Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL,MS)
Drug Trafficking Arrests
Ranger Ryan Parr stopped a car in the park for a traffic infraction on Saturday, May 15th. Parr checked on driver M.C. of Pensacola on his in-car computer and found that there was a felony warrant out against him for trafficking in cocaine. Ranger Jay Drinkwater joined Parr and placed M.C. under arrest without incident. M.C.'s passenger, J.C., also of Pensacola, was removed from the vehicle, which was then searched. The rangers found and seized large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana. J.C. was also arrested. Both were charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and ecstasy and trafficking methamphetamine. Bonds were set at $74,000 and $73,000, respectively.
[Submitted by J.D. Lee, Chief Ranger]
Padre Island National Seashore (TX)
Drug and Illegal Immigrant Smuggling
Rangers found an abandoned "shark boat" from Mexico in the surf line
five miles south of the park's visitor center on the morning of May
21st. Interviews with park visitors revealed that an organized smuggling
operation had been underway there the previous night. An investigation
is being conducted, but no substantial leads have yet been developed. On
the following afternoon, rangers spotted two vehicles near Mansfield
Channel that appeared to be transporting illegal aliens. They began
surveillance, which was later continued by the Border Patrol. The two
vehicles left the area late in the day. When they stopped near the
park's entrance station, rangers and officers apprehended 11 illegal
immigrants from Mexico. Two days later, a ranger found and seized 15
bales containing over a quarter ton of marijuana. The bales had been
cached on the beach and covered with seaweed in an effort to conceal
them. They were probably delivered by a shark boat the previous
evening.
[Submitted by Randy Larson, Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report Highlights — Thursday, May 27, 2004
Preparedness Level 1
NIFC reported 107 new fires on Wednesday. One became a large fire.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas.
Warnings and Watches
No watches or warnings have been posted for today.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
|
Date |
5/21 |
5/22 |
5/23 |
5/24 |
5/25 |
5/26 |
5/27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crews |
22 |
40 |
51 |
42 |
50 |
57 |
46 |
|
Engines |
24 |
62 |
70 |
68 |
60 |
85 |
100 |
|
Helicopters |
6 |
7 |
16 |
16 |
14 |
19 |
13 |
|
Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
57 |
129 |
175 |
352 |
410 |
428 |
475 |
National Team Commitments
Newly listed fires (on this report) appear below in boldface. Fires are sorted by type of team; teams are listed in alphabetical order within each type by the IC's last name.
|
State |
Type |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres |
Acres |
Percent |
Est Full |
|
| |||||||
|
NM |
T2 |
Bateman |
Peppin Fire |
23,000 |
25,000 |
0 |
UNK |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Kvale |
KP Fire |
10,511 |
10,056 |
25 |
UNK |
|
NM |
T2 |
Winchester |
Lookout Fire |
5,100 |
5,280 |
90 |
5/27 |
Further Information
This report is meant to present just highlights of the current fire situation. Two other NIFC sites provide much greater detail:
Full NIFC Situation Report (PDF file) — http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf
National Fire News — http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
Information on the NPS Fire Management Program Center (FMPC) and on park fires can be found at:
FMPC — http://www.nps.gov/fire
Park fires — http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
Everglades National Park (FL)
Howard Wildland Fire (Wildland Fire)
On May 25 at approximately 6:30pm, firefighters from the park spotted and responded to a wildland fire in the East Everglades area of the park. The fire started outside the park and quickly spread into the park. By midnight, firefighters had the fire approximately 90% contained. By 3:00pm today the fire was declared controlled. (full report)
Acreage: 145 acres
Resources Committed: Three engines, a water tender, one light helicopter, and one single-engine air tanker responded from the park.
Estimated containment date: May 26, 2004[Submitted by Michelle Fidler, Fire Information Officer, Michelle_Fidler@nps.gov, 305-242-7898]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Fire and Aviation Management
National MAC Group Issues Firefighter Safety Reminder
May 21, 2004
To: Geographic Area Coordination Groups
From: National Multi Agency Coordination Group
As we move into the 2004 fire season, all indications are that it will be as severe as the last four. Add the recent announcement that the USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management have terminated the contracts for large fixed-wing airtankers, and it appears to be another tough year for our firefighters on the line. It is a good time to stress that firefighter and public safety is the #1 priority in all firefighting operations, and that regardless of the resources that may or may not be available, the basic rules of firefighting still apply.
Firefighter safety must not be compromised as a result of the loss of our airtanker fleet. As most of us learned early on, tactics should never be dependent on aerial support. As long as firefighters adhere to the Standard Firefighting Orders, maintain situational awareness and mitigate the risks associated with the 18 Watchout Situations, their safety is assured.
To further reinforce firefighter safety in this context of reduced heavy airtanker capability, Agency Administrators and Fire Managers must re-evaluate and, if necessary, modify the strategic and tactical directions they give to Incident Commanders.
The shortage of heavy airtankers may increase the likelihood of emerging fires escaping initial attack, resulting in the need for more firefighters.
Recognizing this, it is important that the fatigue of firefighters and support personnel be closely monitored, and that proactive countermeasures to mitigate that fatigue be identified and implemented early in the season.
Agency Administrators and Fire Managers are urged to stress the following points with firefighters:
- Fight every fire from a solid anchor point, and always ensure the line is secure before moving on.
- If the lack of airtanker support is making control objectives difficult to attain, look for tactical advantages that can be achieved by applying more effort after the burning period (cooler temperatures, higher humidities), and by taking advantage of terrain and fuel breaks.
- Maintain situational awareness and recognize changes in fire behavior that may indicate the need to modify strategy or tactics. Use the Risk Management Process outlined in the Incident Response Pocket Guide(IRPG).
- Always ensure LCES is implemented.
- Diligently follow the Standard Firefighting Orders and mitigate for the 18 Situations that Shout "Watch Out".
- In order to make the most of limited resources, minimize acreage lost through emphasis on aggressive initial attack. Initial attack should remain the top priority for most available aviation resources.
- Always maintain positive communication, and make certain everyone knows and understands the plan.
Remember, the loss of large airtankers gives us one less tool in the toolbox and we must improvise and adapt to that loss. Staying vigilant and consistently applying basic firefighting principles to our operations will ensure that no firefighter will be at greater risk.
Discuss these points with your crews and your fellow firefighters early this season, and keep them in mind as you work through the year. Have a good season.
/s/ Don Artley
Chair, NMAC
[Submitted by Regional Fire Management Officers]
Training and Employee Development
Fundamentals of Special Park Uses
Dates: 08/09/2004 - 08/13/2004
Location: Albuquerque, NM
This 36 hour course will cover all aspects of Special Park Uses from First Admendment to Filming and Photography to Wireless Telecommunication Sites. The course agenda includes a field exercise at Petroglyph National Monument. Also included is a session on temporary food services and other health and safety issues. DO-53/RM-53 is covered in depth, as well as 36 CFR and NPS Management Policies 2001.[Submitted by Lee Dickinson/Mary Robinson, 202-513-7092/304-535-6732] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Intermountain Region
Fire Management Officer, Mesa Verde NP - GS-0401-11/12
Dates: 05/21/2004 - 06/30/2004
The Fire Management Officer position is now open at Mesa Verde National Park. Applications will be accepted through June 30, 2004, for both the GS-11 and GS-12 grade levels. Mesa Verde has had a number of major fires during the past decade and is an exciting and challenging venue for fire career professionals.
[Submitted by Laura Lenihan, laura_lenihan@nps.gov, 970-529-5078] More Information...
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.