- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, August 22, 1997
- Date: Fri, 22 Aug 1997
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, August 22, 1997
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
97-355 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Follow-up on Slide; Road Closure
The massive rock slide which closed all lanes of I-40 at the Tennessee/North
Carolina border on July 1st led to a major increase in traffic through the
park. More visitors entered the park last month than during any previous
month in its 63-year history. July entries totalled 1,743,996 visitors, a 25
percent increase over the total for the same month in 1996 and an increase of
a bit more than four percent over the previous all-time monthly record of
1,669,578 set in July, 1988. Total vehicle entries increased from 556,482
last year to 696,457 this year. Once in the park, however, a much larger
than normal proportion of motorists apparently passed through without
stopping, as evidenced by the four percent decline in visitation at the
Sugarlands visitor center and the seven percent drop at the Oconaluftee
visitor center. Campground usage, however, remained about the same. The
increased traffic placed a significant burden on law enforcement rangers.
During the month, for example, rangers responded to 531 calls for wreckers,
about double the normal volume. Another major workload came from having to
stop and turn around hundreds of tractor trailers and other commercial
vehicles, which are prohibited from park roads for safety reasons. [Bob
Miller, GRSM, 8/13]
97-454 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Follow-up on Flash Flood with Fatalities
Two scent dog teams were lowered into the dry sections of Antelope Canyon
yesterday. Although one dog alerted, no sign of either of the remaining two
victims was found. A boat search of the navigable portion of the canyon was
also fruitless. Both operations will continue today. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA,
8/21]
97-487 - Rock Creek Park (DC) - Resource Violation
On August 14th, Rock Creek maintenance personnel and Park Police officers
responded to a report of a mud flow across the parkway at Massachusetts
Avenue. Investigation revealed that a contractor draining a park neighbor's
swimming pool had intentionally drained the water down the park hillside
rather than discharging the water into a sanitary sewer. The water caused a
mud slide, which resulted in closure of the northbound lanes of the parkway.
Some of the mud and chlorinated water also entered a storm sewer which feeds
into Rock Creek. The contractor had been previously warned about this
practice. The Park Police and FBI are investigating this incident as a
possible violation of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1311 and 1319). The NPS
may also seek resource damage cost recovery. [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO, 8/21]
97-488 - Rock Creek Park (DC) - Bridge Collapse; Fatality
On Sunday, August 17th, the Military Road bridge over Beach Drive collapsed,
trapping two construction workers who had been working at the site under
steel beams. Fire and rescue workers responded and extricated the two
victims. L.W. was pronounced dead at the scene; the second victim
was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in serious condition.
DC police are investigating the incident. [Bill Lynch, RLES, NCRO, 8/20]
97-489 - Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Rescue
On August 20th, a cellular phone call from an on-scene EMT alerted park
dispatch to an injured hiker in the "trough" section of the final ascent to
the summit of Long's Peak. The EMT advised that the victim had suffered
facial and spinal injuries when he was struck in the face by a falling rock.
Helicopter rescue efforts were hampered by high winds, fog and blowing sleet.
A park paramedic/ranger team left the trailhead at 10:30 a.m. and reached the
victim at 3 p.m. They were supplemented by rescuers who were flown to the
summit through intermittent thunderstorms. The hiker was stabilized and
lowered to within a quarter mile of the "keyhole" formation by 9:30 p.m. He
was then lowered through the keyhole to a boulder field, where he was placed
on a wheeled litter manned by a team from Larimer County rescue. The team
reached the trailhead just after 6 a.m. The hiker was taken to a hospital by
ambulance. This was the sixth major search and rescue incident in the park
since August 1st. [Sharon Brubaker, ROMO, 8/21]
97-490 - Denali NP (AK) - MVA with Multiple Injuries
On August 10th, rangers responded to a multi-injury accident on Parks Highway
near the park entrance. A van carrying eight Korean passengers skidded on
the wet roadway and rolled into an embankment. Three persons, including a
child, were ejected. Three of the six injured people were transported by two
helicopters a fixed-wing air ambulance; the other three were transported by
ground ambulance to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, 125 miles distant. Rescue
efforts were hampered by the language barrier. One person remains in
critical but stable condition. The driver, who was employed by a Los Angeles
tour company, was charged with four violations. [Tom Habecker, Acting CR,
DENA, 8/21]
97-491 - Yosemite NP (CA) - BASE Jumping Conviction
On August 13th, a U.S. magistrate convicted J.E. of parachuting in the
park. Under the terms of a plea agreement, J.E. admitted to BASE jumping
from El Capitan on June 18th. He will make a $1,500 contribution to the
Yosemite Mountain Safety Fund in lieu of a fine, and will permanently forfeit
his BASE jumping parachute rig, worth about $800. The fund is managed by the
Yosemite Association and is used to buy rescue and EMS equipment and supplies
and to fund associated training. [Dan Horner, CI, YOSE, 8/14]
97-492 - Blue Ridge Parkway (VA/NC) - Suicide
M.K., 72, of Dallas, Texas, was seen jumping from Raven Roost
overlook at milepost 10.8 around 4 p.m. on August 14th. M.K. fell about
150 feet; death was probably instantaneous. Ranger Mark Gall is
investigating. [CRO, BLRI, 8/18]
97-493 - Blue Ridge Parkway (VA/NC) - Suicide
A 54-year-old man shot himself in the head at the Pisgah picnic area parking
lot at milepost 407.8 around 7 p.m. on August 16th. An EMS helicopter
transported him to Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville, where he died of
the wound. A suicide note was found in his pocket and a .38 caliber handgun
at his side. The name has been withheld pending family notification.
Rangers Martin Golden and Barry Lewis are investigating. [CRO, BLRI, 8/18]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Wed Thu % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 8/20 8/21 Con Con
CA Angeles NF Narrows T1 16,996 17,683 68 8/23
Kern County Comanche -- 1,151 1,151 100 CND
Santa Barbara County Santa Rosa -- 2,464 2,770 100 CND
ID SC Idaho District Calf Creek -- 1,000 1,500 100 CND
Bray -- 1,400 2,500 100 CND
Lake Channel -- 320 320 100 CND
* Highway 26 -- - 2,700 50 8/21
Boise District Chapparal -- 323 323 100 CND
* Bliss Bridge -- - 650 100 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
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
Thursday, 8/21 2 2 13 0 56 92 165
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FIVE DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
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
Thursday, 8/21 83 180 31 11 293
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack increased in the northern Rockies yesterday. Firefighters
made significant progress on the large fires in the eastern Great Basin.
Resource mobilization through NICC was minimal. Areas in Arizona,
California, Nevada, Washington and Oregon continue to report very high to
extreme fire indices.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/22]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Buffalo NR (AR) - Proposed Tributary Impoundment
A public interest review for a Section 404 permit has been released by the
Army Corps of Engineers for a project which calls for at least a 95-acre
impoundment on Bear Creek, one of the major tributaries of Buffalo River, to
provide the county with a water supply reservoir. The park has contacted the
Water Resource Division at Fort Collins for assistance and has made state and
county agencies aware of its concerns over potential impacts to water quality
and quantity affecting the Buffalo River. Preliminary design criteria for
the project are very weak from an environmental standpoint, and items such as
maintenance of minimum flow are not included in calculations of reservoir
volume. The role of NEPA and federal funding for this project also remain
unclear. Copies of the permit application are available from Department of
the Army, Little Rock District, Corps of Engineers, Little Rock, Arkansas
72203-0867. Public comments are encouraged, but the turn-around time is
short. The comment period closes on September 8th. Individual comment
deadlines may be extended, however, by contacting Win Hargis at 501-324-5296.
Refer to application identification number 13861. [George Oviatt, BUFF]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Cryptosporidium Advisory - The Public Health Service has issued an advisory
regarding cryptosporidium. The disease, which has only been recognized as a
cause of human illness since 1976, gained national attention in 1993 when an
outbreak of cryptosporidiosis affected over 400,000 people in Milwaukee. The
source of the outbreak was the city's water treatment system. People become
infected when they inject the infective cysts of this protozoan parasite.
Disease symptoms usually include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and,
less frequently, fever, headache, and vomiting. Persons with healthy immune
systems improve without medication; those with compromised immune systems -
including AIDS patients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, transplant
patients, and the very young or elderly - may develop a severe, long-lasting
infection which persists for several weeks, months, or even years. Exposure
to this infection can be minimized by washing hands after any possible
contact with human or animal feces and prior to handling food. Avoid
drinking or accidentally swallowing water from rivers, lakes, streams,
swimming pools or jacuzzis. Chemical disinfectants such as iodine or
chlorine are not effective for killing cryptosporidium. Instead, raw water
should be brought to a rolling boil for a least a minute (three to five
minutes at high elevations). Filters are less reliable for removing the
organism, unless they are certified as at least an "absolute 1 micron
filter." Bottled water is neither safer nor more stringently regulated than
public drinking water and may also require boiling. Contact your NPS
regional public health consultant or park sanitarian or call WASO Public
Health Division (202-565-1120) for more information. [Jerry Johnson, PHS,
WASO]
Lightning Safety Advisory - The summer season and recent occurrence of
several lightning-related incidents warrants a reissuance of several key tips
from the National Lightning Safety Institute that should be shared with both
visitors and employees:
o The distance of lightning can be calculated by counting the interval
between a lightning stroke and subsequent thunder. The measure is five
seconds per mile. At a count of 15 seconds or less (that is, less than
three miles), you should immediately begin to take defensive actions.
o If outdoors, avoid water, metal objects (electric wires, fences, golf
clubs, railroad tracks, power tools, etc.), hilltops and open spaces.
Where possible, take shelter in a building or fully-enclosed metal
vehicle with the windows completely shut. If lightning strikes nearby,
remove all metal objects, avoid direct contact with other people, and
crouch down with feet together and hands on knees.
o If indoors, avoid water, stay away from open doors and windows, hang up
the phone, and remove head sets. Lightning may strike electric and
phone lines and induce shocks. Also turn off and stay away from
appliances, computers, power tools, television sets, etc. Remain
inside until the storm has passed.
[Division of Risk Management, WASO]
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
EXCHANGE
No submissions.
OBSERVATIONS
This section, which appears intermittently in the Morning Report, contains
observations regarding the National Park Service, the System and the several
professions of park employees. Today's observation has been excerpted from a
collection of quotations entitled "John Muir: In His Own Words," compiled and
edited by Peter Browning (Great West Books, 1988).
"One is constantly reminded of the infinite lavishness and fertility of
Nature - inexhaustible abundance amid what seems enormous waste. And yet
when we look into any of her operations that lie within reach of our minds,
we learn that no particle of her material is wasted or worn out. It is
eternally flowing from use to use, beauty to yet higher beauty; and we soon
cease to lament waste and death, and rather rejoice and exult in the
imperishable, unspendable wealth of the universe, and faithfully watch and
wait the reappearance of everything that melts and fades and dies about us,
feeling sure that its next appearance will be better and more beautiful than
the last."
John Muir, September, 1869, from
"My First Summer in the Sierra"
* * * * *
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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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