Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Arrests for Smuggling of Drugs, Illegal Aliens
During the early morning hours of March 14th, members of the National
Park Service's special operations class (eleventh session) conducted a
special drug interdiction operation in targeted locations within the
park's backcountry. Several hours later, rangers saw nine men carrying
large backpacks on a trail heavily used by smugglers and illegal
immigrants. Four were captured and seven backpacks seized. The packs
contained a total of over 305 pounds of marijuana; one of the men also
had personal amounts of methamphetamine in his possession. Investigators
determined that the men were each to be paid $1,000 for successful
delivery of the marijuana. In a separate incident during the same
operation, rangers at another location spotted an SUV off-road in a wash
on another heavily traveled smuggling route. Earlier in the evening,
they'd laid spikes in the area to prevent vehicles from fleeing and
leading high speed pursuits. The SUV was disabled by the spikes and 13
people were arrested at the scene. All were undocumented aliens. This
was the first successful drug interdiction operation during a training
exercise in several years.
[Submitted by Robert E. Stinson, Acting
Chief Ranger]
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Stolen Vehicle and Weapons Conviction
On March 25th, B.G.R. entered a guilty plea to several
felony charges in federal district court in Knoxville. On May 19, 2002,
B.G.R. and Jamie Wilson were found to be in possession of a stolen
motor vehicle and two stolen firearms. B.G.R., who has prior felony
convictions, was named in a five-count indictment. He entered guilty
pleas to three of them — transportation of a stolen motor vehicle
in interstate commerce, transportation of two stolen firearms in
interstate commerce, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
B.G.R. was sentenced to 15 years in jail and three years supervised
probation upon release; he was also ordered to pay $300 in restitution
to the victim and complete a 500-hour drug rehabilitation program.
Ranger Heath Soehn was the case ranger.
[Submitted by Jim Northup,
Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Thursday, March 27, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
There were 256 new fires on Wednesday. Four large fires — two in Oklahoma, one in Missouri and one in Texas (Amistad NRA) — were contained, and two new large fires were reported.
Resource commitments to the Columbia Response and Newcastle Incidents remain the same as previously reported.
Fire Danger
| State |
3/18 |
3/19 |
3/20 |
3/24 |
3/25 |
3/26 |
3/27 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
||
| None |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
|
| Arizona |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| California |
|
|
VH |
|
|
|
|
| Colorado |
VH | ||||||
| Indiana |
|
|
|
|
VH |
|
VH |
VH — Very high EX — Extreme
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
3/18 |
3/19 |
3/20 |
3/24 |
3/25 |
3/26 |
3/27 |
| Crews |
166 |
148 |
155 |
174 |
172 |
176 |
160 |
| Engines |
25 |
11 |
10 |
50 |
29 |
68 |
59 |
| Helicopters |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
2,425 |
2,817 |
2,407 |
2,296 |
2,308 |
2,147 |
2,241 |
National Team Commitments
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Incident/Fire |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
| TX |
T1 |
Studebaker |
Columbia Response |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| TX |
T1 |
Anderson |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
Gelobter |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
Ferguson |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Jenkins |
" |
" |
" |
" |
Park Fire Situation
Amistad NRA — The Ceniza Fire was 100% contained at 125 acres.
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.