- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, August 21, 1997
- Date: Thurs, 21 Aug 1997
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, August 21, 1997
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
97-459 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up on Boating Accident
D.B., 44, died on August 16th from liver and kidney injuries
sustained in a boating accident in Dry Rock Creek on August 7th. His wife,
N.B., 45, died at the scene. D.B. was in stable condition
for several days before his condition began to deteriorate. The B.s
left two small children. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/18]
97-476 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Assault with Firearm
On the evening of August 16th, L.F., 27, and his girlfriend, Bonita
Highlander, 26, were assaulted at gunpoint while at Army Camp beach on the
New River. L.F. and Highlander were fishing when they were approached by an
unknown local man who had apparently been drinking heavily. The man talked
with them about fishing, then offered them a drink from a pint of liquor.
They drank with the man, but he soon became belligerent and L.F. asked him to
leave. The man went to his vehicle as if to leave, but, unable to find a
fifth of liquor he thought he had there, he came back to the couple with a
.22 caliber handgun and accused them of stealing the liquor. He brandished
the weapon and verbally threatened the couple. Highlander was able to flee,
but L.F. was held at gunpoint. The man ordered L.F. onto his knees, but L.F.
only did so after the man struck him twice on the head with the gun. The man
told L.F. to put his head between his legs, then put the gun against his
temple. L.F., thinking he was about to die, grabbed for the gun and struggled
with the man. The gun discharged twice during the fight. L.F. gained control
of the weapon and threw it into some high weeds and brush near the campsite.
The man ran from the area, got in his vehicle, and did not return. Rangers
were contacted shortly thereafter, but were unable to locate L.F.'s assailant.
A thorough crime scene investigation was conducted; the handgun was found in
the bush and other evidence was discovered in the area which should prove
important in solving the crime. A suspect was identified and leads are
currently being pursued. The investigation is being handled exclusively by a
team consisting of rangers and the park's criminal investigator. This is the
second incident in the park in the past two weeks involving an assault with a
firearm. [Rick Brown, Protection Unit Leader, NERI, 8/18]
97-477 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Search and Rescue
A multi-agency search was conducted on August 15th and 16th for B.N.,
25, an Indian national, after he became separated from his hiking
companion. Narayanan was eventually found in good condition along the
Redwood Creek horse and hiking trail. Search and rescue efforts were
conducted by foot, horse and vehicle by representatives from three agencies.
[Carol Leggat, REDW, 8/18]
97-478 - Black Canyon of the Gunnison NM (CO) - Drowning
C.K., 27, a member of the U.S. kayak team from Stowe, Vermont,
drowned on August 14th when he became pinned against a boulder while
attempting to run a treacherous portion of the Gunnison River. C.K. was in a
party of six, including two of his brothers, who were kayaking the river when
he attempted to kayak a section of the river that is normally portaged. The
bow of his kayak became pinned beneath a boulder as he lost momentum while
passing through a short falls. The other members of the party were able to
tie a line to the stern, but the river flow of 1200 cubic feet per second
(cfs) prevented them from dislodging the kayak. The incident was reported,
river levels were lowered to 600 cfs, and rangers and members of two local
rescue teams were able to reach and remove C.K.'s body and his kayak. During
the investigation, one member of the party said that he still thought the
rapid could be run. [Linda Alick, CR, BLCA/CURE, 8/18]
97-479 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning
J.L., 18, of Red Lake, Arizona, and three friends were floating on
small inflatable rafts about 25 feet from shore near "The Chains" beach when
J.L.'s raft overturned, possibly due to high, gusting winds. J.L. and
the other members of his group were all poor swimmers. J.L. was unable to
reach shore and disappeared under the water's surface. His body was
recovered in approximately 15 feet of water by bystanders within five to ten
minutes. They began CPR; rangers arrived within five minutes of notification
and began administering advanced life support measures. A Classic Lifeguard
helicopter was on scene within ten minutes and transported him to the
hospital in Page, where he was pronounced dead. Ranger Maya Seraphin was IC.
[David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/20]
97-480 - Golden Gate NRA (CA) - MVA with Serious Injury
At 8:20 a.m. on the morning of August 11th, a passenger vehicle drove off
Highway 1 above Stinson Beach, struck the steep slope below, smashed through
a cypress tree, and landed in the park's south parking lot 400 feet below.
The accident was witnessed by a fisherman who notified park maintenance
workers; they in turn called 911. Park lifeguard/EMTs Zave Agnew, Steve
Hills, and Mark Norman responded along with local and county units. They
found the lone occupant of the vehicle, a 30-year-old male, lying face down
on a nearby sand dune. He was stabilized and evacuated to a hospital in
Walnut Creek. At the time of the report, he was listed in stable condition
with an L-1 fracture, fractured pelvis, three broken ribs and a slow
abdominal bleed. Damage to his spinal cord was not yet known. The cause of
the accident is under investigation by state police. [CRO, GOGA, 8/14]
97-481 - Mammoth Cave NP (KY) - MVA with Fatality
A vehicle traveling south on Cedar Sink Road on August 18th left the road,
struck several trees, and overturned. The driver, 17-year-old T.P.,
received minor injuries, but the passenger, his 14-year-old brother G.P., was
killed. Rangers responded along with local EMS and rescue units. Neither
occupant was wearing a seatbelt. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 8/19]
97-482 - Cuyahoga Valley NRA (OH) - MVA with Serious Injuries
In early August, the operator of a vehicle traveling northbound on Riverview
Road, three miles south of Peninsula, crossed the centerline and hit a
southbound tanker truck head-on. The driver was trapped in her vehicle for
an hour while rescuers attempted to free her. Rangers from both districts
provided assistance in stabilizing her during the extrication, rerouting
traffic for the three-hour period during which the road was closed, and
investigating the accident. The woman was medevaced by helicopter to a
hospital, where it was determined that she'd suffered a fractured neck,
punctured liver and other injuries. The tanker truck was hauling tar and a
limited clean-up was required at the scene. [Dale Silvis, SDR, CUVA, 8/7]
97-483 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Assist; MVA with Multiple Fatalities
A tractor-trailer pulling two trailers crashed on the Lee Vining grade about
five miles outside of the park on the afternoon of August 5th while hauling
granite boulders to a construction project. Tuolumne Meadows rangers were
the first emergency personnel on scene. A park medic was able to enter the
severely damaged cab and determine that the two occupants were dead. County
and state officers arrived shortly thereafter, and the incident was turned
over to them. [Martin Zebell, PR, Tuolumne District, YOSE, 8/14]
97-484 - Pea Ridge NMP (AR) - Assist; MVA with Multiple Injuries
A five-vehicle accident occurred on U.S. 62 about 200 yards from the front
entrance of the park at noon on August 3rd. Maintenance worker Juan Gomez
was first on the scene and begin assisting with care of the injured. He was
soon joined by other members of the park staff, volunteer firefighters and
EMS units. At the request of the state police, rangers and park staff
secured a landing spot on the visitor center's front lawn for a medevac
helicopter. The park entrance was closed for about an hour and a half and
traffic was backed up for 20 miles. The cause of the accident is still under
investigation, but it appears that the driver of a westbound pickup fell
asleep at the wheel, crossed the center line, and struck an eastbound vehicle
head on; the latter then struck several other vehicles. [Robert Still, PR,
PERI, 8/14]
97-485 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Assist; MVA with Injury
On June 1st, Grand Canyon rangers responded to a motor vehicle accident on
Highway 64 about 13 miles south of the park. The vehicle involved went off
the road and struck a large pine tree, which sheared off and fell on top of
the vehicle. A 22-year-old woman was pinned inside and received ALS from
rangers during the 45-minute-long extrication. She suffered an open femur
fracture and massive lower leg injuries. The driver suffered an arm
fracture. Both victims were transported to Flagstaff Medical Center. Just
before the accident, a state officer had noticed the vehicle being driven
recklessly and had turned around to make a vehicle stop. The accident
occurred before he could do so. [Dave Brennan, SDR, South Rim, GRCA, 6/2]
97-486 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Assist; MVA with Fatalities/Multiple Injuries
Off-duty rangers Nancy Mecham and Kent Mecham were traveling on Highway 89
east of the park on June 1st when they came upon a head-on collision. They
assisted state officers by triaging patients and providing advanced life
support to the eight victims. Three people were killed and three more were
critically injured in this accident. [Dave Brennan, SDR, South Rim, GRCA,
6/2]
[Additional incident reports pending...]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Tue Wed % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 8/19 8/20 Con Con
CA Angeles NF Narrows T1 15,200 16,996 67 8/23
Kern County Chocktaw -- 2,000 4,000 100 CND
Comanche -- 800 1,151 90 8/20
Santa Barbara County Santa Rosa -- 500 2,464 90 8/20
OR Sheldon-Hart NWR North Blizzard -- 300 350 100 CND
ID SC Idaho District * Calf Creek -- - 1,000 15 8/21
* Bray -- - 1,400 10 8/21
* Lake Channel -- - 320 95 8/20
Boise District * Chapparal -- - 323 75 NEC
UT Salt Lake District * Lakeside -- - 800 100 CND
Heading Notes
Unit -- Agency = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA state resource
or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; District = BLM
district; NWR = USFWS wildlife refuge
Fire -- * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex
IMT -- T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con -- Percent of fire contained
Est Con -- Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FIVE DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Saturday, 8/16 2 0 4 0 47 22 75
Sunday, 8/17 2 0 8 0 30 21 61
Monday, 8/18 6 3 15 0 69 40 133
Tuesday, 8/19 1 1 6 1 51 25 85
Wednesday, 8/20 1 2 24 1 72 29 132
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FIVE DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Saturday, 8/16 191 199 48 13 765
Sunday, 8/17 190 218 44 13 694
Monday, 8/18 160 256 37 13 655
Tuesday, 8/19 122 312 33 16 502
Wednesday, 8/20 125 344 35 10 440
COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT
1997: YTD Ten Year Average: YTD
Number of fires 45,639 57,088
Acres burned 2,653,867 2,285,980
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack and large fire activity increased yesterday in the eastern
Great Basin. Firefighters made significant progress on large fires in
southern California and the Northwest. Resource mobilization through NICC
was moderate. Units in California, Nevada, Washington and Oregon are
reporting very high to extreme fire indices.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/21]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Rare Bird Sighting
On July 25th, a Nutting's flycatcher (Myiarchus nuttingii), also known as the
pale-throated flycatcher, was caught, banded and released near Alamo Canyon
in the Ajo Mountains. This is one of the first records of this Mexican bird
species in the United States. The only other confirmed U.S. record came from
near Elgin in southeastern Arizona ("Western Bird," 41:1, 5-10). Nutting's
flycatcher is very similar to the ash-throated flycatcher common in the
desert southwest, but is distinguished by song, size, color patterns and wing
formula. Nutting's flycatcher normally ranges north only to about central
Sonora, Mexico, roughly 150 miles south of the park. It's typical habitat
there is wooded scrubby slopes below the 5,000-foot elevation. The bird was
captured in the park at the 2,200-foot elevation in a relatively dense
Sonoran desert scrub association of saguaro and organ pipe cactus and desert
trees such as paloverde, mesquite, ironwood, Mexican jumping bean and acacia.
Documentation of this important record will be forwarded to the state and to
the American Ornithologist's Union. The bird was captured by park biologists
Lara Dickson and Tim Tibbits and contract biologist Wade Leitner from the
University of Arizona. The avian monitoring project at the park is supported
by the Mexican Affairs Office, the Southern Arizona Group, and the park.
[Mitzi Frank, PIO, ORPI]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Reports pending.
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
EXCHANGE
No submissions.
* * * * *
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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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