NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Saturday, June 24, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1833, the U.S. frigate Constitution, "Old Ironsides," 
inaugurated the first naval drydock in New England at the Charlestown 
Navy Yard.  Both the ship and the drydock remain at the yard, now part 
of Boston National Historical Park.

INCIDENTS

00-299 - Denali NP (AK) - Follow-up: Employee Fatalities

A memorial service to honor the lives of Don Bowers, Cale Shaffer, 
Adam Kolff and Brian Reagan will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday June 25th 
in Talkeetna. For details, contact Punky Moore at the park at 
907-733-2231. The following memorial funds have been established at 
the request of family and friends:

o       For Don Bowers - Iditarod Trail Committee, P.O. Box 870800, 
        Wasilla, Alaska 99687
o       For Cale Shaffer - c/o Ronald Shaffer, P.O. Box 77, 
        Madisonburg, PA 16852
o       For Brian Reagan - There are three funds: Alaska Natural 
        History Association, 750 West 2nd Avenue, Suite 100, Anchorage 
        Alaska, 99501; Denali Search and Rescue Donation Account, P.O. 
        Box 9, Denali Park, AK  99755; Christian Aid Mission, P.O. Box 
        9037, Charlottesville, VA  22906.
o       For Adam Kolff - Adam Kolff Memorial Fund, c/o Lauritzen, 325 
        33rd Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368

Director Stanton has extended the condolences of the National Park 
Service to the families. A copy of the message has also been 
transmitted to all employees. See "Memoranda" below for the full text. 
[Jane Tranel, DENA, 6/23]

00-309 - Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP's (CA) - Drowning

A.T., 20, of Tulare, California, who was working in the park on 
a project under the auspices of Tulare County Community Services and 
Employment Training, walked down to the Middle Fork of the Kaweah 
River during his lunch break around noon on June 21st. Two of his 
co-workers followed a few minutes later. They saw A.T. slip off a 
rock into the river, where he was swept into a rock and pinned against 
it by the current, his head periodically pulled under water by its 
force. They called 911 and returned to the scene with a long 
industrial extension cord. They were able to toss the cord to A.T., 
securing it to rocks and to themselves. Ranger Randy Larson arrived 
within two or three minutes of the park's receipt of the 911 call, but 
A.T. had by that time let go of the cord. More rangers and emergency 
response personnel reached the scene within the next few minutes. It 
took about 11 minutes to remove A.T. from the river. CPR was begun 
and continued for about 40 minutes until he was pronounced dead at the 
scene by medical control personnel. [Bob Wilson, LES, SEKI, 6/22]

00-310 - National Capital Parks East (MD) - MVA with Fatality

Park Police investigated a multi-vehicle accident on Powdermill Road 
on the evening of June 17th. A Dodge truck heading eastbound at a high 
rate of speed crossed the lane divider into the westbound lane and 
struck a Nissan Sentra, causing minor damage. The truck then continued 
across the lane and struck a tree. The lone adult male occupant was 
pronounced dead at the scene. Neither of the occupants of the Nissan 
was injured. It appears that the driver of the truck was not wearing 
his seatbelt and that alcohol, speed and inclement weather were 
contributing factors. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 6/20]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

CURRENT SITUATION

Several new large fires were reported yesterday. Initial attack was 
moderate to heavy in Florida, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. 

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 54 crews (+ 3), 330 
overhead (- 64), 142 engines (+ 63), 40 helicopters (+ 2), and no air 
tankers (- 2).

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, Colorado, 
California, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas and 
Mississippi.

NPS FIRES

No reports. 

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Pike-Isabel NF (CO) - The Pinon Canyon Fire has burned 800 acres in 
salt cedar, pinyon-juniper and grass on the Comanche National 
Grasslands.

Battle Mountain Field Office, BLM (NV) - The Tonkin Road Fire (75 
miles south of Carlin) has burned 1,359 acres. Low humidity, wind and 
difficult access are hampering control efforts.

Prineville District, BLM (OR) - The 1,060-acre Seattle Flat Fire (11 
miles north of Madras) has burned to Highway 97 and forced closure of 
the road at two locations.

Florida State - The Muse Command Fire (east of St. Cloud) has burned a 
thousand acres and one residence. Others remain threatened.

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds in southeast Idaho 
this afternoon.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/24]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

Charles Pinckney NHS (SC) - Parks As Classrooms Project

The park hosted a volunteer work day on June 3rd as part of a larger 
project to examine the science of growing rice in the South Carolina 
low country during the Charles Pinckney era (1757-1824). Last year, 
the park was awarded a $25,000 grant from Exxon/Mobil in cooperation 
with the National Park Foundation. The grant provided seed money to 
develop a curriculum-based Parks as Classrooms science program for 7th 
and 8th graders in three counties. The project is expected to be 
completed and in place for this coming school year. Over 100 
volunteers participated in the project. They planted over 50 trees and 
plants, laid mulch over a 100-yard long nature trail, helped construct 
a boardwalk, finished construction of a rice trunk, and eradicated a 
50-yard long service road. Volunteers were rewarded by donated food 
and music entertainment. The park's resource management and 
interpretation/visitor services divisions conducted the event in 
partnership with Clear Seas Communications. Other major contributors 
to the event included Unilever, Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co., radio 
station WXLY and the town of Mount Pleasant. [Bill Martin, PIO, CHPI]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

DO-9/RM-9 and SET Teams - During the "train the trainers" session for 
DO-9 and RM-9 at Lake Mead in May, participants agreed that the 
special events team operating manual should be included as an appendix 
to RM-9 (the SET manual was approved by the director in October, 
1998). The SET manual and a new addition to that document (an appendix 
on specialty munitions) are being sent out to the field via email for 
addition to DO-9/RM-9 binders. They are being routed through park 
superintendents and chief rangers. [Dennis Burnett, RAD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

Director Stanton's message to all employees regarding the four deaths 
in Denali NP, transmitted electronically to all employees on Friday, 
June 23rd:

"On behalf of the National Park Service family, I want to express the 
deep sorrow we all feel at the loss of Cale Shaffer, Brian Reagan, 
Adam Kolff and Hudson Air pilot Don Bowers, whose plane went down in 
Alaska earlier this week.  Bowers was the chief pilot for Hudson Air.  
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and co-workers, and 
to them we extend our sincere sympathy.  

"Cale, Brian, and Adam were exemplary members of the National Park 
Service family.  It is always tragic when we lose one of our own, but 
more so, when they are that young, and with so much yet to contribute. 
All three were extremely dedicated and talented young men; their 
abilities and spirit will be sorely missed by all of us.  We will all 
remember them and regret that they were taken from us.  Few outside 
the Park Service family truly understand or appreciate the dedication 
and commitment it takes to be a park ranger or a volunteer.  Most 
Americans are aware of the importance that rangers are to their 
appreciation of the national parks, but few fully understand the love 
of the resources and dedication to our visitors that rangers have.

"Each of these young men will be greatly missed by our National Park 
Service family.  I want to extend my personal sympathy and the 
sympathy of the Service to the families and loved ones of Cale, Brian, 
and Adam.  I assure you, and them, that these young men will be 
remembered.  I know words are inadequate to assuage the pain that 
their families must feel, but it is my sincere hope that the 
condolences of the National Park Service will provide some comfort to 
them at this very sad time."

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Climber Peter Rieke, 43, became the first 
paraplegic to successfully reach the summit of Mount Rainier when he 
reached the top on Sunday, June 18th. Rieke used a hand-cranked 
"snowpod" which he designed and built to climb from Paradise, across 
the Nisqually glacier, onto the Kautz glacier, and finally attain the 
summit. His expedition, called "Crank Rainier," was extremely well 
organized and comprised over 40 experienced mountaineers who worked 
closely with the park under a special use permit. They dealt with 
difficult weather and snow conditions during their 10-day ascent. This 
was Rieke's third attempt on Mount Rainier. More information on the 
expedition and Rieke's snowpod can be found at www.mobilityeng.com. 
[Randy Brooks, Acting CR]

Buffalo NR (AK) - The park is seeking candidates for a lateral to a 
permanent, full time GS-9 protection ranger position located in the 
Upper District. The incumbent will be involved with LE, technical SAR, 
EMS, wildland fire, river operations, use and occupancy leases, and 
administrative duties. Required occupancy. Full performance protection 
rangers interested in this position should send applications to Chris 
Locker, Buffalo National River, HC 73, Box 222, Marble Falls, AR 
72648. For further information, contact Chris Locker via cc:Mail or at 
870-446-5373.

                            *  *  *  *  *

Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed 
by park, office and/or regional cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please 
address requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your 
servicing hub coordinator.  The Morning Report is also available on 
the web at http://www.nps.gov/morningreport

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the 
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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