Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Interdiction of Smuggling Operations Continue on Border
Rangers dealt with an array of serious incidents during March in addition to those previously reported that stemmed from spring break:
March 7 — Rangers conducting a special operation saw two vehicles entering the United States illegally. An NPS tactical team was able to stop one of them, a stolen 2004 Dodge truck, while the other fled back to Mexico. They discovered and seized 41 individually wrapped packages of marijuana weighing 1,034 pounds and a two-way radio. Assisting agencies included the Border Patrol and Bureau of Immigration and Customs.
March 11 — Rangers from a special operations class training in the park conducted a 12-hour night tactical field exercise. Rangers from Organ Pipe and NPS special operations instructors provided support to the field units. During the operation, several vehicles were seen entering the country illegally. One was pursued off-road and stopped; nine illegal aliens were arrested and the vehicle, which was stolen, was seized. A second vehicle eluded them, but was eventually stopped by Arizona DPS officers north of the park. Another 14 illegal aliens were arrested. Meanwhile, other teams spotted smugglers enter a remote area of the park. Ten of twelve fled, but the remaining two smugglers were arrested and ten backpacks containing 563 pounds of marijuana were seized. Throughout the night, several other groups were seen traveling on park visitor trails and known illegal alien routes. A total of 178 illegal aliens were counted; 74 of them were caught and arrested and a dozen bicycles were seized. Assisting agencies included the Arizona Department of Safety, the Border Patrol, and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs. Air support was provided by the Arizona Army National Guard.
March 13 — Rangers working a special interdiction operation saw two vehicles — a white Dodge truck and a Jeep Cherokee — illegally enter the United States. The truck was immediately recognized as the vehicle that had eluded rangers in the March 7th incident (above). They attempted to stop both vehicles on Highway 85, but ended up in two simultaneous high speed pursuits. The driver of the Cherokee attempted to sideswipe a ranger patrol car and drive it off the road, but was subsequently disabled by flat tires after taking a 90 degree turn at a high rate of speed near the border. Due to the newly constructed border barrier, the driver was forced to stop. Despite assistance from Mexican authorities, the occupants were able to escape across the border. The Dodge truck fled cross-country through the park's wilderness and was pursued by rangers until it became disabled. The occupants escaped into the night. A total of 806 pounds of marijuana was seized from the two vehicles.
March 16 — Rangers responded to a medical call at the Lukeville
Port of Entry. A 21-year-old woman had been shot in the head
in the neighboring border town of Sonoyta. She had been brought to the
U.S. by a Mexican ambulance crew. Rangers provided basic life support.
She was transferred to an ambulance from Ajo and taken to the hospital
in stable condition.
[Submitted by Fred Patton, Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Kings Mountain National Military Park (SC)
Dellingham Prescribed Fire (Prescribed Fire Treatment)
The Dellingham Burn was a Wildland Urban Interface burn within the Kings Creek drainage area of the park. Recent pine beetle infestations had significantly increased fuel loading in the area. The Dellingham Burn area has high concentrations of invasive exotics such as privet, Japanese Honeysuckle, and multiflora rose which will receive follow-up treatment with herbicides on regrowth. (full report)
Status: No closures or restrictions associated with the burn
Acreage: 101
Resources Committed: Firefighters from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Great Smoky Mountains Fire Use Module, Cumberland Gap Fire Use Module, Big South Fork National River/Recreation Area,
Estimated containment date: March 26, 2004[Submitted by Chris Revels, chris_revels@nps.gov, 864-936-7921]
Cedar Breaks National Monument (UT)
Fuel Reduction Project (Prescribed Mechanical Treatment)
This contracted reduction project is an effort to reduce the amount of hazardous fuel accumulation (mainly beetle-killed spruce; both standing and downed) in the developed areas of the monument. This will reduce the risks from wildland fire to the monument and adjacent properties. The project is almost completed, with the exception of pile burning. (full report)
The project is almost complete with the exception of pile burning which will occur in late spring/early summer of 2004.
Status: No closures associated with this project.
Acreage: 125-acre treatment area.
Resources Committed: NPS Fuels Crew
Estimated containment date: Spring/Summer of 2004[Submitted by David Eaker, david_eaker@nps.gov, 435-772-7811]
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.