NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, August 17, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1790, President George Washington wrote a letter to 
the Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, affirming that the 
U.S. government "gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no 
assistance."  The congregation's place of worship, designed by the 
noted architect Peter Harrison, was designated Touro Synagogue 
National Historic Site in 1946.

INCIDENTS

00-410 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Follow-up on Protests

Due to an unclear message from the park, the August 11th Morning 
Report erroneously indicated that two pipe bombs exploded in the park 
in July.  Although there were no bomb explosions in July, seven pipe 
bombs have been found in or near park lands or offices over the last 
four years.  On August 3, 1996, an unexploded pipe bomb was found in a 
park restroom at Redwood Creek overlook.  On October 15, 1996, another 
unexploded pipe bomb was found on a tree stump along the Bald Hills 
Road.  On January 8, 1998, a student was caught in Arcata after 
shooting paint balls at the building which has offices for nearly 20 
park employees; he had two bombs in his possession.  On May 2, 1998 
and again on October 23, 1998, pipe bombs were found in the chemical 
restrooms at Stone Lagoon State Park, located immediately to the south 
of and sharing a common boundary with the park. NPS rangers responded 
to that incident. Lastly, an apparent pipe bomb was detonated on 
November 17, 1999 at Howland Hill Outdoor School, totally destroying a 
bear-proof trashcan. This bombing occurred on the same night that the 
California State Parks Commission formally passed the park's 
interagency GMP. [Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 8/16]

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

The coroner has determined that the two boys, ages eight and eleven, 
who reportedly drowned in the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell on August 
2nd died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The park has determined that 
there may be certain hull and generator exhaust configurations on 
houseboats that produce areas that can accumulate lethal levels of 
this gas. At least nine people have died to date from carbon monoxide 
poisoning on Lake Powell. It appears that the problem is exacerbated 
when generators are running and people are at or near the back of the 
houseboat or in the water in that area. If you're in a park with 
houseboats that has had fatalities or near misses that correspond with 
this scenario, please contact Char Oberg at 520-608-6208 or via 
cc:Mail. The park has issued a safety alert on this problem. [Brian 
O'Dea, Visitor Protection Specialist, GLCA, 8/14]

00-492 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Contractor Electrocution

R.B., 30, of Manitoba, Canada, the manager of a bridge 
construction project on Foothills Parkway, was electrocuted yesterday 
afternoon while trouble-shooting a machine used to mix concrete. 
R.B.'s co-workers performed CPR on him until emergency service 
units arrived. He was then flown to the University of Tennessee 
Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. R.B. was a 
manager for PCL, Inc., a Florida company that has a contract to build 
two of ten bridges in the "missing link" section of the parkway. This 
is the second fatality to occur at the same job site in the past year. 
[Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 8/17]

00-493 - Chickasaw NRA (OK) - Attempted Murder

Ranges were called from their residences to deal with a fight in 
Buckhorn campground at 5 a.m. on July 30th. Rangers Scott Kalna and 
Darrin Roberts found Bryan Knight lying in his tent, slipping in and 
out of consciousness. Four men involved in the assault fled on foot. 
County EMS was called in, but Knight refused transportation to the 
hospital. Sulphur PD officers set up a roadblock at the campground at 
Kalna's request. Officers stopped two pickup trucks with the four men 
on board. Ranger DeDe Mladucky arrested the four - K.M., M.N., 
D.W. and M.D. - and took them to the county 
jail. They were interviewed and admitted to assaulting Knight. Kalna 
took the unwilling Knight to the hospital for treatment of a severe 
head concussion. The doctor said that the injury was consistent with 
what would be caused by the long mag flashlight that was reportedly 
used in the assault. Knight was admitted to the hospital. [Deanna 
Mladucky, Acting CR, CHIC, 8/8]

00-494 - Chickasaw NRA (OK) - Assault 

K.J. was arrested for assault and battery with a dangerous 
weapon on July 4th. At about 2:20 a.m. that morning, K.J. turned 
himself in to the host at Buckhorn campground, saying that he'd just 
been involved in a fight and had stabbed his brother-in-law. The 
campground host called ranger Steve Buxton, who responded. The victim, 
E.H., was taken by private vehicle to Arbuckle Memorial 
Hospital for treatment of a puncture wound to the lower abdomen. He 
was subsequently released. Buxton arrested K.J., took him to the 
same hospital for treatment of small lacerations and contusions, then 
brought him to Murray County Jail. Alcohol was a factor in the 
incident. [Deanna Mladucky, Acting CR, CHIC, 8/8]

00-495 - Sequoia NP (CA) - Search and Rescue

Rangers received a report on the evening of August 9th of a woman who 
had been seriously injured in a fall from a horse on the Alta trail 
about four miles from the trailhead at Wolverton. Park medic Eric 
Gabriel was flown by the park's contract helicopter to a nearby 
helispot as darkness descended. He then hiked an additional mile to 
the scene and determined that T.B., 40, had a possible 
pelvic fracture that could be life threatening. Twelve additional 
rescue personnel were assembled by IC Charlie Strickfaden to assist 
with the carryout. The rescue team carried a wheeled litter and 
additional medical equipment four miles up the trail, arriving around 
midnight. T.B. was transported down the trail in the dark to a 
waiting ambulance. The entire rescue operation took about 10 hours to 
complete. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 8/15]

00-496 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Rescue

On the afternoon of August 13th, M.R., 51, was glissading down 
a steep slope in the area of Meany Crest (around 6,700 feet) when she 
lost control and slid into rocks at the base of the snow slope. Her 
partner called the park on a cell phone and reported the accident, 
stating that M.R. had sustained massive head injuries.  Rangers Mike 
Gauthier, Tom Westman  and John Leonard flew to the scene in an 
Aerocopters Jet Ranger and stabilized M.R..  The helicopter then 
continued to Camp Muir, where rangers Dee Patterson and Jeremy Shanks 
were picked up along with rescue gear.  They were flown to the scene 
and assisted in transporting M.R. to a landing zone.  The helicopter 
returned to the LZ, picked up M.R., and flew her to Sunrise, landing 
at night. M.R. was then transferred to a waiting Airlift Northwest 
helicopter and flown to Harborview Hospital, where she was treated for 
massive head lacerations, a compressed fracture of the right frontal 
lobe of the skull, a fracture of the orbit of the right eye, two 
fractured cheekbones, and a fractured elbow.  She is currently only 
partially responsive and doctors are continuing to evaluate her mental 
status.  The consensus at the hospital is that M.R. would have died 
that night if she had not been evacuated to the hospital so quickly. 
Rick Kirschner was IC. [Linda Birkett, MORA, 8/15]

00-497 - Mammoth Cave NP (KY) - Plant Poaching

On July 8th, rangers Eddie Wells and Bob Kirch apprehended five men 
who had harvested 20 ginseng roots and over a thousand goldenseal 
plants from the park. Three of them were cited for possession of plant 
parts; information against the other two men was filed with the U.S. 
Attorney's Office. Staff from the science and resource management 
division replanted both the goldenseal and ginseng. On the afternoon 
of August 12th, ranger David Alexander came upon an unoccupied 1984 
Datsun pickup with an expired registration at the Cedar Sink 
trailhead. Alexander became suspicious of their reason for being there 
and headed down the trail. He soon came upon three men who were about 
75 yards from the trail, moving along the edge of a large sinkhole and 
talking about collecting "roots." Ranger Dave Gibbins joined 
Alexander, and the two rangers contacted the men and questioned them 
about their activity. They admitted to digging for ginseng roots. A 
total of 222 roots were confiscated from the trio and mandatory 
appearance citations were issued for possession of plant parts. 
Citations were also issued to the truck's owner for improper 
registration and lack of valid proof of vehicle insurance. Ranger 
Eddie Wells assisted with the investigation. Preparations are underway 
for replanting the roots. [Brad McDougal, Acting CR, MACA, 8/17]

00-498 - Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Drug Seizure

While off-duty and running on a popular visitor trail near the visitor 
center on August 3rd, a ranger detected the odor of processed 
marijuana and alerted an on-duty ranger and Border Patrol agents. The 
on-duty ranger located and seized four backpack bundles of marijuana 
stashed near the trail. The total weight seized came to 170 pounds. 
[Karl Pearson, ORPI, 8/9]

                  [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level V

CURRENT SITUATION

Thirteen new large fires were reported, including five in the northern 
Rockies and three in the eastern Great Basin. Another dozen were 
contained. Total acreage burned this year has topped 5 million. 
Initial attack due to new lightning starts was moderate to heavy in 
the Great Basin and California.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 559 crews (+ 60), 
5,523 overhead (+ 1,038), 1,083 engines (+ 162), and 192 helicopters 
(+ 45).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in all eleven 
Western states, North Dakota and Texas.

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

NPS AND NPS-RELATED FIRES

Yellowstone NP (WY) - The Spruce Complex (1,079 acres, 0% containment, 
85 FF/OH) consists of eleven fires, four of them staffed - the Thumb, 
Star, Fred and Boundary Fires. Efforts are focusing on cabin 
protection along the south boundary in anticipation of the approach of 
the Glade Fire (see Grand Teton NP below). The south entrance road has 
been closed between West Thumb and Flagg Ranch; the Grassy Lake Road, 
located outside the park near the south entrance, has also been 
closed. All other entrances remain open (also all frontcountry visitor 
and park facilities, including all lodging, restaurants, general 
stores and gift shops). The Beaver Creek Fire (3,500 acres, 0% 
containment, Type II team, 214 FF/OH) continues to burn in the 
Gallatin NF. Torching and spotting on the east perimeter are reported, 
but there's no indication yet of threats to Yellowstone. The park has 
established a public number for current fire information: 
307-344-2593. Information on concessions can be obtained by calling 
307-344-7901; information on the backcountry can be obtained by 
calling 307-344-2160.

Grand Teton NP (WY) - Dry lightning passed through the park in two 
waves on August 15th, first in the morning, then in the afternoon. The 
afternoon ignitions were unfortunately simultaneous and provided 
little time for air patrol size-up and determination of priorities. 
One of these grew into the Glade Fire and caused the evacuation of the 
Flagg Ranch complex, main lodge, lodge buildings, campground, 
concession and NPS residences. Yesterday, that fire (700 acres, 0% 
containment, 81 FF/OH) exhibited moderate to extreme fire behavior. 
Highway 89 has been closed from Lizard Creek campground to Grant 
Village in Yellowstone NP. The Moran Fire (500 acres, 0% containment, 
two FF) continues to burn with great intensity in very heavy fuels. A 
major concern is ash fallout at Colter Bay. Firefighters are 
attempting to secure the southern flank. Fire activity increased 
yesterday on the Enos Fire (3,000 acres, 0% containment, Type II team, 
17 FF/OH) in the Bridger-Teton NF. The fire displayed a substantial 
convection column. A new blaze, the Wilcox Fire (200 acres, 0% 
containment, two FF), was reported yesterday. It's five miles 
northwest of Colter Bay. Fire activity is extreme, with significant 
runs, torching and spotting up to a quarter mile from the main fire. 
It's burning east and north along the west shore of Jackson Lake. The 
fire is being monitored by air and water. 

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

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for low relative humidity in the 
Florida Panhandle.

A dry southwest to west flow aloft will prevail over Washington, 
Oregon, Idaho and Montana.  Further south, monsoon moisture will 
continue to bring a possibility of thunderstorms to the Four Corners 
states and to Nevada and Wyoming.  Poor smoke dispersal will continue 
today; as a result, many valleys in the northern Rockies will have low 
visibility throughout the afternoon hours.

Winds will generally be southwest to west at 10 to 20 mph.  In the 
western Great Basin, ridge top winds will increase out of the 
southwest by late afternoon and gusts of 25 to 35 mph are possible.

High temperatures will range from the 80's to the mid 90's in most 
areas and up to 110 in the deserts of western Utah, northern Arizona 
and southern Nevada.  Up to 115 degree temperatures will occur across 
the deserts of southern California and southwest Arizona.  Afternoon 
relative humidities will range from the low teens to the 20's in most 
areas, except drier in the hottest deserts and valleys.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/17; Len Dems, FMO, GRTE, 
8/16; Public Affairs, YELL, 8/16]

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

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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