- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 30, 1994
- Date: Thurs, 30 Jun 1994
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, June 30, 1994
Broadcast: By 0930 ET
INCIDENTS
93-510 - Zion (Utah) - Follow-up on Search and Rescue Incident
On June 20th, the Department of Interior solicitor in Salt Lake City denied
the $20 million plus tort claim filed last January as a result of two
fatalities and personal injuries which occurred in accidents on the north
boundary of the park on July 15, 1993. On that date, D.F., 27, and
K.E., 37, drowned in two separate incidents about an hour apart on
private property in Kolob Creek adjacent to the park. The two victims, a
surviving adult and five teen-age Explorer Scouts were on a four-day hike
which was scheduled to conclude in the park on July 17th and had a permit
for the last night of their trip through Zion Narrows. After they were
reported overdue, an extensive helicopter search in very rugged terrain was
initiated. The six survivors were located and rescued on July 19th through
a cooperative effort by Washington County sheriff's officers and the park's
SAR team. On January 3rd, the park received multiple tort claims for
millions of dollars from attorneys representing families of both victims and
survivors and passed them on to the solicitor. On instructions from the
solicitor, the park is releasing no information and media inquiries are
being directed to his office for response. A suit in district court is
possible. [Denny Davies, PIO, ZION, 6/29]
94-342 - Death Valley (California) - Vehicle Pursuit
Rangers attempted to stop a Ford Mustang speeding on the Daylight Pass Road
near the Nevada border on the evening of June 24th, but the driver -
subsequently identified as J.H., 35, of Trona, California - refused
to stop and continued to speed westbound through the park. A license check
indicated that the registration was for another vehicle. California Highway
Patrol and Inyo and San Bernadino county officers joined the pursuit, which
continued for 90 miles and ended up in Trona. Speeds during the pursuit
reached 70 mph. When J.H. was taken into custody, he stated that he didn't
stop for officers because he did not want his car impounded on the roadside
and couldn't pay the towing bill. J.H. also said that he'd watched the
pursuit of O.J. Simpson prior to the latter's arrest and that he knew the
officers wouldn't run him off the road. J.H. was arrested on driving under
the influence and several other federal and state charges related to this
and previous driving incidents. [CRO, DEVA, 6/28]
94-343 - Yellowstone (Wyoming) - MVA with Multiple Injuries
Just before 4 p.m. on June 26th, a vehicle heading southbound on a park road
two miles north of Norris went off the road and hit some trees. Four adults
and four children were injured in the accident. All the adults were wearing
seatbelts; a three-year-old was in a child restraint seat, but the other
children were not wearing belts. Rangers from three districts and staff
from Lake Hospital responded to the incident. Five ambulances were employed
to transport all eight victims to the Lake Hospital for initial care. Two
patients in critical condition were subsequently flown to the Eastern Idaho
Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls and two patients in serious condition
were taken to West Park Hospital in Cody, Wyoming. The remaining four
victims were treated and released. The cause of the accident is under
investigation. but it appears that the driver may have fallen asleep. [Mike
Murray, ACR, YELL, 6/28]
94-344 - Ozark (Missouri) - Serious Injury; Life Saved
On June 18th, B.W. of Sugar Creek, Missouri, was diving from a
cliff at the Flying W area on the Current River when he either collided with
another person in mid-air or hit an underwater obstruction and suffered a
severely fractured skull and compressed vertebrae. Visitors and rangers
provided initial first aid at the scene. While being transported to a
hospital, ranger Bill Terry provided mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the
eight to ten occasions during which B.W. stopped breathing. B.W.
received 70 stitches to his head, but is expected to recover fully. Alcohol
was probably a factor in the accident. [Tim Blank, OZAR, 6/28]
94-345 - Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Rescue
Just after noon on Monday, June 27th, rangers were notified that a visitor
had fallen from the top of Buttermilk Falls in the New Jersey District.
Thirteen-year-old Boy Scout N.R. was washing himself in a pool at
the top of the falls; when he looked over the edge of the falls, he slipped,
tumbled down the face of the falls, and landed on fellow Boy Scout Keith
Bader, 15. The park's rescue/evacuation team performed a belayed carry-out
from the falls. N.R. was then flown to Morristown Memorial Hospital,
where he is in guarded condition with fractures to the skull and pelvis,
lacerations to his spleen and liver, and kidney problems. Bader made his
way to the base of the falls by foot prior to rangers' arrival; he was taken
to Newton Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for bruises and abrasions
and later released. Initial emergency calls were made via cellular phone by
one of the Scout leaders. [Dennis Burnett, Acting CR, DEWA, 6/28]
94-346 - Point Reyes (California) - Drowning
On June 26th, Robert Lalley, 25, and B.E., 32, both of Citrus
Heights, California, were dropped off by boat to swim ashore and dive for
abalones near the Bird Rock area. B.E. made it safely to shore; when he
looked back, however, he saw that Lalley was having difficulties. B.E.
swam to Lalley, found him unresponsive, pulled him to the rocks, and began
CPR. Bystanders provided assistance and summoned help. Rangers responded
by vehicle, the Coast Guard sent a helicopter and boat and Sonoma County
sent a medical helicopter. Attempts to revive Lalley proved fruitless,
however. Lalley was in good shape and an experienced diver, but, according
to B.E., may not have been wearing his snorkel and mask over his face and
may have had too much weight on his belt. [Leroy Brock, CR, PORE, 6/28]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - III
2) LARGE FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/29 6/30 Status
CO State - Mexican Ridge 995 995 CND
BLM Grand Jct. Dis. Buniger - T2 1,900 1,600 CN 7/2
Craig Dis. Fletcher 2 1,500 1,500 CND
* Miller - 180 CND
BIA S. Ute Agency * Morgan/Cox 218 995 CN 6/29
AZ USFS Prescott NF * Peck - T2 80 xxx NEC
* Catclaw Comp. - T2 - 800 NEC
Kaibab NF * Jump 150 150 CND
Coronado NF * Peloncillo 200 200 NEC
* Cottonwood - 8,770 CN 7/9
Tonto NF * Armor - 500 NEC
* Tangle - 2,000 NEC
BLM Phoenix Dis. * Perkins Comp. - T2 9,000 25,946 CND
* Coyote Comp. - T2 1,400 7,067 CND
* Jurassic 2,500 3,385 CND
* Ryland - 400 CN 7/1
State - * Oracle - 1,500 CN 6/30
* Mule II - 450 CN 6/29
NM USFS Cibola NF Ryan Comp. - T2 24,800 24,800 CN 6/30
* Raton - T2 - 75 NEC
Lincoln NF * Gap 1,800 1,800 CND
BLM Roswell Dis. * Loco 200 200 CND
* Halfway 300 300 CND
* 16 Mile 100 100 CND
State - * Windsock 1,000 1,000 CND
* Taxiway 1,000 1,000 CND
* Pipeline 180 180 CND
* Weatherby - 500 NEC
NV BLM Las Vegas Dis. * Rattlesnake 2,500 5,700 NEC
USFS Toiyabe NF * Lovell 320 320 CND
UT USFS Wasatch -
Cache NF * Boy Scout - T2 350 425 CN 7/1
BLM Moab Dis. * Coalbed - T2 970 970 CN 6/30
* Bitter Creek - 3,500 NEC
* Mustang - 110 CN 6/30
Richfield Dis. * Black Rock - 1,700 CND
S.L. City Dis. * Chokecherry - 700 CND
State - * Blue Creek 600 600 CND
* Marble Canyon - 450 CN 6/30
OR BLM Prineville Dis. Box Elder 1,680 1,680 CND
Ferry 7,500 7,500 CN 6/29
USFS Winema NF * Chiloquin
Comp. - T2 1,500 1,500 CND
TX State - * LY-HQ Comp. 11,000 11,000 NEC
CA State - Hunter 700 700 CND
Bailey 3,560 6,420 CN 6/30
Second - T1 4,600 4,900 CN 7/1
* Fairview 1,000 1,760 CN 6/29
* Gilman 1,200 1,970 CN 7/1
* Copper Comp. - 3,250 CN 6/30
* Aero - 1,600 NEC
* Cuneo - 715 CN 6/29
BLM Cal Des. Dis. * Piute Comp. - 3,500 NEC
USFS Sequoia NF * Lucas Comp. - T1 5,140 6,960 CN 6/30
NOTES:
- Fires - Asterisk indicates newly reported fire (on this report). T1 and
T2 indicate assigned Type I and Type II Teams.
- Status - The following abbreviations are employed:
NR - No report received MS - Modified suppression strategy
CL - Controlled MN - Being monitored
CS - Containment strategy NEC - No estimate of containment
CND - Contained CN/CS (date) - Expected date of containment
3) FIRE HIGHLIGHTS -
Bailey, Riverside RU, California State - Adverse weather conditions slowed
line construction yesterday and pushed containment back a day. A bulldozer
deployed its curtain and a captain and five inmates on the Cuesta crew were
forced to deploy their shelters yesterday, but nobody was injured.
Piute Complex, California Desert District, BLM - The complex includes five
large and 14 smaller fires; only three have resources assigned. Extreme
fire behavior and temperatures of over 120 degrees are creating suppression
problems. All line was lost yesterday afternoon.
Bunier, Grand Junction District, BLM - Secretary Babbitt, seeking
firefighting experience, joined a hotshot crew yesterday and spent the day
on the fire.
4) FIRES TODAY (BY AGENCY) -
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Number 0 23 21 0 33 70 147
Acres Burned 7 10 51,147 0 21,808 4,225 77,197
5) COMMITTED RESOURCES -
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Federal 215 195 49 20 778
Non-federal 120 235 16 10 315
6) CURRENT SITUATION - Initial attack and new large fires continued in
California, the Rockies, the Great Basin and the Southwest yesterday. Fire
indices remain very high to extreme at most units in those areas. Initial
attack resources are stretched thin in most areas. Competition continues
for Type I crews, airtankers and medium helicopters. Containment was
achieved on several fires, however, and resources are being reassigned as
fast as they are released. NICC continus to mobilize resources to the
Southwest, Great Basin, Rockies and California.
7) OUTLOOK - A strong high pressure system centered over southern Arizona
and New Mexico has brought near record heat to the desert Southwest and
southern California. Temperatures in the deserts are expected to reach 125
degrees today. The remainder of the West is under the influence of a
Pacific frontal system which will bring cooler temperatures to the interior.
Initial attack and large fires are expected to continue due to adverse
weather conditions.
[NIFCC Incident Management Situation Report, Thursday, 6/30]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No notes.
MEMORANDA
No memoranda.
COMING EVENTS CALENDAR
The Coming Events calendar appears in the morning report every other
Thursday. If you know of a significant event of Servicewide interest,
please forward the listing to WASO Ranger Activities. Entries are listed no
earlier than FOUR months before the event. Asterisks indicate new entries;
brackets at end of entry indicate source of information:
6/13-17* -- 50th Anniversary Commemoration, Battle of Saipan, American
Memorial Park, Saipan. Ceremonies on June 15th, fireworks,
dedications, parades, military demonstrations, concerts and
cultural events. As many as 400 World War II veterans and a
number of dignitaries from Japan were expected to participate.
Contact: WAPA/AMME, 671-472-7240 or FTS 700-550-7240.
6/19 -- Army March Out, Valley Forge, Valley Forge, PA. Commemoration
of the Continental Army's 1778 march out of Valley Forge after a
six month encampment to pursue the British. Contact: VAFO, 610-
783-1077.
6/23-26 -- Homestead Days, Homestead, Beatrice, NE. Demonstrations of
pioneer crafts and traditions and a variety of interpretive
programs. Contact: HOME.
6/25 -- African American Culture Festival, National Colonial Farm,
Accokeek, MD. Noon - 6 p.m. Highlights unique aspects and
contributions of the African culture to American society through
music, dance, storytelling, arts, crafts and ethnic foods.
Contact: NCR PAO, 202-619-7226.
6/28 -- Carolina Day, Fort Moultrie (unit of Fort Sumter), SC.
Anniversary observance of colonists' victory over British naval
forces in 1776. Contact: Rick Hatcher, 803-883-3123.
6/29-7/3 -- 50th Anniversary Celebration, Harpers Ferry, WV. Fiftieth
anniversary of the park. Special events include the opening of
a new museum and trails, musical concerts, 19th Century period
performances, and fireworks. Contact: HAFE, 304-535-6298.
7/1-3 -- Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival, Pu'uhonua o
Honaunau, HI. Features royal court, chants, hula, crafts,
games, food preparation and tasting, canoe rides, and hukilau.
Contact: PUHO, 808-328-2326.
7/2-4 -- Veiled Prophet Fair, Jefferson National Expansion, St. Louis,
MO. "America's largest birthday party" - entertainment, theme
booths, fireworks. Contact: JEFF.
7/4 -- National Independence Day Celebration, Washington, DC. Various
park locations. Parade, concert and fireworks. Contact: NCR
PAO, 202-619-7226.
7/4* -- Independence Day Ceremonies, Independence, Philadelphia, PA.
Vaclav Havel, president of the Czech Republic, will received the
1994 Philadelphia Liberty Medal. The Sons of the Revolution
will ring the Liberty Bell, which will signal the ringing of the
Centennial Bell in Independence Hall tower and bells in every
state in the nation. Contact: Ann Marie DiSerafino, PAO, INDE,
215-597-1390.
7/14-17* -- Oregon Trail Days, Scotts Bluff, Gering, NE. A weekend of
events, including concerts, parades and family sports events.
7/17-22* -- 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Recapture of Guam, War in
the Pacific NHP, Guam. Ceremonies will include dedications of
the new Asan Bay Overlook (Memorial) on July 19th and the
Liberator's Memorial at Asan Point on July 21st. Other
activities include a parade, fireworks, 50-day carnival,
cultural demonstrations, military hardware shows, an air
demonstration, ship demonstrations, and tours and memorial
ceremonies for the 3rd Marines, 77th Army, 1st Provisional
Marines, 9th Brigade of the 3rd Marines, 25th SeaBees, Coast
Guard, 7th Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Dignitaries will
include the commandant of the Marine Corps, military commanders
of Pacific forces, governors and members of the House and
Senate. Many events are in the park. Event management has been
delegated to the Western Region Incident Management Team under
Bryan Swift. Contact: WAPA, 671-472-7240 or FTS 700-550-7240.
7/23-24 -- Northern Plains Indian Culture Fest, Knife River Indian
Villages, Stanton, ND. The event will encompass a wide range of
activities exemplifying the Northern Plains tribes that
frequented the Knife River area from several thousand years ago
to the present. Contact: KNRI, 701-745-3309.
8/6 -- American Camp Lantern Tour, San Juan Island, WA. An 1860s U.S.
Army encampment is the setting for an evening guided walk and
drama presented by park staff and volunteer reenactors.
Contact: SAJH, 206-378-2240.
8/10* -- 133rd Anniversary, Battle of Wilson's Creek, Wilson's Creek,
Republic, MO. Traditional programs and guest speakers.
Contact: WICR.
8/13-14* -- Rendezvous Days, Grand Portage, MN. A combination of activities
on park grounds and a traditional pow-wow on adjacent lands.
Events include historic voyageur contests, voyageur encampment
exhibit, voyageur canoe race, musket firing demonstrations,
voyageur pack race, and tomahawk and knife throw. Contact:
GRPO.
8/20-21* -- Archeology Day, Hopewell Culture, Chillicothe, OH.
Demonstrations of various Eastern Woodland Indian crafts and
identification of Indian artifacts by professional
archeologists. Contact: HOCU.
8/25* -- Celebration of 78th Anniversary of the National Park Service,
Officers Club, Bolling AFB, Washington, DC. The event will also
honor the almost 500 "buyout" employees who retired in early
May. All employees, alumni and friends of the NPS are welcome
to attend the reception, buffet and program, which begins at 6
p.m. Cost: $27 per person. Reservations and checks should be
sent to E&AA (78th), PO Box 1490, Falls Church, VA 22041. Make
checks out to E&AA. Contact: Terry Wood, 202-208-4481 or 703-
931-5608. [Terry Wood, E&AA]
9/10-11* -- Anniversary of Battle of Lake Erie, Perry's Victory, Put-in-Bay,
OH. Special events and 1812 military enactments. Contact:
PEVI.
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax: 202-208-6756
cc:Mail: WASO Ranger Activities
SkyPager: Emergencies ONLY: 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843