NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, August 4, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1735, a jury found John Peter Zenger not guilty of 
libel for publishing statements critical of New York's colonial 
governor in his newspaper - a notable victory for freedom of the 
press.  Federal Hall National Memorial in New York City occupies the 
site of the building in which the trial was held.

INCIDENTS

00-446 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Death of NPS Firefighter

A 29-year-old seasonal park firefighter died of injuries sustained in 
a helicopter crash while working on the Charlie Fire in northern 
Nevada yesterday evening. The incident occurred when the helicopter 
was taking off. Two others were injured in the crash. The name is not 
being released pending notification of next of kin. Further 
information will appear in the Morning Report as soon as it is 
available. [Dale Antonich, CR, LAME, 8/3; Tim Simonds, LAME, 8/4]

00-447 - Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's (CA) - Apparent Murder of NPS   
         Employee

On the evening of August 2nd, Fresno County Sheriff's Office 
detectives found the body of Doug Frizell, 53, at his home in 
Miramonte, California. Frizell, the building and utilities supervisor 
in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon NP, did not report to work on 
either August 1st or 2nd. Park supervisors and co-workers became 
concerned about his whereabouts, and a missing person report was filed 
with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. The case is being 
investigated as a homicide; an autopsy has been scheduled to determine 
cause of death. Rangers provided county detectives with information on 
the illegal use of Frizell's credit cards which resulted in the 
identification of a suspect. The sheriff's offices in both Fresno 
County and Tulare County are actively pursuing the suspect. Park 
employees have attended critical incident stress defusing sessions 
conducted by peer support counselors in the park. Additional CIS 
debriefings by mental health professionals are being contracted 
through the Employee Assistance Program. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 
8/3]

00-448 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Double Drowning

Park dispatch received a cell phone call at 9:30 p.m. on August 2nd 
reporting the possible drowning of two brothers in the San Juan Arm of 
Lake Powell. The boys, D.D. and L.D., ages seven and ten, 
were swimming at the rear of a houseboat, underneath the rear 
platform, when they disappeared. The boat's generator was running at 
the time and carbon monoxide poisoning may have been a factor in their 
deaths. Due to inclement weather, no helicopter service was available, 
so a three-hour boat ride in stormy weather was required to get 
rangers, park divers and a county deputy to the scene. [Cindy 
Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 8/3]

00-449 - Timpanogos Cave NM (UT) - Park Closure

The park was closed on the afternoon of July 30th due to the proximity 
of the Oak Hill Fire. The human-caused blaze traveled up a west-facing 
slope over rugged terrain and spotted into American Fork Canyon, where 
the park is located.  Highway 92 south of the fire through American 
Fork Canyon remains closed, and a Forest Service campground two miles 
from the park has been evacuated.  At the time of the report 
(Wednesday), the fire had moved within 500 yards of the park's 
northwest boundary. Superintendent Kit Mullen has delegated fire 
management authority to a Type I team assigned to the Wasatch Complex, 
a group of five fires currently burning in the Uinta National Forest.  
The park's fire crew has been working on hazard fuel reduction around 
park structures; interpretive rangers have been assigned to assist the 
Forest Service and Utah Department of Transportation with road 
closures and manning on-site information stations.  Chief of 
interpretation Suzanne Flory is the public information officer for the 
fire.  Administrative personnel have been supporting park operations 
with assistance from maintenance staff. The park will remain closed 
until further notice. [Kathleen Gonder, AO, GOSP, 8/2, for TICA, whose 
server is down]

                 [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level V

CURRENT SITUATION

Twenty new large fires were reported yesterday; containment goals were 
reached on nine others. Dry lightning and very heavy initial attack 
were again reported, this time in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, 
Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado. Dry lightning and gusty winds are 
forecast today in Oregon, the Great Basin and the Rockies. 

An area command team is managing the large fires in the Bitterroot NF; 
another area command team is assigned to the large fires in the 
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF. Priorities for fires in the northern Rockies 
and Great Basin are being established by multi-agency coordinating 
groups.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 611 crews (- 75), 
3,937 overhead (+ 318), 1,059 engines (- 31), 161 helicopters (- 7), 
and 11 air tankers (no change).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in many areas 
all eleven Western states.

[For more national fire news, go to www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html, 
which also provides links to web sites for specific fires]

NPS FIRES

Great Basin NP/Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (NV) - Phillips Ranch Fire: 1,275 
acres, 25% containment, 75 FF/OH. No change reported from yesterday.

Glacier NP (MT) - Parke Peak Fire: 400 acres, 20% containment, 35 
FF/OH. A confinement strategy is being used due to heavy fuel loads, 
inaccessible terrain, and increased fire activity. The fire has 
spotted over the back side of Medicine Bow Ridge and is backing and 
flanking to the south and east. Suppression efforts continue with two 
helicopters providing water bucket drops on hot spots. A 20-person 
Type I crew remains on scene, monitoring the fire spread. The fire has 
prompted park management to temporarily close the Boulder Pass trail 
between Boulder Pass and the head of Kintla Lake. The backcountry 
campground at Upper Kintla Lake is also temporarily closed. The 
drive-in campground at Kintla Lake remains closed, but open to day 
use. 

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Recent lightning strikes started a number of 
fires in and around the park. Most have been contained or have burned 
out. The Jones Pass Fire, located on the park's east boundary, reached 
25 acres. Retardant was dropped on the evening of August 2nd and 
control efforts continued yesterday. The Bridge Fire, located near 
Bridge Bay, burned 10 acres and has been contained.

Death Valley NP (CA) - A park crew and engine responded yesterday to a 
wildland fire in Ash Meadows NWR, located near the park. The refuge 
surrounds Devils Hole National Monument, which is administered and 
protected by the NPS and is home to the endangered Devil Hole pup 
fish. As of 6 p.m. last night, the fire was reported at about 800 
acres and growing.

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - The Hakatai Fire remains inactive at 18 acres. 
Mop-up is underway. 

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Changes from yesterday's figures indicated in parentheses, where 
appropriate. New fires (on this report) indicated with asterisks.

Montana 

Bitterroot NF - Blodgett Trailhead Fire: 1,800 acres (+ 100), unknown 
containment, Type II team, 166 FF/OH (+ 36). The fire is torching and 
crowning, with up to 200 foot flame lengths on the north perimeter. A 
mandatory evacuation is in place for 132 homes east of the fire; 
another 100 homes were evacuated late yesterday afternoon when the 
fire spotted across Blodgett Creek.

Bitterroot NF - Valley Complex Fires: 17,000 acres (+ 7,000), 0% 
containment, Type I team, 199 FF/OH (+ 27). A total of 180 structures 
are threatened. Structure protection is in place around residences and 
evacuations remain in effect. Highway 93 is open to limited access.

Bitterroot NF - * Sula Complex Fires: 5,000 acres, 0% containment, 
Type I team, 235 FF/OH. Evacuations of several drainages remain in 
effect; 450 structures are threatened. Power lines were burned and 
power was lost to the town of Sula. The fire is making a large 
downhill run toward Highway 93, with intense fire behavior and 
spotting.

Helena NF - Canyon Ferry Complex Fires: 41,922 acres (+ 1,580), 75% 
containment (+ 35%), Type I team, 1,295 FF/OH (+ 64). Burnout 
operations are in progress on the northern portion of the fire. A 
microburst yesterday caused intense shifting winds.

Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF - Cougar Creek Fire: 3,880 acres, 40% 
containment, Type II team, 408 FF/OH (+ 5). Spotting continues to be a 
concern due to dry fuels and gusty winds. Isolated torching and small 
runs have been observed.

Lolo NF - Monture/Spread Ridge Fires: 14,500 acres, 0% containment, 
Type I team, 385 FF/OH (+ 40).  Crews are constructing indirect fire 
line and clearing ladder fuels in preparation for a burnout operation.

Utah

Fishlake NF - Oldroyd Complex Fires: 59,139 acres (+ 2,085), 44% 
containment (+ 14%), Type I team, 634 FF/OH (- 70). Firefighters made 
good progress with the aid of helicopter and air tanker drops and 
burnout and firing operations. The fire also received some measurable 
rain.

Wasatch-Cache NF - Logan Complex Fires: 790 acres, 80% containment (+ 
30%), Type II team, 110 FF/OH (- 2). All smokes are confined to the 
interior of the High Point Fire. The Milville Fire did not grow in 
size.

Wasatch-Cache NF - Wasatch Complex Fires: 3,246 acres, unknown 
containment, Type I team, 271 FF/OH (- 130). Line construction and 
burnout operations progressed in Preston Canyon. Air operations held 
the fire spread on spot fires. Fire line construction and burnouts 
have been completed on the East Vivian Fire. Highway 92 remains 
closed.

Salt Lake District - * Salt Lake Desert Complex Fires: 45,416 acres, 
75% containment, Type I team, 146 FF/OH. The complex consists of three 
fires three miles north of Eureka.

Idaho

Salmon-Challis NF - Clear Creek Fire: 99,500 acres (+ 4,500), 40% 
containment (+ 10%), two Type I teams, 680 FF/OH (+ 10). Fire growth 
was slower yesterday due to scattered showers and higher humidity. 

Payette NF - Burgdorf Junction: 17,000 acres (+ 1,377), 35% 
containment (- 9%), Type I team, 1,219 FF/OH )- 49). The fire made a 
major run yesterday, crossing the evacuation trigger point in Union 
Creek. Notifications were made to move residents out of the Marshall 
Mining District.

Upper Snake River District - Eastern Idaho Complex Fires: 192,200 
acres, 80% containment (+ 20%), Type I team, 590  FF/OH (- 47). Cooler 
temperatures and higher humidity aided in suppression efforts on the 
Moonshine Fire. Mop-up and rehabilitation of dozer lines is underway.

Clearwater NF - Crooked Fire: 1,750 acres (+ 250), 30% containment (+ 
20%), Type II team, 517 FF/OH (+ 71). Crews are trying to keep the 
fire from crossing Highway 12. Spotting, gusty winds and steep slopes 
are deterring containment.

Nevada

Nevada Division of Forestry - Arrowcreek Fire: 2,800 acres (+ 325), 
80% containment, Type I team, 309 FF/OH (+ 72). The fire is on the 
southwest edge of Reno and continues to threaten numerous structures. 
The fire made a short run toward the eastern edge of the Mt. Rose 
Wilderness, but was stopped by air suppression efforts. Good progress 
was made toward containment.

Arizona 

Tonto NF - Peak Fire: 1,300 acres (+ 300), 10% containment (- 5%), 
Type II team, 465 FF/OH (+ 118). The fire made up slope runs and 
reached the main ridge below Signal Peak, but crews were able to hold 
the ridge with the help of air tankers. 

California

Riverside Ranger Unit, CDF - Pechanga Fire: 6,670 acres (+ 948), 15% 
containment, CDF and USFS Type II team, 1,794 FF/OH. Firing operations 
have been successfully completed on the west flank.

Sequoia NF - Manter Fire: 72,730 acres (+ 502), 54% containment (+ 
14%), Type I team, 1,850 FF/OH (+ 146). Downdrafts from afternoon 
thunderstorms caused the fire to make several interior runs, but all 
containment lines held. Firing operations are continuing.

[For a listing of all fires, see www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.html]. 

OUTLOOK

Hot and dry conditions will continue across much of the western United 
States. Mainly dry thunderstorms will prevail in the afternoon and 
early evening hours throughout the Great Basin and Rockies. 
Temperatures will again reach the 90's in most areas, with highs of 
100 to 110 in the lower elevations of Utah, Arizona

NICC has issued a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for dry lightning and gusty winds 
in southwest and central Oregon.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/4; Mike Warren, NPS Fire 
Management Program Center, 8/3; Public Affairs, YELL, 8/3; Amy 
Vanderbilt, PIO, GLAC, 8/3; Bill Blake, CR, DEVA, 8/3]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

"Upcoming Wildland Fire Policy Review Field Survey," signed by 
Associate Director, Park Operations and Education Maureen Finnerty and 
sent to all regional directors and agency administrators. The full 
text follows:

"This summer, the Wildland Fire Policy Working Group, created at the 
direction of the Secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and 
Agriculture, is undertaking a comprehensive review of the 1995 federal 
fire policy. The working group, consisting of representatives from the 
federal agencies in the wildland fire community as well as other 
federal partners, will meet in September to address a wide range of 
issues on federal fire policy. Most specifically, the working group 
plans to examine:

a.      How far have we progressed in implementing the 1995 federal    
        fire policy both within agencies and at different 
        organizational levels? 
b.      Are there issues or barriers impeding implementation, 
        including needed revisions of the federal fire policy itself 
        that need to be addressed at either the national and/or field 
        levels?
c.      In the wake of Cerro Grande and other reviews of field 
        experiences over the past five years, are there major 
        suggestions for change in the field regarding the federal fire 
        policy and our implementation of it?

"As part of their review, the Working Group is conducting a survey of 
field units of all the bureaus in Interior and the Forest Service 
around the country. It addresses a number of issues involving policy 
priorities, planning and resources, fuels management, accountability, 
communication, and others. The questions on the survey, one of which 
may be sent to you to complete, are a mix of objective and subjective 
ratings, and open-ended questions for comment. The survey will cover 
in each unit selected: the unit's administrator, the fire management 
officer, the chief of resources, and the chief of unit level (not 
fire) planning.

"Approximately 20% to 30% of field units with fire programs will be 
selected at random. Your unit may be one that is selected. If so, your 
unit will be contacted in the next few days to obtain the appropriate 
names, email addresses and phone numbers of the personnel to receive 
the survey. Once that information is obtained, the Brookings 
Institution (which is administering the survey so we can ensure 
confidentiality), will contact people on your list and send them their 
survey. The survey can be completed in approximately 20-25 minutes.

"Because the survey is being sent to such a limited number of 
potential respondents (about 150-200 individuals in each agency), it 
is very important that we get a high response rate. The survey needs 
to be completed by August 28th to meet the Working Group's schedule. 
So, if one of your designated survey respondents is not available for 
the month of August, please let Brookings know so we can work out 
alternate arrangements. The point of contact is Albert (Al) Hyde who 
can be reached at ahyde@brook.edu

"Finally, the Brookings Institution will be contacting a small sample 
of the survey respondents to see if they would be willing to discuss 
some of the questions in greater detail by a phone interview. We 
expect these interviews to take 15-20 minutes.

"We know this is a very busy time for everyone in the federal natural 
resources management community. But it is also the most appropriate 
time to assess how well our fire policy is working and what we need to 
work on to make it more effective. 

"We greatly appreciate your cooperation in helping us conduct the best 
review possible."

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

No submissions.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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