Something New Every Day

Structural Fire Protection Intern Returns for Second Season and New Experiences

Every summer, the NPS Structural Fire Program recruits and places fire protection engineering, fire protection administration, and fire investigation students in NPS sites across the country to assist parks with meeting their structural fire management responsibilities. Structural Fire Protection Interns bring their knowledge of fire protection systems and fire prevention strategies to the parks; in turn, parks offer vital work experience that the interns can take into future careers.

Lisa Wier assisting with monthly fire extinguisher inspections next to the Argonite fire suppression system at Fort Frederica National Monument.

Jared Brewer

Lisa Wier was selected to participate as an intern in the program in summer 2020 and returned for a second season in 2021. Lisa spent summer 2020 working at the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C. Due to the full force of COVID-19 and most of the city in shutdown, the internship offered a quiet and simplistic look at the famous city. Lisa worked with another intern and together, they formed a formidable team. The partnership allowed them to cover tasks that normally took several days, such as performing monthly inspections of hundreds of portable fire extinguishers scattered throughout the park. They were able to tailor tasks to their specialties, such as Lisa’s interest in emergency management.

Structural Fire Protection Interns Lisa Wier, Eric Johnson, and Liora Mervis assisting with inspections of the racks and tubes for the Fourth of July fireworks on the National Mall in 2020.

NPS

A View That Can't Be Beat

One of the main tasks was to assist with the Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall. With help from other interns, they inspected the racks to make sure they were free of debris and assisted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with checking the firework inventory. Later that night, they received one of the best views of the fireworks in West Potomac Park.

Other projects included inspecting fire extinguishers around the National Mall, coding an Excel spreadsheet with the portable fire extinguisher locations and dates to change colors when the annual inspection dates were overdue, and writing a structural fire protection plan for the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Lisa developed a keen eye for not only spotting large and external hazards and concerns in buildings, but also took notice of the smaller ones that were often overlooked.

Lisa worked on organizing COVID-19 supply kits for park rangers when they return to work; kits contained a thermometer, extra gloves and masks, hand sanitizer, and information about the symptoms of COVID and what to do in the event someone is exposed. “It’s fulfilling to know they’ll be used when the interpreters return and hopefully ease some of their worries about their work environment,” said Lisa.

New Experiences

In 2021, Lisa worked at Cumberland Island National Seashore near St. Marys, Georgia. This assignment was uniquely special since she not only got to live and work on Cumberland Island, but also worked on the mainland and at another park, Fort Frederica. Lisa increased fire safety standards for park personnel and staff by providing more information on fire drills, manual pull stations, sprinkler systems, trail signs on the island, ensuring the proper number and location of portable fire extinguishers, and she created evacuation maps for the mainland museum and visitor center.

The motto used frequently on the island is “there’s always something new every day,” and that describes life on the island. Lisa reflects, “I never really had a set agenda for the day, merely a list of things I would like to work on. However, most days something random would come up like a sudden emergency that required all hands, visitors approaching too close to feral horses, a small plane making an emergency landing, a storm’s sudden change resulting in evacuating campers, internet issues, or a report of two bikers who may need aid at the north end, and you have to drive an hour to go check on them.” “There’s always something, but it honestly made it more interesting,” Lisa added. Lisa felt fortunate to be integrated into the park’s daily operations. One of the most rewarding moments was assisting with evacuations for Tropical Storm Elsa and managing to evacuate all the campers onto the last ferry.

Fulfilling the NPS Mission

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned through the internships is the importance of preserving the natural environment for future generations. It’s an uphill battle in terms of protecting the parks; in both parks, one is one of the most recognizable parks in the country and the other preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the island, there is a great need for fire protection, as they both suffer from degrading fire protection systems and inadequate protection. Structural fire protection, much like the rest of emergency management, isn’t a “fun” topic for some, but its importance is necessary. Fire protection systems and management plans are what stand between the destruction of cultural artifacts and the natural preservations of the land; once they’re gone, they’re gone. I am hoping that my work at both parks have put a dent into maintaining the fire protection systems that my supervisors can bounce off from.”

Lisa Wier working on Cumberland Island’s emergency operations plan in the ranger station.

NPS/Lisa Wier

One of the biggest benefits of working two terms Lisa found is that she could carry what she learned from the previous position into the next one. Lisa learned more about the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and other relevant codes and by the time she arrived at Cumberland Island NS, she was more confident and able to work independently. Lisa’s supervisor, Jared Brewer stated “Lisa has been an amazing asset to my programs at Cumberland Island NS and Fort Frederica. Lisa helped with all the projects I had listed at the start of the season and more. She has been instrumental in moving the structure fire management program to the next level. We have made the program more clear, more efficient, and more effective during the time of the internship."

Looking to the Future

Lisa networked and spent time with mentors provided to her during both seasons. She remembers a very different experience from each location. “Some of my favorite moments were spent with my mentors. At National Mall and Memorial Parks, my mentor and I would go for walks around the memorials to inspect the fire extinguishers in the early mornings. The mornings were quiet and there were few tourists, and they allowed us to enjoy the memorials ourselves. These walks have taught me to appreciate the little things in life, to take a moment to breathe and let it all in. At Cumberland Island NS, my mentor and I worked in different locations, he on the mainland and myself on the island. Though we chatted daily, his visits to the island roughly once a week were always the highlight of my week. We would work on projects together, eat some lunch, and chat about a variety of topics. Both of my mentors have assisted with my academic and professional careers as well” said Lisa. This mentoring encouraged Lisa to attend graduate school. Lisa stated, “Their support and confidence in me is something for which I am forever grateful.”