Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site (GA)
Plane Crashes In Park
On October 19th, a small twin-engine, six-passenger plane crashed on Edgewood Avenue less than 50 yards from Dr. King's birthplace and the building housing the site's interpretive rangers.
Ranger Jon Thacker with the first law enforcement officer to arrive on scene. He employed two fire extinguishers from his patrol vehicle on the fire that followed the crash, but the plane was fully engulfed in flames and his efforts were unavailing. A large cloud of black smoke surrounded the area. Thacker secured the scene until city firefighters could arrive.
Both of the people onboard the plane — J.I., 71, and R.I., 67, both of Nokomis, Florida — were killed in the crash.
The plane had taken off from Peachtree-Dekalb Airport and was heading for Venice, Florida, when air traffic controllers received a distress call from the pilot.
The NTSB is investigating and has stated that it could take up to six months to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Several park staff witnessed the incident. A CISM team member met
with several of them.
[Submitted by Clark W. Moore, Chief Ranger]
Buffalo National River (AR)
Historic Property Burns
While on patrol in the park's historic Rush Mining District on October 25th, rangers discovered that the historic Hicks Store (circa 1916) had burned and that there was still active fire in the remains of the house. The structure, which was unoccupied, was a total loss. The Hicks Store served as a residence, store, and later as a ranger residence; it was subsequently was removed from service.
The rangers also found that someone had driven into the Morning Star site about a half mile from the store and had forcibly removed and stolen a park wayside exhibit with information about the barn that was at that location until it was destroyed by fire in 1998.
It's not known if the two incidents are related. but evidence at the Morning Star suggests that it may have occurred at about the same time.
An Arkansas State Police arson team was notified and offered
assistance with the case. Midwest Region has also sent personnel to
investigate.
[Submitted by Lee Buschkowsky, Acting Chief
Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Situation Highlights — Monday, November 1, 2004
NPS Fires
For a brief supplemental narrative on each fire, click on the bar with the arrow. Internal NPS readers can link directly to full reports on each fire by clicking on the notepad icon; public readers of the Morning Report can obtain similar information by going to http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
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National Situation Report
The full NIFC Incident Management Situation Report for today can be obtained at http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf. NIFC's national fire news is at http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Big Cypress National Preserve (FL)
GS0-0401-12/13 Fire Management Officer
Dates: 10/29/2004 - 11/29/2004
Big Cypress National Preserve is recruiting for a full-time, permanent fire management officer, GS-0401-12/13 to serve as the chief of the division of fire and aviation.
The person in this position provides overall direction and scientific and specialized expertise for the park's wildland fire management program and manages a wide range of aviation activities. She/he serves on the park's management team and participates in major decision processes, manages and resolves major issues facing the park, and represents the park in numerous public and private forums. Primary firefighting experience is a mandatory prerequisite/selective factor for this position.
The qualification requirements specified in the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) qualifications standards and guide must be met. The IFPM became effective October 1, 2004 and can be reviewed at www.nifc.gov/training_quals/IFPM/implementationplan.htm .
The position is advertised as announcement number BICY-05-02 and closes on November 29th. The announcement can be found on USAJobs, www.usajobs.opm.gov
For additional information, contact Edie Sparks, human resources specialist, at 239-695-1127.
[Submitted by Edie Sparks, Edith_Sparks@nps.gov, 239-695-1127]
Big Cypress National Preserve (FL)
GS-0404-7/8/9 Biological Science Technician (Exotic Plants)
Dates: 10/29/2004 - 11/10/2004
Big Cypress National Preserve is recruiting for a full-time, permanent biological science technician (exotic plants), GS-0404-07/08/09 to serve in the park's resource management division.
The person in this position plans, designs and implements resource management programs and projects with emphasis on exotic plant control and other projects related to exotic vegetation for resource management; develops exotic plant control plans; selects appropriate methods for control of exotic plans; evaluates data and prepares a variety of reports; and undertakes work in natural resources coordination, data collection and database management.
The position is advertised governmentwide as announcement number BICY-05-01, and to all sources through OPM as announcement number AT199398. Both vacancy announcements close November 10, 2004 and can be found on USAJobs, www.usajobs.opm.gov
For additional information, contact Edie Sparks, human resources specialist, at 239-695-1127.
[Submitted by Edie Sparks, Edith_Sparks@nps.gov, 239-695-1127]
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.