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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, July 16, 1999
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Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 06:21:38 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, July 16, 1999
INCIDENTS
99-377 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Death of Employee
Ranger Will Lebon, 50, died Sunday morning, July 11th, of complications from
cancer. Will joined the park service in 1991 after retiring from a 23-year
career in the Army with the rank of command sergeant major. He served two
tours in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action, earned the Purple Heart,
and was decorated four times for valor in combat - the Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry, two Bronze Stars, and the Silver Star. Will worked at Grand
Canyon, Zion, and Glen Canyon. He was a strong advocate for personal fitness
and was the park's physical fitness coordinator. At the age of 45, he scored
a 500 on the PEB while attending FLETC. At Glen Canyon, Will participated in
numerous technical rescues; on two incidents, he was credited with saving the
lives of the rescued victims. His entire professional career of 31 years was
spent in service to the United States, protecting his country and its
resources. Will is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, P.L.,
and leaves behind his treasured Harley-Davidson. [David Sandbakken, LES,
GLCA, 7/15]
99-378 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Flash Floods
Sustained moderate to heavy rainfall - about an inch-and-a-half fell over 24
hours - caused flash floods and led to a rock fall and trail washouts on the
Bright Angel trail on the afternoon of July 14th. Forty people were stranded
at the mile-and-a-half rest house, 15 at the three-mile rest house, and 30 at
the Indian Garden campground. Four people were injured, including a park
employee. One of the four, a hiker who was on the North Kaibab trail,
reported having to dodge what he described as "head-sized" rocks; he was hit
in the leg by one and sustained a fracture, but was able to walk another two
miles on his broken leg before reaching help. Another severe storm cell with
heavy rain and lightning passed through the area during the night, causing
significant trail damage and a pipeline break on the North Kaibab trail. An
additional inch of rain fell on Indian Garden. The incident management team
is conducting a thorough damage assessment to determine how the park will
make repairs. The Bright Angel and North Kaibab trails and Indian Garden
campground are closed pending completion of a detailed assessment. [CRO,
GRCA, 7/15]
99-379 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Rescue
On the morning of July 7th, park dispatch received an urgent report of two
visitor injuries near Roaring Springs on the North Rim. Park maintenance
employee Bruce Aiken responded from the Roaring Springs pump house and
advised that a father and son - J.M., 45, and B.M., 12, both from
Mesa, Arizona - had fallen and that both had sustained multiple fractures.
The M.s had been part of a mule ride to the springs. During the lunch
break, they walked over to the edge of a waterfall. The father evidently
slipped on the wet rock and fell about 15 feet, landing on large boulders in
the creek bed beneath the waterfall; his son fell an equal distance when he
went to investigate. Phantom Ranch ranger Ivan Kassovic and park VIP Michael
Polletta were flown to a helicopter pad near the pump house, then hiked to
the scene. Rangers Ken Phillips, Matt Walls and Bill Vandergraff were then
flown in from the South Rim. B.M. was found to be wedged between large
boulders directly beneath the cascade of a waterfall and suffering from a
severely angulated humerus fracture. He could only be extricated after
receiving morphine for his pain. A short-haul evacuation was initiated
because of the difficult access, terrain and patient injuries. Three North
Rim firefighters were flown in to assist, and medical equipment was
transported to the site via sling load. B.M. and Phillips were short-
hauled to the pump house pad, then flown to Flagstaff Medical Center in a
Classic Lifeguard Air Ambulance helicopter. J.M. was then short-hauled
out and flown to the center in the park helicopter with ranger/paramedic Phil
Mennenoh. The operation was conducted in light rain and impending thunder
storms. Spotters were placed at the head of Roaring Springs Canyon to warn
of any flash flooding. Three helicopters and approximately 25 people were
involved with the incident. Ranger Paul Downey served as incident commander.
[Ken Phillips, GRCA, 7/10]
99-380 - Lake Meredith NRA (TX) - Rescue
Heavy rains fell on the southwest portion of the park on the evening of July
9th, causing flash flooding. Ranger Ryan Parr responded to reports
of stuck and stranded vehicles in the Alibates Canyon area. While en route,
Parr drove over a low water crossing that had only a few inches of water
passing through it. The next crossing, however, proved impassable. By the
time Parr got back to the first crossing, the water had risen to the Bronco's
hubcaps. The vehicle stalled as he crossed, and the water continued to rise.
Rangers Lloyd Griswold, Patsy Sims and Mike Smith responded along with a
local fire chief. The Bronco was washed 200 yards down the creek and water
rose above its hood. Throw bags and climbing rope were used to rescue Parr
from the roof of his tipping vehicle. The stranded family and vehicles were
later found in nearby McBride Canyon. They were stuck but okay. [Dale
Thompson, CR, LAMR, 7/13]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Tue Wed % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 7/13 7/14 Con Con
NV Winnemucca District Lang Syne T2 24,340 24,340 65 7/15
CA Cleveland NF Conejos -- 298 298 100 CND
M-M-M RU * 49 -- - 400 95 7/15
Fresno-Kings RU * Watts -- - 1,000 100 CND
VA Wash./Jeff. NF Route 42 -- 141 141 100 CND
AK Northern FO * Kink -- - 100,000 0 UNK
Koyukuk NWR * Roundabout Mt. -- - 4,330 0 UNK
State * Jackson -- - 600 0 UNK
* Pitchuk -- - 120 0 UNK
* Marshall Creek -- - 120,000 0 UNK
Noatak NP Uvgoon #2 -- 70,600 70,600 NR NR
Yukon-Charley NP B264 -- 76,500 46,360 NR NR
B242 -- 45,174 45,174 NR NR
B248 -- 17,573 17,573 NR NR
B260 -- 44,600 44,600 NR NR
Gates of Arctic NP * B480 -- - 100 NR NR
* B380 -- - 600 NR NR
Heading Notes
Unit Agency or Area Office = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA
state resource or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; FO =
BLM field office; District = BLM district; NWR = USFWS wildlife
refuge
Fire * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex; LSS =
limited suppression strategy; CSS = containment suppression
strategy
IMT T1 = Type I Team; T2 = Type II Team; T3 = Type III Team; ST =
State Team; FUM = Fire Use Management Team
% Con Percent of fire contained; UNK = unknown; NR = no report
Est Con Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report
FIRE NARRATIVES
Noatak NP - The Uvgoon #2 fire was flown on the 13th. Only six hot spots -
two with active flames - were detected. The weather station north of the
fire received a half-inch of rain on the 14th.
Yukon-Charley NP - The B264 fire was mapped on Wednesday, which is why the
acreage decreased. The fire continues to smoulder along its perimeter, and
is only about three miles from the Woodruff cabin. All hose has been pulled;
sprinklers remain on the cabin. The B242 fire is three to four miles south
of the Woodruff cabin. All firefighters have been pulled off Nations Bluff
cabin, which is also protected by sprinklers. The B248 fire is six air miles
from Galvin airstrip. There are no firefighters on this fire.
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Sunday, 7/11 5 12 21 1 49 54 142
Monday, 7/12 5 10 18 3 200 71 307
Tuesday, 7/13 6 7 18 7 75 34 147
Wednesday, 7/14 7 2 11 4 112 72 208
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Sunday, 7/11 159 320 49 7 920
Monday, 7/12 177 312 45 9 938
Tuesday, 7/13 161 263 40 3 507
Wednesday, 7/14 140 250 51 9 353
CURRENT SITUATION
Moderate initial attack activity was reported in California on Wednesday, but
there was little activity elsewhere. Alaska has another 48 fires burning
besides those listed on the NICC report for a total of an additional 643,000
acres.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Idaho, Utah,
Wyoming, California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/15; Mike Warren, NPS FPMC, and
Karen La May, ARO, 7/14]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION
No entries.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Entries pending...
MEMORANDA
No entries.
INTERCHANGE
No entries.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Entries pending...
* * * * *
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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