Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Rabid Fox Attacks Volunteer, Ranger
A fox that circled and attacked a Grand Canyon volunteer employee
last week — and was later shot to death by a ranger — tested
positive for rabies on Thursday. The encounters with the fox took place
near the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. As a result, the volunteer
and ranger underwent rabies treatment as a precaution. The attack took
place last Friday when the volunteer was walking the East River Trail.
The fox circled the volunteer and acted aggressive. The volunteer
tripped and fell, and the fox jumped on top of him but did not bite
him.The volunteer reported the encounter and a ranger went to find the
fox. When she walked into the area, the fox tried to attack her as well.
She shot it twice and killed it. Health officials sent the fox's body to
the Arizona State Health Laboratory for testing and the lab confirmed it
had rabies. Additional testing will take place in Texas to determine the
exact strain of rabies. The park also went back two weeks prior to the
date of the encounter and compiled a list of campers to contact and
learn if they saw the fox or came in contact with it.
[Submitted by
Don Singer, Safety Officer; Arizona Daily Sun]
Coronado National Memorial (AZ)
Drug Seizure, Attempted Assault on Ranger
Rangers seized almost two tons of marijuana and an AK-47 during a
smuggling interdiction operation last weekend. Rangers contacted a group
of about 15 smugglers on the Yacci/Crest Trail; four were arrested and
463 pounds of marijuana seized. Rangers also confiscated three
"talkabout" radios, portable radio batteries and Zeiss binoculars. One
of the smugglers was taken to the hospital for treatment of massive
abrasions suffered when he tripped over a chain rail in a parking lot
while running from rangers. He was turned over to the Border Patrol
after being released from the hospital and was returned to Mexico. While
rangers were working this case, Border Patrol agents interdicted another
group of smugglers traveling through the park. The agents seized 2,378
pounds of marijuana, but the smugglers were able to escape. A loaded
AK-47 with 29 rounds was found stashed in the area where the load was
discovered. An abandoned load of about 700 pounds was found by a dope
dog not far away. Reliable information indicated that a fourth load was
smuggled into the U.S. along the Crest Trail shortly after rangers
cleared from the first incident. Rangers later contacted a group of
illegal aliens attempting to enter the country through the park. One of
them picked up a large rock and turned on one of the rangers, who backed
off, drew his gun, and ordered the man to put the rock down. He had to
repeat the command several times before the man put the rock down. He's
being charged with assault on an officer.
[Submitted by Thane
Weigand, Chief Ranger]
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 and revised 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.
**********************************************************************************************
January
January 26 — January 30: Law Enforcement for Managers (LEM-401), FLETC, Glynco, GA. For a copy of the announcement, go to http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/index.doc. The announcement closes on December 12th. [Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC]
January 27 — January 29: National Emergency Medical Services Conference, San Diego, CA. This training will provide participants with the latest updates on contemporary standards of pre-hospital patient care, instruction in the application of NPS EMS policy, and the coordination of EMS programs within the parks. Specific topics to be addressed include Director's Order 51, Reference Manual 51, the NPS EMS field manual, EMS program coordination, NPS national standard protocol development, the National Registry of EMT's, EMS data management, patient care reports, the NPS white card, medical-legal issues, and a presentation by the national NPS EMS medical advisor. An EMS medical advisor meeting will preceded the training conference — it will take place on the afternoon of January 25th and all day on the 26th. Nominations must be received by December 29th. For more information, contact Randy Coffman, Chief, Emergency Services, WASO at 202-513-7093. [Randy Coffman]
February
No entries.
March
March 1 — March 5: Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination (NWCG FI-210), FLETC, Glynco, GA. The FI-210 course is designed to provide the coursework portion of the task book requirements for red card certification as a Type III fire investigator (wildland fire cause and origin). The course is open to both commissioned law enforcement and non-commissioned fire and resource management employees who are interested in developing and/or refreshing skills in fire investigation. Fore more information, contact either John Carpenter at 912-267-2607 (John.Carpenter@associates.dhs.gov) or SA Alan Foster at 530-359-2108. [Alan Foster]
March 1 — March 12: Special Operations (SPECOPS-401), FLETC, Tucson, AZ. Training for personnel who are directly involved with special law enforcement operations in the National Park Service. It is intended for those who are actually engaged in such enforcement activities, including terrorism and security, counter-narcotics, and anti-poaching. Includes tactical firearms exercises and training in anti-terrorism concepts and planning, ground/aerial surveillance techniques, use of technical equipment, team building, resource violation scenarios, tactical tracking skills, physical fitness, and officer survival. For a copy of the announcement, go to http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/index.doc. The announcement closes on January 9th. [Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC]
March 30 — April 1: Colt M-16/AR-15 Rifle/Carbine/Submachine Gun Armorer's School, Delaware Water Gap NRA, Bushkill, PA. Those attending will be provided with a complete understanding of the design theory, nomenclature, dynamics, compatibility, interchangeability, detailed disassembly, assembly, maintenance and troubleshooting of the M-16/AR-15 family of weapons and certified for three years as a model-specific Colt law enforcement armorer. The course if for LE personnel only. Cost: $375. The closing date for applications is February 29th. For additional details, contact Mike Zirwas, park ranger, at 570-588-2436 or contact him via email. [Mike Zirwas, DEWA]
April
April 19 — April 23: Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination (NWCG FI-210), Colorado Springs, CO. The FI-210 course is designed to provide the coursework portion of the task book requirements for red card certification as a Type III fire investigator (wildland fire cause and origin). The course is open to both commissioned law enforcement and non-commissioned fire and resource management employees who are interested in developing and/or refreshing skills in fire investigation. Fore more information, contact either John Carpenter at 912-267-2607 (John.Carpenter@associates.dhs.gov) or SA Alan Foster at 530-359-2108. [Alan Foster]
May
May 10 — May 14: Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination (NWCG FI-210), Prescott, AZ. The FI-210 course is designed to provide the coursework portion of the task book requirements for red card certification as a Type III fire investigator (wildland fire cause and origin). The course is open to both commissioned law enforcement and non-commissioned fire and resource management employees who are interested in developing and/or refreshing skills in fire investigation. Fore more information, contact either John Carpenter at 912-267-2607 (John.Carpenter@associates.dhs.gov) or SA Alan Foster at 530-359-2108. [Alan Foster]
May 24 — May 28: Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination (NWCG FI-210), Redmond, OR. The FI-210 course is designed to provide the coursework portion of the task book requirements for red card certification as a Type III fire investigator (wildland fire cause and origin). The course is open to both commissioned law enforcement and non-commissioned fire and resource management employees who are interested in developing and/or refreshing skills in fire investigation. Fore more information, contact either John Carpenter at 912-267-2607 (John.Carpenter@associates.dhs.gov) or SA Alan Foster at 530-359-2108. [Alan Foster]
June
June 7 — June 11: Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination (NWCG FI-210), Missoula, MT. The FI-210 course is designed to provide the coursework portion of the task book requirements for red card certification as a Type III fire investigator (wildland fire cause and origin). The course is open to both commissioned law enforcement and non-commissioned fire and resource management employees who are interested in developing and/or refreshing skills in fire investigation. Fore more information, contact either John Carpenter at 912-267-2607 (John.Carpenter@associates.dhs.gov) or SA Alan Foster at 530-359-2108. [Alan Foster]
June 14 — June 18: Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination (NWCG FI-210), Boise, ID. The FI-210 course is designed to provide the coursework portion of the task book requirements for red card certification as a Type III fire investigator (wildland fire cause and origin). The course is open to both commissioned law enforcement and non-commissioned fire and resource management employees who are interested in developing and/or refreshing skills in fire investigation. Fore more information, contact either John Carpenter at 912-267-2607 (John.Carpenter@associates.dhs.gov) or SA Alan Foster at 530-359-2108. [Alan Foster]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Big Cypress National Preserve (FL)
GS-025-11 Supervisory LE Ranger
The park is seeking a candidate for this position who is interested in working as one of two district rangers. He/she will supervises the south district and have a staff of three permanent full time GS-9 rangers and two seasonal GS-7 rangers. The district ranger is responsible for patrol operations within the district; patrols are undertaken via four-wheel-drive truck, airboat, swamp buggy, ATV, john boat and helicopter. She/he will also be responsible for three frontcountry campgrounds, numerous backcountry campsites and private in-holdings. This is an exciting and challenging position and all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Please see www.usajobs.opm.gov for the vacancy announcement. For further information, please contact human resource specialist Edie Sparks at 239-695-1119.
Bandelier National Monument (NM)
GS-0401-12 Fire Management Officer
The park has an opening for an FMO. The announcement was issued on November 10th and closes on December 1st. The FMO is responsible for wildland fire management program that includes prescribed fire, urban interface issues and aviation operations. She/he will be responsible for development, planning, integration and application of fire science methods and practices, and will supervise a permanent GS-11 fire management specialist, a GS-6 fire program assistant, two GS-7 supervisory forestry technicians, a helitack forestry technnician, and a GS-9 supervisory fire effects specialist. He/she will direct staff specialists in all wildland fire management, prescribed fire management, fire aviation operations and fire support dispatching activities. The FMO is also responsible for developing long-term plans for wildland fire management and fire suppression, serves on interagency fire committees, and serves as a consultant for other parks within the Pueblo Parks Group. Government housing may be available. For more information on the park, go to www.nps.gov/band; for additional area information, got to http://www.vla.com ; for the detailed vacancy announcement,, go to www.usajobs.opm.gov/. Contact the human resources office at 505/672-3861, ext. 506, for further information.
Boston National Historical Park (MA)
GS-11 Supervisory Protection Ranger
Boston NHP has a vacant GS-11 supervisory protection ranger position. The position has been announced on USA Jobs. If you have any questions, please contact deputy chief ranger Suzanne Smith via email or at 617-242-5632.
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.