NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, July 7, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1742, British troops under James Edward Oglethorpe 
turned back a Spanish advance on Frederica, a fortified town on the 
southern frontier of his Georgia colony, maintaining Britain's hold on 
the region north of Florida.  Fort Frederica National Monument 
contains remnants of the town and the site of the Battle of Bloody 
Marsh.

INCIDENTS

00-360 - Denali NP&P (AK) - Rescue: River Accident

Talkeetna River Guides received a cell phone call from one of their 
guides on the Chulitna River on the afternoon of July 5th, reporting 
that a raft being guided by D.M. was stuck in the river in a 
strainer - a place where trees have fallen beneath and just above the 
surface of the river. D.M. had five visitors in his raft. The 
incident occurred within Denali State Park; staff there contacted 
Denali NP and asked that the park's Lama helicopter be employed to 
rescue the rafters. Pilot Jim Hood, helicopter manager Dave Kreutzer, 
and rangers Scott Metcalfe and Kevin Moore soon arrived on scene and 
began a short-haul rescue. The six occupants were lifted from the raft 
and deposited on a nearby gravel bar. A second helicopter then picked 
them up and flew them to a nearby helipad. Rangers said that D.M., a 
licensed rescue guide, did an excellent job in holding the raft steady 
while the rescue effort was underway. [Jane Tranel, PIO, DENA, 7/5]

00-361 - Morristown NHP (NJ) - Special Event: White Supremacist March

Richard Barrett, founder of the Mississippi-based National Movement, 
held a white supremacist march and rally in Morristown on July 4th to 
protest affirmative action and the firing of New Jersey's state police 
superintendent over comments the latter made linking minorities to 
drug trafficking. At the request of Morristown police, the Fort 
Nonsense unit of the park was closed for the day due to its immediate 
proximity to the march and rally site and concerns that several 
organized counter-demonstration groups might use it as a staging 
ground for their plans. The Northeast Region SET team (six ranger and 
six USPP officers under Bob Ditolla) assisted the park with 
enforcement of the closure. Only eight of Barrett's supporters showed 
up for the event; over 300 counter-demonstrators attempted to drown 
out his message with loud music. Although there were several clashes 
and ten arrests during the event, the Fort Nonsense closure was 
maintained without incident. [Wouter Ketel, CR, MORR, 7/6]

00-362 - Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (MO) - Special Event:   
         Fair St. Louis

The 20th annual Fair Saint Louis was held on park grounds over the 
Fourth of July weekend. Public transportation officials estimated that 
1.3 million people attended the three-day event. Fair Saint Louis 
features free entertainment, food and beverage sales, and educational 
exhibits for the entire family. This year's featured entertainers were 
Terri Clark, Ray Charles, 38 Special, KC and the Sunshine Band, Neal 
McCoy and the Four Tops.  Each evening's festivities concluded with a 
spectacular fireworks display.  Approximately 600 EMS cases were 
treated, most of them heat-related.  Only five arrests were made 
during this year's fair, all alcohol-related.  Midwest and 
Intermountain special events teams supplemented park staff for the 
event.  Ranger John Piastuck from Yellowstone NP, a member of the 
Intermountain Team, was responsible for saving a life when he used a 
garden hose to rescue a potential drowning victim who had fallen from 
the McDonald's riverboat restaurant into the Mississippi River.  The 
river is at high levels this year due to recent heavy rains.  [Rod 
Danner, CR, JEFF, 7/6]

00-363 - Antietam NB (MD) - Special Event: Salute to Independence

The 15th annual "Salute to Independence" was held in the park on July 
1st. Over 30,000 people attended the Maryland Symphony Orchestra 
concert and subsequent fireworks display. The event was managed under 
ICS and staffed by about 120 people from 14 agencies who handled 
traffic, safety, logistics and near-record visitation. There were 
several minor injuries, and two visitors were taken to a hospital for 
more serious injuries. EMS assistance was provided on-site by 
Sharpsburg EMS staff, a Community Rescue Service EMS bike team, and an 
emergency room physician. There were no significant law enforcement 
incidents. Violations were issued for illegal sales and for off-road 
travel. [Ed Wenschhof, CR/IC, ANTI, 7/5]

00-364 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (NJ/PA) - Drowning

On the evening of Saturday, July 1st, G.P., 22, of New 
York City, drowned in the Delaware River just off the Depew recreation 
site in the New Jersey District. G.P. and a group of friends swam 
from the shoreline to Depew Island in the center of the river. On the 
way back, G.P. and two of his companions began struggling in the 
water. Nearby picnickers rescued two of the three with a ring buoy, 
but G.P. went under. The park was notified, and the park's dive 
team searched the river bottom until darkness set in. Rangers and 
volunteers resumed the search on Sunday. Despite intensive efforts 
continuing from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., no sign of him was found. On Monday, 
a helicopter from University Medivac flew over the river and search 
dogs worked the river banks, also without luck. G.P.'s body was 
finally found by members of the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit 
just before 4 p.m. about a mile down river in 15 feet of water. 
Numerous agencies participated in the search effort. [Bill Laitner, 
Superintendent, DEWA, 7/3]

00-365 - Assateague Island NS (MD/VA) - Possible Drowning

On July 2nd, ranger Allen Etheridge was patrolling in a remote area on 
the north end of the island when visitors informed him of a 
surf-related emergency and possible drowning nearby. Etheridge found 
C.L., 53, at the water's edge; he was unconscious and 
unresponsive. Etheridge and Assateague State Park rangers took over 
CPR from park visitors. C.L. was transported to a local hospital, 
where he was pronounced dead. Autopsy results are pending. [John 
Burns, CR, ASIS, 7/5]

                      [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

CURRENT SITUATION

New large fires were reported yesterday in the eastern Great Basin and 
in the Rockies. Forecasts call for lightning and continued dry and 
windy weather in Utah and Colorado, so the potential for new fires in 
those areas will increase.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 113 crews (+ 51), 
393 overhead (+ 109), 193 engines (+ 57), 46 helicopters (+ 14), and 
two air tankers (+ 1).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in Colorado, 
Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Alaska, Oregon, California, South 
Dakota, and Arizona.

NPS FIRES

Dinosaur NM (CO) - The Buster Flats Fire has now burned 10,050 acres, 
an increase of about 300 acres from yesterday, and is 30% contained. 
Gusting winds and low relative humidity readings are making 
containment difficult. The precautionary evacuation of two campgrounds 
is still in effect.

Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - The 1,008-acre Broomsedge Fire is 75% 
contained. Crews are constructing fireline on the south flank of the 
fire and patrolling the north flank for hot spots. Full containment is 
expected to occur today.

Denali NP (AK) - Widespread rain fell in the park on July 5th, ranging 
from a tenth to a quarter of an inch. The fires were not flown due to 
weather conditions.

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued the following for today:

o       A RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds and low relative humidity 
        in northeast Utah and northwest Colorado.
o       A RED FLAG WARNING for strong south winds, low relative 
        humidity, and an unstable air mass in most of Utah.
o       A RED FLAG WARNING for low relative humidity, strong winds and 
        an unstable air mass for southwest and central Wyoming.
o       A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for isolated to widely scattered dry 
        thunderstorms and low relative humidity in southeast Utah and 
        southwest Colorado.
o       A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for strong and gusty winds and low 
        relative humidity in east central Nevada.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/7; Mike Warren, NPS Fire 
Management Program Center, 7/6]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Uniform Contract Awarded - The contract for the NPS uniform program - 
which also covers the Corps of Engineers and Fish and Wildlife 
Service - has been awarded to Uniform Solutions, formerly R&R Uniforms 
and now a subdivision of Vanity Fair Uniforms, Inc., the largest 
apparel company in the world. The RFP for the contract was issued in 
February. Seventeen companies expressed interest, but only one 
response was received. The technical evaluation panel from the three 
agencies met in April and unanimously agreed that the proposal was 
acceptable and that a new contract with Uniform Solutions should be 
pursued. The new contract will begin on October 1st  and will cover 
all of the approximately 24,000 uniformed employees in the three 
agencies. The contract was awarded for a sum that is less than one 
percent more than the current contract, an increase deemed appropriate 
when administrative costs are factored in. New features in the 
contract include an emphasis on new product development and inventory 
management; an emphasis on environmental compliance and preferability; 
use of technology to provide uniform accountability; websites and an 
on-line catalog, with on-line ordering linked to existing agency 
databases; a paperless and electronic ordering and reporting system; 
use of government purchase cards for payments and checks and balances; 
incentives for superior performance and deductions or consequences for 
non-performance tied to quarterly COTR surveillance of performance 
outcomes; and a mandatory requirement to purchase specific uniform 
components from Javits-Wagner O'Day approved sources. [Ken Mabery, 
RAD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Santa Monica Mountains NRA (CA) - The park is seeking a commissioned 
ranger - seasonal, permanent or STF - for a detail of indefinite 
length, but no more than three months. The park will cover travel, 
salary and housing. The job includes day-to-day patrol by vehicle, 
mountain bike and/or horseback. For further information, contact 
district rangers Greg Jackson or Jim Richardson at 805-370-1840 or 
chief ranger Jon Dick at 805-370-2305.

Buffalo NR (AR) - The park is seeking to lateral a permanent, 
full-time GS-09 protection ranger to a position in the Middle District 
with duty station at the Tyler Bend Visitor Center. Occupancy of park 
housing is required. The incumbent will be involved in law 
enforcement, technical SAR, wildland fire, EMS, river operations, and 
administrative duties. Full performance protection rangers interested 
in this position should send applications to Mike Brinkmeyer, Buffalo 
National River, Route 1 - Box 46, St. Joe, AR 72675. For further 
information, cc:Mail Mike Brinkmeyer or call him at 870-439-2502.

Death Valley NP (CA) - The park is recruiting for a GS-7/9 patrol 
ranger. The person selected will be duty stationed at the Grapevine 
Ranger Station and reside at Scotty's Castle. He/she will work with 
two other rangers, will work independently and without close 
supervision, and will patrol the northern third of the park. The 
position is currently being advertised on USA Jobs. For further 
information, contact chief ranger Bill Blake (760-786-3245) or 
assistant chief ranger Nancy Wizner (760-786-3259).

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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