Fire Island National Seashore (NY)
Fatal Arson Fire
The fire siren in Davis Park — a private community within the
park near the NPS marina and campground at Watch Hill — went off
just after 8 p.m.on the evening of
Saturday, April 19th. Ranger Andrew Blake, who resides in Watch Hill,
responded to offer assistance for any emergency operation other than
structural firefighting. He arrived on scene within minutes and was
confronted by a combative and apparently intoxicated man, later
identified as R.B., who was trying to enter a building that was
engulfed in flames. Blake determined as best he could from the almost
incoherent R.B. that nobody was in the building, and also learned
that R.B. had previously entered the burning building and had been
escorted out by firefighters. Blake continued to bar R.B. from
entering the building and was physically threatened by R.B.'s dog and
with a Leatherman tool. Blake called for assistance; several Suffolk
County officers responded and arrested R.B., who by that time had
been subdued by Blake. In the ensuing investigation, Blake and the
officers learned that R.B. and his roommate, Thomas Woods, both
supposedly intoxicated, had made a bet as to which one could stay in the
house the longest after setting it on fire. A rug was reportedly set
ablaze and two rounds from an automatic pistol were fired before R.B.
ran from the house to call 911 at a neighbor's house. Woods, who won the
dare, was found dead inside the house. Charges are pending against
R.B.
[Submitted by Wayne Valentine, Chief Ranger]
Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD)
Three Fatal Accidents within Ten Days
Between April 9th and 18th, three people were killed on the parkway in single-vehicle accidents:
- April 9 — Park Police officers responded to a report of a
hit-and-run accident on
the parkway north of Route 197 just after 7 a.m.. They found a black Mitsubishi off the road and partially in the adjoining woods. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene by Prince George County Fire and Rescue. Her sole passenger, a young girl, was flown to Children's Hospital in Eagle 1, the USPP helicopter. The girl's injuries were not life-threatening. Detectives have found no evidence of a hit-and-run, but the investigation is continuing. - April 10 — Officers were notified of an accident north of Powdermill Road around 2 a.m. They found that a white Acura had gone down an embankment into the woods and that the driver and sole occupant had been killed. Witnesses told officers that he might have been drag racing when the accident occurred.
- April 18 — The driver of a Mazda Millenia lost control of his vehicle south of Powdermill Road around 5:30 a.m. and hit a tree. The passenger, who was ejected, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was flown to Baltimore Hospital's shock-trauma unit by Eagle 1.
[Submitted by Sergeant Scott R. Fear, US Park Police]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Kings Mountain National Military Park (SC)
Saddleback Prescribed Fire (Prescribed Fire Treatment)
Kings Mountain NMP conducted the Saddleback Prescribed Burn on April 20 with the assistance of the Great Smoky Mountains Fire Use Module, Cumberland Gap Fire Use Module, and other NPS personnel from Big South Fork NRRA, Congaree NP, and Ninety Six NHS.
The Saddleback unit is in the western section of the park. Local residences in the Antioch community lie to the west and north of the unit. The topography is rolling hills with some steep slopes. The unit was previously treated with fire in 2001. However southern pine beetle and ice damage from a severe ice storm in 2002 have contributed significantly to the fuel load in the area. (full report)
Status: The Browns Mountain Trail and Garner Creek Backcountry campsite are closed until Saturday, April 24, 2004. All other park facilities are open.
Acreage: 447 Acres
Resources Committed: On April 20, twenty-seven firefighters were on hand for ignition and holding. Mop-up and patrol was conducted on April 21 by 18 firefighters.
Estimated containment date: April 22, 2004[Submitted by Chris Revels, chris_revels@nps.gov, 864-936-7921]
Canyonlands National Park (UT)
Upheaval Fire (Wildland Fire)
Fire detected early afternoon 4-20-04. Cause of fire is under investigation. One historice structure threatened. Fire size is estimated at 7 acres. BLM Engine,NPS Engine 10 persons and Type III IC are assigned. Fire is along the Green River
Update 4-21-04 The historical structure that was threatened has been confirmed as lost to the fire. Fire orgin is under investigation. Wildland Fire Investigator has been ordered. Fire size is estimated at 8 acres burning in tamarish near the confluence of Taylor Creek and the Green River. Two BLM Engines, 10 persons and a Type III IC are assigned. (full report)
Fire is now 29 acres with expected containment today
Acreage: 29 acres
Estimated containment date: Expected containment 1800 4-22-04[Submitted by Larry Helmerick for Ross Wilmore, 303-969-2678 / 435-719-2120]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Coronado National Memorial (AZ)
GS-025 Park Ranger
Re-assignment opportunity at Coronado National Memorial for a currently employed, Career or Career-Conditional, National Park Service employee who is in the Park Ranger, GS-025 series at the GS-7 or GS-9 grade. The position is a required housing position. A relocation bonus of up to $5,000 is available.
Coronado National Memorial is located on the U.S./Mexico border in southeastern Arizona and shares 3.5 miles of border with Republic of Mexico. Elevation ranges from 4,600 feet to 7,676 feet. The park is surrounded by mountains on three sides with temperatures ranging from the mid 30's in the winter time up to as high as 100 in the summer. The park is resource rich with mammal, bird, reptile, plant and insect populations. The park has one natural cave that is rumored to have been a hide out for Geronimo during the Apache War. Hiking and bird watching are the biggest draws to the park. This region of Arizona is where much of the great lore of the southwest produced its reputation. The town of Sierra Vista (pop 40,000+) is located approximately 15 miles north of the park with all services available including shopping, medical, entertainment, restaurants and schools from elementary through the community college level.
POSITION: Park Ranger (Protection), GS-025-7/9, permanent, full-time, primary 6c position. Full-performance level is at the GS-9 level. Must possess a Level I NPS law enforcement commission. The tour of duty will include work on weekends, Federal holidays, early morning and late night hours. Due to location on the border, illegal alien smuggling and drug trafficking create major visitor and resource protection challenges for the patrol function of the Rangers.
The position duties include
- Perform a full range of law enforcement duties in both front and backcountry settings
- Conduct patrols by foot and vehicle
- Serve asa member of the emergency services team, which includes EMS, SAR, and structural/wildland fire
- Serve as a member of active homeland security program protecting the United States border
If interested, please contact Superintendent Dale Thompson at 520-366-5515 x21 and/or submit the following items: (1) OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment; Resume; or SF-171, Application for Federal Employment — Please include all experience, training and/or education related to the position duties.(2) Copy of your latest SF-50 that indicates your current title, series, grade, and step.(3) OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment.(4) Provide the date of issuance of your Federal law enforcement commission, as well as a list of your most current law enforcement training/refresher hours.(5) Copy of your latest performance appraisal.
Applications must be received by May 1, 2004 Mail your package to: National Park Service,Coronado National Memorial,4101 East Montezuma Canyon Road,Hereford, Arizona 85615-9376.
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.