Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (MD)
Dignitary Visits
The last week of April was a busy one for the park:
- April 22nd — The park hosted Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, Lt. Governor Michael Steele and other state leaders for a media event highlighting Earth Day, National Park Week, and efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay.
- April 27th — President Bush arrived at the park by helicopter to attend a function in downtown Baltimore and was greeted by Governor Ehrlich. A total of four helicopters landed on park grounds. Park staff assisted the Secret Service, White House staff, and US Marine Corps helicopter support staff in planning for the visit. The motorcade was supported by over 50 Baltimore city police officers and firefighters.
- April 29th — The park hosted Mayor Martin O'Malley and the Baltimore Fire Department for a family and agency memorial of the March 6th Seaport Taxi capsizing tragedy. The program included performances by the Baltimore City Police Department choir and speeches by leaders of all agencies who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts. Over 300 people participated in a visit to the site, including family members of deceased and injured victims, surviving passengers and assisting agencies.
The park served an important role in planning and supporting all of
these events and enjoyed tremendous support from the agencies
involved. There were no incidents.
[Submitted by Charles
Strickfaden, IC/Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report — Thursday, May 13, 2004
Preparedness Level 1
A total of 136 new fires were reported on Wednesday.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Warnings and Watches
No warnings or watches issued for today.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
|
Date |
5/7 |
5/8 |
5/9 |
5/10 |
5/11 |
5/12 |
5/13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crews |
108 |
84 |
87 |
23 |
39 |
3 |
1 |
|
Engines |
428 |
199 |
163 |
79 |
146 |
30 |
18 |
|
Helicopters |
29 |
23 |
22 |
19 |
15 |
8 |
4 |
|
Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
573 |
436 |
314 |
254 |
277 |
61 |
55 |
National Team Commitments
No national teams committed.
Everglades National Park (FL)
Blocks J & H Rx Fire (Prescribed Fire Treatment)
The pine rockland savannahs of Everglades National Park represent the remaining intact fragment of a pine stand that used to extend from the Everglades nearly to Ft. Lauderdale. These pines, a variety of which occurs virtually nowhere else but the Everglades, requires frequent fire. This burn was conducted to maintain the natural frequent fire regime that is required for the survival of this unique habitat. (full report)
A high pressure ridge anchored across Florida has brought several consecutive days of relatively low humidities, sunshine and breezy conditions. As a result the Block J&H; Rx continues to burn within the units. Over the weekend the fire made several "creeping" runs through one year rough areas in the southern portion of Block J, with ocassional flare ups in jackpots of fuel. The fire has also been burning into brushy areas with mature pines that have developed around the edges of hardwood hammocks within the units. These areas have been fire deprived for more than a decade and are unnaturally brushy, so the continued fire activity appears very beneficial. Total acreage estimates remain relatively the same as the fire is primarily picking up pockets of fuel embedded within the prior blackened area. The Fire Road hiking trails that surround parts of the burn remain closed to the public due to continued fire activity and snags.
Status: Pineland fire roads adjacent to the burn are currently closed since they represented holding lines. Engines are identifying and mitigating hazard snags, and it is expected trails will re-open May 8
Acreage: May 4: 205 acres, May 5: 800 acres (2 day total) May 6: 1000 acres (3 day total)
Resources Committed: For 3 days during ignition and holding we had 2-3 Type 6 engines assigned, 1 light helicopter, 1 ignition squad, and various overhead for command, ignition, holding, safety and fire monitoring. We also utilized NPS Rangers with marked vehicles for traffic control during phases of the burn. Current resources are 1 T6 engine, Burn Boss and Burn Boss Trainee. Light helicopter and additional engines are available as needed.
Estimated containment date: May 15, 2004[Submitted by Bob Panko, Fire Management Officer, bob_panko@nps.gov, 305-242-7852]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Park Dog Team Competes in Canine Trials
Ranger/handler Julie Kovacs and "Emma," the park's canine team, competed last week in the Desert Dog K9 Trials hosted by the Scottsdale and Phoenix Police Departments. Over 40 canine teams from across the country competed in all aspects of police dog work. Kovacs and "Emma" took third place in the narcotics detection trials.
Kovacs and "Emma" continue to do outstanding work and make significant cases for the National Park Service. They have a very positive reputation among the other state and federal agencies and their services are in great demand.
The park's canine program is recognized as a model within the NPS and other state and federal agencies. Requests for information on our canine standard operating procedures have been received from Big Bend, Amistad, Natchez Trace, Coronado, Lake Mead, Sequoia, Niobrara, the New Jersey State Park system, and the California State Park System.
[Submitted by Fred Patton, Chief Ranger]
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.