During the Western Pines Prescribed Burn during roadside ignition operation a vehicle went through an approximated 3x3 utility access hole with its rear dully. The location was on Main Park Road, near Sisal Pond, and on the northbound grass shoulder. The unit was FL-EVP Engine 605 and is a type 6 engine which had a full tank of water. The driver of 605 was a detailer from Lolo National Forest and was unfamiliar with the area. The right rear dully went through halfway down (approximately 1 foot). No wires were exposed. No injuries or damage occurred to Engine 605. The cover of the access was destroyed and will be replaced (I assume) by NPS maintenance staff. The access hole was originally complete covered in vegetation and not marked. As a law enforcement officer that was working traffic control at the time, I took the report (case number NP24036599). No violations occurred and there will be no further action from a law enforcement standpoint.
Most of the utility lines access ports are in this condition. These also include some FPL High Voltage access. To prevent a more serious incident the park and the utility providers must clear vegetation on a regular basis and permanently mark with high vis standing markers. The locations must be accurately mapped for pre-incident and incident planning purposes. The maps should include what exactly the utilities are for each access point. |
