines |
52 |
9 |
24 |
25 |
11 |
10 |
50 |
| Helicopters |
8 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
2,728 |
2,605 |
2,665 |
2,425 |
2,817 |
2,407 |
2,296 |
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 |
Anderson |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
Oltrogge |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
Ferguson |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Hildreth |
" |
" |
" |
" |
Park Fire Situation
Amistad NRA — The Ceniza Fire (330 acres) is burning in river cane and willows. It's 90% contained, and full containment was expected to occur on Monday. Wind speeds of 10 to 20 mph were reported. Twenty-one firefighters and overhead personnel were committed.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Big Bend National Park (TX)
Three GS-025-7/9 Protection Ranger Positions
The park is seeking qualified candidates for lateral transfers to three GS-025-7/9 protection ranger positions. Two of these are in the Santa Elena District; the third is in the Chisos District. All three offer traditional ranger duties, including wildland and structural fire, EMS, SAR, backcountry patrol, horse patrol, and a full range of visitor and resource protection assignments within the 800,000 acre park. Interested ranges should contact DR Kathi Hambly at 915-477-2225 or DR Cary Brown at 915-477-1136 for further information.
[Submitted by Chief Rangers Office]
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.