Cape Hatteras National Seashore (NC)
Involuntary Manslaughter Conviction
On February 13th, G.W., 21, of Beaufort, North Carolina,
was convicted in federal court on several charges stemming from a fatal
accident that occurred in the park last summer. During the early morning
hours of June 14, 2003, G.W. was driving a Jeep on the beach of
Ocracoke Island when it overturned and came to rest upside down in the
ocean about 15 feet from shore. Two of G.W.'s passengers survived the
accident, but a third — J.S. — did not. J.S., a
citizen of Germany, was residing in the United States at that time as an
exchange student. Rangers detected the odor of alcohol about G.W.,
placed him under arrest, and had his breath alcohol checked about 90
minutes later. It came back as .08%. G.W. was convicted of "knowingly
killing J.S. in the commission of unlawful acts not amounting to a
felony, that is, driving while impaired and reckless driving, or in the
commission in an unlawful manner and without due caution and
circumspection of a lawful act which might produce death (involuntary
manslaughter)." G.W. could receive a maximum sentence of six years in
prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years' supervised release. G.W.
was also found guilty of a number of misdemeanors — reckless
driving, unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, possession of alcohol by a
person under 21, carrying an open container of alcohol within a vehicle,
DUI, and failing to wear a seatbelt. He could receive a maximum of six
months on each of those charges.
[Submitted by Paul Stevens, Law
Enforcement Specialist]
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (GA)
Attempted Suicide
On February 10th, maintenance worker Jeff Carr was working in the
Paces Mill unit of the park when he noticed a SUV parked next to a
garbage can with a dryer hose connected from the exhaust pipe to the
interior of the vehicle. Carr contacted the park dispatcher, who
requested assistance from the Cobb County Fire Department. Upon
arrival of the fire department, paramedics found the SUV's occupant
alive but suffering from possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The victim
was then transported to a local area hospital for further evaluation.
[Submitted by Kevin Tillman, Supervisory Park Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Fire and Aviation Management
Annual Wildland Fire Safety Refresher Training
Refresher Website
The 2004 revisions to the Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) website have been completed. This website, developed under the direction of the Federal Fire and Aviation Safety Team (FFAST) was initially launched in March 2002.
The purpose of the WFSTAR website is to provide a one-stop shopping resource for instructors of refresher training to obtain information necessary to conduct relevant and engaging safety refreshers. The site identifies topics for refresher training and lists a wide variety of reference materials that support refresher training including:
- Publications
- Videos
- Training packages
- Lessons learned
- Investigation reports
Updates for 2004 include a new National Emphasis Topic and current Hot Topics. The 2004 National Emphasis Topic is Radio Communications. Hot Topics include the Cramer Fire, Driving Safety and Work/Rest Guidelines. The site continues to provide information on the revised Standard Firefighting Orders and the New Generation Fire Shelter. The address for WFSTAR is http://www.nifc.gov/safety_study/annual-refresh/
If you have any questions, please contact the National Park Service FFAST representative, Al King by email or call 208-387-5967.
Refresher Video
The Fire Management Program Center Safety and Operations Program and Training, Qualifications, and Incident Business Management Program are once again teaming up to make current refresher material available to as many NPS firefighters as possible. Therefore, FIREPRO funded parks should expect a copy of the 2004 refresher video to be mailed to them shortly after it becomes available from the vendor in mid-April. Non-FIREPRO parks can purchase this product beginning on or near April 15, 2004 from Custom Recording and Sound. They can be reached at 208-344-3535 or via email at customorders@cableone.com.
NPS units wishing to participate in the TEL NET broadcast may do so on April 15 th . A facilitator will be required. Further information concerning the April 15 th broadcast will be sent to field units as the details are finalized.
If you have questions about TEL NET broadcast or video, please contact NPS Fire Training Specialist, Chad Fisher by email or call 208-387-5221.
[Submitted by Al King, al_king@nps.gov, 208-387-5967] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
GS-025-13/14 Chief Ranger
The parks have issued an announcement for a GS-13/14 chief ranger. It closes on March 5th. The person selected will serve as chief of the Division of Fire and Visitor Management, with responsibility for directing operations in law enforcement, SAR, EMS, wilderness management, fee collection, and the parks' extensive fire management program. She/he will supervise seven full-time employees, including operational branch chiefs and support staff, and be responsible for working with a wide variety of internal and external cooperators, including the military, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, local communities, and special interest groups. He/she will serve on the parks' senior management team, with responsibility for determining short and long-term park direction, and will manage the division's fiscal program with oversight of base, project, and donated funds. Please see www.usajobs.opm.gov (it is Vacancy Announcement Number: PGSO-03-141-MPP) for the detailed vacancy announcement. This is a great job in a great place. There are special requirements for the position, so please read the vacancy announcement thoroughly. For additional information contact Pacific West Human Resources at 510-817-1343, or the parks.
[Submitted by Gregg Fauth, Acting Chief Ranger]
Big Thicket National Preserve (TX)
GS-11/12 Supervisory Park Ranger
Dates: 02/11/2004 - 03/03/2004
Big Thicket is looking for applicants interested in a Supervisory Park Ranger (Chief of Interpretation, Education and Partnerships position. This position is being advertised at GS-11 and GS-12 grade levels. The job is posted on USAJOBS under announcement number BITH 2004-06 beginning 2/11/04 through 03/03/04. Beaumont, Texas is the duty station of this position. The incumbent of this position will manage and supervise all interpretive and educational activities for Big Thicket. Serves as one of the principal advisors to the Superintendent and park staff; serves as a member of the management team, evaluating issues and building concensus on actions dealing with all aspects of park management. Responsibilities include program management, planning, development and implementation of the park's interpretive activities, visitor center operations, outreach activities, etc. Applicants must have strong supervisory and managerial skills. Applications must be mailed to NPS, Big Thicket National Preserve, Attention: Human Resources Specialist, 3785 Milam Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701. Please call (409) 839-2689, extension 240 or 244 for additional information about this position.[Submitted by Nellie Martinez, Nellie_Martinez@nps.gov, 409-839-2689, ext. 240] More Information...
Pacific West Region
Retirement Gathering for Mark Forbes
A retirement party for Mark Forbes is planned for Friday, February 27th, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Camp Long in West Seattle. Mark retired from the NPS on January 2nd after 35 years of federal service. He began as a seasonal on a Forest Service survey crew while a student at the University of Washington in the 1960s. His first National Park Service job was as a student intake at Mount Rainier in 1969. Mark moved on to the Washington Office in September, 1970, then to Yosemite in December, 1971. He transferred to Crater Lake in May, 1978, then finally to the Pacific North West Regional Office in Seattle in July, 1985. He retired as acting chief ranger for Pacific West Region. Details on the party can be found at www.mora.nps.gov/forbes.htm .
[Submitted by Rory Westberg]
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.