Shenandoah National Park (VA)
Follow-up on Rescue
On the evening of January 24th, a motorist stopped in at the
Sperryville Fire Department and reported that he'd seen a naked man
walking along State Highway 211 within the park. The temperature at the
time was 18 degrees and was dropping. Investigation revealed that he was
a 27-year-old Richmond resident who had recently been diagnosed with
bipolar disorder. A search was immediately mounted, and he was soon
found lying huddled 30 to 40 yards off the Pass Mountain trail about a
mile-and-a-half from the trailhead. Although still responsive, his body
temperature had dropped below the point at which shivering ceases. He
was treated by rangers at the scene, then taken to a hospital in
Culpepper, where he is being treated for complications from hypothermia
and for frostbite to his toes. At present, it doesn't appear that
amputations will be necessary. The man told rangers that he was
extremely grateful to be alive, and that, with a clear head, he now
realizes the danger in which he placed himself. His mother has extended
her sincere thanks for the efforts made by the park, sheriff's
department, state police and local EMS and SAR volunteers in rescuing
her son.
[Submitted by Clay Jordan, Deputy Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Fire and Aviation Management
Technical Fire Management Training Opportunity
Dates: Application Deadline February 20, 2004 for 2004-2006 program.
The National Park Service Fire Management Program Center is offering a training opportunity for three fire management candidates to attend Technical Fire Management (TFM) sponsored by Washington Institute and Colorado State University. This educational opportunity is designed to improve the technical proficiency of fire specialists beyond the level that may be attained through on-the-job training. The subject matter includes fire ecology, fire behavior, fuels management, data analysis, economics and finance.
TARGET AUDIENCE - This training is for current career and career-conditional employees that are fire management officers, fuels/prescribed fire specialists, and suppression specialists at the GS 5-11 levels and who intend to pursue a career in fire management. The full benefit of the program can only be realized by those who have experience in fire and fuels management. It is not intended for people with four-year resource, biological science or fire degrees or a significant number of credits in these fields.
COMMITMENTS - This program is demanding. It is approximately 18 months long, divided into five two-week modules and a final project report. Prior to the program starting, an optional unit is available for students to brush up on math and statistics skills, which we strongly recommend. In order to satisfactorily complete the course, students can expect to devote extra time to the course work, outside normal working hours. The focus of the final project is agreed upon by the home unit manager, the student and the responsible fire management officer.
The final project is a written report culminating the learning process and is often the most challenging part of the program. This project is accomplished by systematically describing, analyzing and solving the problems/subject selected. The student is required to make an oral presentation before a panel of interagency representatives to defend the decision criteria used in the analysis and solving the problem. This project must be completed within the established time frames.
FUNDING - All tuition for the Technical Fire Management program will be funded by the NPS National Fire Management Program Center. Tuition for this program is approximately $8,500 per student. Cancellation fee without replacement by July 29, 2004, is $2,500. If the student fails to show for Module 1, full tuition will be billed. Travel funding will be provided by the student's regional office from funds designated by the FMPC.
PRE-REQUISITES - Candidates MUST have completed S-390. In addition, the following skills are required: technical writing course or the equivalent, basic algebraic manipulation and a working knowledge of BEHAVE Plus, FIREFAMILY+, Windows (98, 2000 or XP), Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office Word, Excel (with data analysis tool pack) and Powerpoint.
Candidates may also want to acquire the following skills prior to beginning the program:
- knowledge of National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), field sampling and measurement,
- use of CONSUME, agency fire management budgeting process, KCFAST, WIMS, and
- knowledge of NFDRS processes.
Staff at the FMPC will assist students in acquiring necessary skills and knowledge as needed.
PROGRAM INFORMATION - Tentative dates for each of the modules are shown below; locations and confirmed dates will be determined and announced at a later date.
Module IA, Math Review - October 4-8, 2004
Module I, Statistics - November 1-12, 2004
Module II, Economics - January 3-14, 2005
Module III, Fuels Management - March 1-11, 2005
Module IV, Fire Ecology and Fire Effects - May 2-13, 2005
Module V, Fire and Land Management - September 19-30, 2005
Module VI, Final Presentation and Review - April 10-14, 2006
SERVICE AGREEMENT - Selected candidates will sign an agreement to complete this training. Failure to complete all six training modules, including the final project, may require repayment by the employee of the training costs. Both students and supervisors are reminded that this training requires a total commitment and dedicated time to satisfactorily complete the 18-month long program.
PROGRAM CREDITS - It has been determined that successful completion of this program will qualify the candidate for 18 of the 24 academic hours required to qualify for the Fire Management Specialist series (GS-401). The GS-401 series is a key component of the new Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications, Standards and Guide which is scheduled to be implemented starting October 1, 2004. NPS personnel offices require students to present a certificate from Washington Institute in order to obtain this credit. The certificate will only be issued after completion and presentation of the final project. The student must complete all modules and earn a passing score of 70 percent on the mid-term and final examination.
The participant additionally has the option of buying credits (three per module) through Colorado State University. The rate is approximately $180.00 per module or $1080.00 for the full program.
This cost is borne by the trainee; NPS will not pay for these credits. Colorado State University credits do not need to be purchased in order for TFM credits to be applied toward qualification in the GS-401 series.
NUMBER OF POSITIONS - Three positions are available to the NPS for this next session.
Employees with a professional interest in Fire Management, but lacking a degree are urged to apply.
SELECTION PROCESS — The applications will be rated, ranked and prioritized by the Program Manager at the Fire Management Program Center. Recommendations for selection will be made to Regional FMOs for final selection.
HOW TO APPLY - Applicants must submit the following documents:
- SF-171, OF-612 or resume including training records and/or college transcripts.
- Application Statement, Recommendation and Approval form (attachment 1) through your appropriate Fire Management Officer.
- Response to the Evaluation Criteria (attachment 2), not to exceed three pages for all criteria.
Staple documents in the upper left corner; and please, no covers or fancy presentation packages.
WHERE TO SEND APPLICATION PACKAGES - all materials must be received by
February 20, 2004. Send to:
National Interagency Fire Center
National Park Service
Fire Management Program Center
Attention: Mark Koontz
3833 S. Development Ave.
Boise, ID 83705
If you have questions about the program or would like to be put in contact with a current or past student please contact Mark Koontz at (208) 387-5090 or through email via mark_koontz@nps.gov.
The Technical Fire Management website is located at - http://www.nps.gov/fire/developmental/dev_technicalfire.html
[Submitted by Mark Koontz, mark_koontz@nps.gov, 208.387.5090] More Information...
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.