Irony [Archive] - BLiNC Magazine

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May 19th, 2000, 11:20 AM

That, so far, while trying to "protect" wilderness, the wise policymakers and policy executors of the NPS have, so far, burned down more than 60,000 acres of formerly pristine wilderness and spent tens of millions of taxpayer dollars... while at the same time continuing to prosecute and bad-mouth BASE jumpers as being a threat to the parks...

Here below is reprinted the relevant portions of the May 18, 2000 NPS Morning Report...

does this make it a little less confusing and dazzling??

NPS FIRES

Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - The Cedar Ridge fire was contained
yesterday at 310 acres.

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - A Type I incident management team (Frye) has
been assigned to the Outlet fire, which is burning in designated and
proposed wilderness 25 miles south of Jacob Lake. The fire has burned
13,350 acres and is 55% contained. Cooler weather and higher humidity
have reduced fire activity. Crews completed lines along a significant
portion of the north flank of the fire and have begun mop-up on the
western third of the fire's perimeter. Currently committed are 1,162
firefighters and overhead personnel, 32 engines and seven helicopters.

Bandelier NM (NM) - An area command team (Meuchel) and two Type I
incident management teams (Humphrey and Gage] are assigned to the
Cerro Grande fire. The fire has burned 47,574 acres and is 60%
contained. High winds continued yesterday but didn't cause any
significant increase in acreage burned. No significant fire activity
was seen along the perimeter. Patrol, mop-up and rehabilitation
operations are underway on the south side of the fire. Currently
committed are 1,283 firefighters, 25 engines and nine helicopters.

Park staff returned to work on Wednesday for the first time in a week.
An all-employee meeting was conducted by acting superintendent Alan
Cox. Park staff are now able to access cc:Mail and are making
preparations for re-opening the park, possibly on Saturday.
Additional resources are being ordered to support park operations.

Director Stanton has transmitted a memo to all employees on ways in
which contributions can be made to those affected by the fire. Please
see the "Memoranda" section below.

Secretary Babbitt will hold a news conference at 1:30 p.m. today
(Santa Fe time) in which he will release the preliminary findings of
the fire investigation. The complete report and supporting
documentation will be posted to the NPS web page at
www.nps.gov/cerrogrande. It will be posted during the press
conference, and should be available in both PDF and HTML formats.

Secretary Babbitt has also announced the names of the four-member
independent panel that will review the fire investigation findings.
This review is to be completed by May 26th.