Volcanoes National Park Gets New Fire Management Officer

Officials at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park today announced that James Courtright will take over as the park’s new Fire Management Officer.

Courtright, whose previous posts included work at Zion National Park and the Utah Parks Group, has nearly 20 years of experience in fire and aviation management, having worked to co-ordinate the extinguishing of wildfires through aviation operations, engine-based efforts and “hotshot” hand crews.

At his new position, Courtright will coordinate fire management with partner agencies, including the County of Hawai`i Fire Department, DLNR’s Division of Forestry & Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In total, Courtright will oversee fire management for 11 parks in the Pacific Island Park network, including national parks in American Samoa, Saipan, Guam, and all eight national park units in the state of Hawai`i.

Courtright and his wife Leslie are residents of Volcano, where they live with their two three-year-old daughters and an eight-month-old son.