NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, July 21, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1944, U.S. forces began to retake Guam after its 
occupation by Japan during World War II.  War in the Pacific National 
Historical Park contains sites associated with the campaign.

INCIDENTS

99-735 - Gettysburg NMP (PA) - Follow-up: Theft Indictment

On December 8, 1999, Eastern National employee E.B., 40, 
of Biglerville, Pennsylvania, was indicted for theft of public money 
collected as part of the park's reservation operation. E.B. was 
subsequently found guilty. On July 18th, she was sentenced to four 
months in federal penitentiary, full restitution of the sum stolen 
($21,259, already repaid), $700 in fines and assessments, and two 
years' supervised probation with random drug testing. E.B. will 
report to the U.S. Marshal Service next week to start her prison term. 
The law enforcement staff at the Philadelphia Support Office assisted 
in this case. [Clark Guy, SAC, NERO, 7/19]

00-409 - Washington Office (DC) - Follow-up: Death of Employee Family  
         Member

There has been a correction on the location of the funeral for T.M., 
grandson of J.R., facility management specialist in 
WASO's Park Facility Management Office. It will be at 2 p.m. today at 
St. John's Chapel in Emigrant, Montana. Condolences may be sent to 
J. and J.R. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to The T.J.M. 
Fund, First Interstate Bank, PO Box 30918, Billings, MT 59116-0918, 
ATTN: Amy Carter. You can contact the bank at 406-255-5000. [John 
Gingles, FMD/WASO, 7/20]

00-419 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - MVA with Serious Injury

An 11-year-old girl was struck by a car at the Big Witch Gap overlook 
(milepost 462) on July 17th. Great Smoky Mountains NP ranger Derek 
Maxey and Blue Ridge ranger Marsha Bowers responded and found that the 
patient was under the care of Cherokee EMS. She was flown to a 
regional trauma center and is in critical condition. The cause of the 
accident is under investigation. [John Garrison, Protection 
Specialist, BLRI, 7/17]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

New large fires were reported yesterday in the Rockies, eastern Great 
Basin, southern California, and the South. Continued high fire danger, 
strong winds and dry lightning will keep initial attack forces busy 
east of the Cascades and in the Great Basin. Containment goals were 
reached Thursday on fires in Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and 
Colorado.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 294 crews (+ 42), 
1,621 overhead (+ 353), 481 engines (+ 36), 110 helicopters (- 5), and 
10 air tankers (- 1).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in all Western 
states and Alabama.

NPS FIRES

Mesa Verde NP (CO) - The lightning-caused Bircher Fire started on 
county land outside the park, but has burned into the park and is 
threatening Morefield campground. It has burned 500 acres so far. A 
Type II management team has been assigned. No additional details are 
yet available.

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Salmon-Challis NF (ID) - Clear Creek Fire (39,166 acres, 20% 
containment, Type I team, 870 firefighters and overhead): There was no 
reported acreage growth yesterday. Rain fell on parts of the fire, but 
it became active later in the day as RH dropped. Indirect dozer lines 
have been completed on the east side of the fire. A burnout operation 
is underway on the northwest perimeter. 

Payette NF (ID) - Burgdorf Junction Fire (3,285 acres, 54% 
containment, Type I team, 632 firefighters and overhead): Crews 
continue to make significant progress on construction of fire lines on 
the northwest flank. One firefighter was hit by a falling snag and 
seriously injured.

Winnemucca Field Office, BLM (NV) - Bilk Creek Complex (87,888 acres, 
100% containment, Type I team, 353 firefighters and overhead): All 
fires are reported contained.

Winnemucca Field Office, BLM (NV) - Prince Royal Complex (14,530 
acres, 95% containment, Type II team, 278 firefighters and overhead): 
Firefighters continued to make good progress. Mop-up operations and 
patrol of the fire's perimeter will continue today.

Battle Mountain Field Office, BLM (NV) - Berndt Fire (4,000 acres, 0% 
containment, Type II team, 100 firefighters and overhead): The fire is 
burning in sagebrush, pinyon pine and juniper. Extreme behavior - 
including fire whirls and rapid rates of spread - deterred containment 
efforts. The fire burned through retardant lines in several places.

Bitterroot NF (MT) - Little Blue Fire (5,800 acres, 60% containment, 
Type I team, 719 firefighters and overhead): Interior burning 
increased yesterday and occasional torching was seen in the afternoon 
as temperatures warmed up. Obstacles to containment include rugged 
terrain and difficulty in securing anchor points on the west half of 
the fire.

Lassen-Modoc Ranger Unit (CA) - Goat Fire (1,500 acres, 75% 
containment, 822 firefighters and overhead): The fire is burning in 
timber with brush understory. Efforts to protect structures around 
Lake Forest Estates have been successful. Wind gusts and very low RH 
are causing spotting problems.

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued RED FLAG WARNINGS for dry lightning in northeast 
Oregon and for a dry unstable air mass with gusty afternoon winds, low 
RH and high temperatures in western Wyoming, and FIRE WEATHER WATCHES 
for dry lightning in southeast Washington and the Columbia River basin 
of Oregon and for low RH, a high Haines index and increasing ridge-top 
winds for southwest Idaho.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/21]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Ranger Activities Division, WASO (DC) - The office has an announcement 
out for a GS-12/13 SAR and EMS coordinator. The announcement number is 
NPS WASO-00-060 and it closes on August 10th. If you have any 
questions, call 202-208-5574. [Dennis Burnett, RAD/WASO] 

Lake Roosevelt NRA (WA) - The park is recruiting for a GS-11/12 team 
leader, interpretation and visitor services. The announcement is open 
to all sources and closes on August 31st. Challenges of the position 
include developing an educational outreach program, providing programs 
and activities for some 1.4 million visitors annually, and developing 
exhibits and other media funded through the fee demo program.  Ability 
to work closely with American Indian tribes and other park partners is 
essential.  Contact superintendent Vaughn Baker at 509-633-9441, ext. 
110, for further information. The vacancy announcement number is 
CCSO-2000-50. [Vaughn Baker, LARO]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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