Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
High Speed Pursuit of Tireless Vehicle
On the afternoon of May 1st, Pima County deputies radioed rangers and
asked for their assistance in stopping a Ford F-250 pickup whose tires
they'd spiked. Although the truck had two flat tires, the driver was
still heading south on Highway 85 at speeds in excess of 85 mph. The
rangers laid more spikes on the road and took out the remaining two
tires, but failed to discourage the driver. The vehicle continued south
on exposed rims at more than 65 mph, all four rims throwing off sparks,
with eight cruisers following. The pursuit was broken off before the
truck entered Lukeville. Although the Border Patrol alerted Mexican
authorities to the chase in progress, the truck passed through the
Mexican port of entry with no resistance and no pursuit by any Mexican
officer.
[Submitted by Fred Patton, Chief Ranger]
Coronado National Memorial (AZ)
Sentencing on Weapons Charge
On April 30th, C.S., 43, was sentenced in U.S. District Court
to two years probation and a $1,000 fine for possession of a weapon and
providing false information following conviction on those charges in a
trial held earlier this year. C.S.. was cited by rangers in January,
2003, while conducting "homeland security patrols" within the park. He
was found to be carrying a concealed handgun and denied that he had the
weapon in his possession. The case attracted extensive media attention
after C.S.. was identified as the founder of the Civil Homeland
Defense, a local citizen group focusing on border security watches to
turn over illegal immigrants to the Border Patrol. He will be prohibited
from owning or possessing a weapon during his probation period.
[Submitted by Robert E. Stinson, Acting Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report — Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Preparedness Level 1
A total of 312 new fires were reported yesterday, only two of which escaped initial attack.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
Warnings and Watches
A RED FLAG WARNING has been posted today for strong southwest winds and low humidity in central and northeast New Mexico.
FIRE WEATHER WATCHES are up for strong west to southwest winds and low humidity in eastern Arizona and western and southern New Mexico
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
|
Date |
5/6 |
5/7 |
5/8 |
5/9 |
5/10 |
5/11 |
5/12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crews |
* |
108 |
84 |
87 |
23 |
39 |
3 |
|
Engines |
* |
428 |
199 |
163 |
79 |
146 |
30 |
|
Helicopters |
* |
29 |
23 |
22 |
19 |
15 |
8 |
|
Air Tankers |
* |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
* |
573 |
436 |
314 |
254 |
277 |
61 |
* No report available.
National Team Commitments
No national teams committed.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
Tam Fire
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 9th, a vegetation fire was reported west of US Highway One near the town of Mill Valley in the community of Tam Valley. Responding units discovered a one acre fire in chaparral moving upslope towards a seventy acre stand of eucalyptus. The fire quickly spread, threatening nearby homes and forcing a several hour closure of Highway One.
Initial attack resources included wildland and structural engine strike teams, hand crews, a Type III helicopter, an information officer, GIS support, and law enforcement from Marin County, Southern Marin Fire District, Presidio Fire Department, California Department of Forestry, Marin and Sonoma County Sheriff, CHP, NPS (Golden Gate NRA, Point Reyes National Seashore and John Muir NHS), and other local North Bay communities.
The Tam Fire was contained at 30 acres late Sunday and declared under control Monday afternoon. Crews will continue mop up through this week.
Last year, the park and Southern Marin Fire conducted several WUI fuel reduction projects which provided a safer work environment for firefighters during this fire.
No private homes were damaged and no injuries reported to date. Live fuel moistures were above 100%. Had this fire occurred later in the season, expected fire behavior would be much more severe and control would have been significantly more difficult.
The cause of the fire under investigation by Marin County Fire and the park.
[Submitted by Alex Naar, Fire Management Officer]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
National Interagency Fire Center
Forest Service and DOI Cancel Large Air Tanker Contract
The U.S.D.A. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior announced yesterday that they are terminating the contract for 33 large airtankers due to concerns over the airworthiness of the aircraft and public safety. The large fixed-wing airtankers were used in wildland firefighting primarily for initial attack and structure protection support.
The decision comes in response to findings and recommendations contained in the April 23, 2004, National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) report on three previous airtanker accidents. One critical NTSB finding states "it was apparent that no effective mechanism currently exists to ensure the continuing airworthiness of these firefighting aircraft." The NTSB report also concluded that the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior were responsible for ensuring the safety of firefighting aircraft. Private companies operate the 33 airtankers under a contract with the federal agencies during the fire season.
The agencies have developed a strategy for the 2004 firefighting season to supplement aerial resources with other available aircraft such as large helicopters and helitankers, single engine airtankers (SEATS), and military C-130 aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS). A strategy for long-term aviation asset management and acquisitions of newer aircraft based on available funding will be developed by the leadership of the Forest Service and the DOI agencies.
For the full text of the press release and several informative links, click on "More Information" below.
More Information...
Chief Information Officer
NPS Launches IMARS News Website
The NPS has been tasked by DOI with taking the lead to create a system that will allow multi-bureau collection, reporting, analysis, management, and sharing of information related to incidents. The Incident Management Analysis and Reporting System (IMARS) will initially be focused on law enforcement, security and emergency management, but will ultimately include incidents from a broad range of programs (e.g., resource observations and actions, fire, employee safety and health, traffic accidents).
The IMARS News website will provide information to NPS employees on the background and status of the project. Users can type in http://inside.nps.gov/IMARSnews to go directly to the site. Because it will contain information of interest across a range of programs, links are being added from pages such as InsideNPS Risk Management, Visitor and Resource Protection, Cultural Resources, Natural Resources, Structural Fire, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, etc.
IMARS Project Coordinator Ginny Rousseau developed and coordinated content for the site. Kathy Gerding and Judy Jaffie of the National Information Systems Center (NISC), Office of the CIO, did the technical development.
Contacts:
Project Coordinator: Ginny Rousseau 202/513-7097
NISC: Kathy Gerding 202/354-1445 or Judy Jaffie 202/354-1444
More Information...
Slippery Rock University Park Ranger Training Program
Joe Kolodski Memorial Scholarship Fund Update
Earlier this spring, the Park Ranger Society and the Park Ranger Training Program of Slippery Rock University launched a fundraising campaign for a new scholarship, the Joe Kolodski Memorial Scholarship.
On June 21, 1998, Joe Kolodski was serving as a protection ranger in Great Smoky Mountains National Park when he responded to a call regarding an armed man threatening visitors at an overlook on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. Park Ranger Kolodski was shot and killed as he emerged from his patrol vehicle at the overlook. Other rangers arrived seconds later and were shot at as well before the assailant fled into the woods. He was apprehended soon afterwards.
Joe and his wife, Florie, were both 1983 graduates of the Park and Resource Management Program at Slippery Rock University. His wife and three children survive him. In honor of his memory, the SRU Park Ranger Society and the Park Ranger Training Program established the Joe Kolodski Memorial Scholarship to benefit outstanding students who wish to pursue careers in the park and resource protection field.
Slippery Rock University has already kicked off fundraising for the scholarship. Dr. Jane Fulton, the Dean of the College of Health, Environment, and Science (CHES), recently started the endowment with a gift of $5,000 from CHES. The fund must receive a total of $10,000 before it can become officially "endowed." Our goal in this campaign is to raise an additional $5,000 before National Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15, 2004.
As of May 7, 2004 NPS employees had contributed an additional $1,470 dollars through donations. Thus we have a total of $6,470 in the scholarship at this time. We need $3,530 to fully endow the scholarship.
In remembrance of our colleague and friend, please help support this worthy cause and contribute to the Joe Kolodski Memorial Scholarship. A donation of any amount is greatly appreciated and can be sent to:
Joe Kolodski Memorial Scholarship Fund
SRU Foundation
100 Old Main
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
[Submitted by Dr. John Lisco]
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.