As part of the National Park Service’s response to the novel coronavirus, wildland fire staff across the country are getting ready for the upcoming fire season. This summer will be different, presenting a new set of challenges to firefighters as this global pandemic has reshaped how people interact, gather, travel, and work. The NPS Alpine Hotshot Crew, like all wildland firefighters, are looking for innovative ways to mitigate the risk of exposure to firefighters while continuing to provide their essential public service this summer.

Fireworks will be igniting the night sky over Mount Rushmore National Memorial this Fourth of July as the National Park Service has come up with guidelines to allow the displays to return after an 11-year absence. However, planning for forest fires that might be set by the fireworks, managing visitors to the memorial during the event, and dealing with environmental contamination are issues that must be addressed.

When the gates to national parks swing open in the coming weeks, expect to find initial restrictions as to what you can do and where you can go, restrictions that will be eased based on the current coronavirus status. In some cases, states might require non-residents coming into their states for non-work-related purposes to self-isolate for two weeks.

Once upon a time, in the last century, there were big ideas for a huge jetport in the swamps of Florida. The project was known as the Big Cypress Swamp Jetport. Those who produced an environmental impact statement on the project said it would, in short, kill Everglades National Park.