- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 25, 1998
- Date: Thurs, 25 Jun 1998
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, June 25, 1998
INCIDENTS
98-309 - Great Smoky Mountains (NC/TN) - Follow-up on Shooting of Ranger
The memorial service for ranger Joe Kolodski will be held at 11:30 a.m. this
morning in Bryson City, North Carolina. Secretary Babbitt and Director
Stanton, both of whom will be at the service, have issued statements of
condolence and support. Excerpts from each follow.
Secretary Babbitt: "I feel a profound sense of sorrow and outrage over the
death of Ranger Joseph David Kolodski. Most Americans who visit our national
parks know firsthand the dedication and professionalism of the National Park
Service Rangers. Few consider the amount of courage and commitment that
Rangers everywhere freely give to protect people whenever there is need: from
daring mountain rescues to countless times where they have put their lives at
risk to rescue others from natural disasters, treacherous waters,
temperatures and terrain. However, it is a sad truth that this nation's most
beautiful places cannot always be shielded from someone with intent to do
evil. In this case, Ranger Kolodski gave his life to protect visitors to
Great Smoky Mountains National park and motorists on the heavily-traveled
Blue Ridge Parkway. It showed dedication enough that Ranger Kolodski went to
work last Sunday instead of spending Fathers' Day with his three small
children and his wife Florie Takai, also an employee at the Park. It is
clear now that Ranger Kolodski was willing to sacrifice his life in the
performance of his duty to apprehend a man threatening motorists with a
rifle. He deserves our everlasting gratitude and respect. I would like to
offer my deepest sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues in the
National Park Service."
Director Stanton: "The death of Park Ranger Joseph David Kolodski has been a
devastating tragedy, first and foremost, for the family and friends of Ranger
Kolodski. It has also been a tremendous loss for the National Park Service.
I have sent a personal message to his wife, Florie Takaki, who also works for
the Service, to express my deepest sympathy on behalf of our National Park
Service family...Ranger Kolodski was an exemplary Park Ranger and a credit to
the profession and art of 'rangering.' Over the course of his NPS career, he
made countless contributions to the Service and to the public. Park Ranger
Kolodski was, without a doubt, a dedicated and highly skilled Park Ranger who
also gave his time freely in his volunteer efforts. I am told by his
colleagues that he had a vibrant sense of humor. He was a devoted husband
and doting father to his three small children. Park Ranger Kolodski will be
greatly missed by all whose lives he touched...I hope each of you will join
me in offering your thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time to the
family and friends of Park Ranger Kolodski, as well as our own fellow
colleagues. He deserves our utmost respect and gratitude, as he was truly
one of the finest Park Rangers to wear our uniform and badge with such great
pride, extraordinary dedication, and boundless commitment."
[Additional reports pending...]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Mon Wed % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 6/22 6/24 Con Con
FL Apalachicola NF Holiday T2 24,621 24,621 100 CND
Merritt Island NWR Merritt Island Cx -- 800 4,300 80 NEC
Osceola NF Oak Head T1 15,200 18,700 60 6/29
State Jacksonville Cx ST 9,178 9,178 100 CND
Suwanee Cx T1 15,364 15,364 98 7/15
Bunnell Cx ST 10,000 25,000 UNK NEC
Perry Cx T2 10,000 17,300 100 CND
Gainesville Cx ST 8,500 7,205 100 CND
TX State Paducah Cx T2 - 11,647 20 7/2
AZ Coconino NF * Sand Fire -- - 240 60 6/25
NM Gila NF * El Caso -- - 400 0 6/25
N. Pueblos Agency * Tuesday -- - 200 100 CND
WA Spokane District * Saddle Mountain -- - 5,120 NR 6/25
UT Cedar City District Pahcoon -- 400 6,000 75 6/25
AK Fort Greely Carla Lake T2 60,516 60,520 35 NEC
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 I; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con Percent of fire contained; UNK = unknown
Est Con Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Sunday, 6/21 1 5 1 0 102 23 132
Monday, 6/22 0 3 7 0 140 33 183
Tuesday, 6/23 0 21 3 0 200 26 250
Wednesday, 6/24 0 17 7 0 140 35 199
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Sunday, 6/21 36 72 28 13 358
Monday, 6/22 34 142 33 8 460
Tuesday, 6/23 47 159 45 15 419 @
Wednesday, 6/24 74 221 42 20 510 @
@ Resource commitments were not reported on most of the state fires in
Florida.
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack increased yesterday in the Southwest and continued in the
south.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported yesterday in units in
Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada,
and southern California.
NICC has posted a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for dry and windy conditions in northern
Arizona and southern Utah.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/24-5]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No entries.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No entries.
MEMORANDA
No entries.
EXCHANGE
No entries.
* * * * *
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators. Please address requests
pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub
coordinator.
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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