NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, August 23, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1932, Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in the U.S. and 
the highest road in the National Park System, opened in Rocky Mountain National Park, 
Colorado.

INCIDENTS

00-506 - Everglades NP (FL) - Follow-up on Hurricane Debby

The park's hurricane IMT (Bob Panko, IC) met on Tuesday morning to assess the threat from 
Hurricane Debby and begin preparations as needed. Tropical storm force winds are expected 
on the eastern side of the park by 10 a.m. on Friday. The hurricane may strengthen 
considerably before reaching Florida, should it continue in that direction. Full preparations will 
begin this morning. The goal is to have all preparations completed by Thursday morning in 
order to release the majority of park staff a full 24 hours before expected land fall. Although a 
number of park staff members are on fire assignment (including several IMT overhead 
members), their absence hasn't had a significant impact on planned operations. Park staff are 
assisting the families of employees who are on fire assignments with preparing their homes for 
the storm. [Bob Panko, IC, EVER, 8/22]

00-515 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Serious Injuries, Three Concession Employees

Three Amfac Parks and Resorts employees were seriously burned after falling into a thermal 
pool in the Lower Geyser Basin in the Old Faithful area between 10 and 11 p.m. on August 
21st. S.H., 20, of Oroville, Washington, T.M., 18, of Salt Lake City, Utah, 
and L.B., 18, also of Salt Lake City, had walked into the basin to swim in the Firehole 
River with a group of four or five friends. After swimming, members of the group split up and 
headed back to their vehicles. Cries for help were heard from the three, and their companions 
ran back to help. The three evidently fell into a large thermal feature, possibly Cavern Springs. 
T.M. and L.B. were able to get out of the pool on their own; they were helped to their 
vehicles and taken to Old Faithful, where they received emergency medical treatment from park 
staff. Friend helped S.H. from the pool and remained with her until help arrived about a 
half-hour later. Ambulances transported all three to West Yellowstone airport, where they were 
flown by helicopter to Idaho Falls, then transferred to an airplane and flown to Salt Lake City 
Burn Center. S.H. received third degree burns over her entire body; T.M. has second 
and third degree burns over 70% of his body; L.B. has third degree burns over 90 percent of 
his body. All three are currently listed in critical condition. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/22]

[Additional reports pending]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level V

CURRENT SITUATION

Firefighters again made significant progress on containment of most large fires yesterday. 
Containment goals were met on five fires; seven new large fires were reported. Initial attack was 
minimal throughout the west, but activity may increase today due to dry lightning forecast for 
western Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and eastern Nevada. Training for the Army's 3rd Battalion, 
327th Infantry begins today at Fort Campbell. The battalion is scheduled to be deployed on the 
Valley Complex in Montana.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday (changes from yesterday's 
numbers in parentheses): 626 crews (+ 32), 5,366 overhead (- 1,156), 1,138 engines (+ 40), and 
225 helicopters (+ 11).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in Oklahoma, Texas and 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 AND NPS-RELATED FIRES

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Spruce Complex (3,355 acres, 0% containment, no estimated 
containment date, 61 FF/OH). Fire activity has picked up on the Plateau Fire and Unlucky 
Fire. The former developed a smoke column yesterday. A crew has been placed at Buffalo Cabin 
for structure protection.

Grand Teton NP (WY) - Teton Complex (12,800 acres, 0% containment, no estimated 
containment date, Type II team, 446 FF/OH). Staffing on complex fires increased substantially 
again yesterday. Some torching and spotting is occurring on all fires. Crews are being 
transported by boat to the Wilcox and Moran Fires. 

Glacier NP (MT) - Parke Peak Fire (2,100 acres, 0% containment, 10/15 estimated containment 
date, 16 FF/OH). No new information.

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

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for dry lightning, low relative humidity, and gusty 
thunderstorm winds for southwestern and west central Wyoming, and a FIRE WEATHER 
WATCH for dry lightning and low relative humidity for most of eastern and southwestern 
Montana.

Warming and drying continues over the northwest states, as an upper level ridge builds over 
the area. No thunderstorms are forecast in Washington and Oregon, as it is too dry. Further 
south, monsoon moisture will be moving north and west with the building ridge. As a result, 
thunderstorms will develop in Idaho and Montana and possibly eastern Nevada. Thunderstorm 
activity will also occur in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.

Winds will generally be upslope or southwest at speeds under 20 mph. 

Temperatures will be in the 70's to mid 80's in the mountains, and the mid 80's to mid 90's at 
lower elevations. Desert areas will see temperatures from 100 to 110. Minimum relative 
humidities will be in the teens and 20's, with some single digit readings occurring in the driest 
areas.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/23]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Crater Lake NP (OR) - Study of Lake Bottom

The park's natural resource management staff, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, 
recently completed a comprehensive survey of the floor of Crater Lake using state-of-the-art, 
multi-beam sonar technology. The project was born out of a civil settlement initiated five years 
ago under the Resource Protection Act (16 USC 19jj).  The multi-beam sonar equipment used 
in the survey was the most advanced available - only six equivalent units are in service 
worldwide.  The scientists took over 16 million measurements and recorded, among other 
things, a maximum lake depth of 1,958 feet, 26 feet deeper than previously measured. The 
images revealed from the survey show amazing details of ancient lava flows , huge landslide 
debris fields and other interesting geologic features on the bottom of the lake. In the near 
future, these data will be made available to interested scientists.  This information will move  
the park's research program to a new level of scientific investigations about the lake and its 
volcanic origins. [Mac Brock, CRM, CRLA]

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Commemorative Millennium Badge - Interest in the badge has been so strong that approval to 
wear it through the end of this calendar year has been given by Associate Director, Park 
Operations and Education Maureen Finnerty. The badge may be worn on the uniform only 
through December 31st. Interest in the second offering of the badge has been sufficient to 
extend the ordering date to September 30th. An order form can be obtained from the  NPS 
Intranet web site. Go to http://www.nps.gov/refdesk/intra/ and click on "NPS Commemorative 
Badge Form." You must use a government computer to access this site. Or you can send an 
email message to either Dwayne Collier (SOAR) or Ken Mabery (RAD/WASO) with the words 
"Commemorative Badge Form" in the subject line. Order forms mailed to FOP will be returned. 
No government funds may be used to purchase the badge. Orders will be accepted if mailed by 
September 30th. Direct questions via cc:Mail to either Dwayne Collier at NP-SOAR or Ken 
Mabery_DC at NP-WASO-OPR.

Environmental Crimes Course - The course, which has been scheduled for Denver for 
September 19th to the 21st, is in dire need of additional participants. Because of fire 
commitments, it's been difficult for many to look ahead to September and training. Supervisors 
may therefore fax nominations for themselves or their employees directly to FLETC. They must 
be received by COB on August 24th. The fax number is 912-267-3188. NPS training pays for all 
course costs and the hotel; the park pays for travel and for M&IE. Please try to help FLETC get 
this course off the ground. For copies of the announcement or nomination form, call Wiley 
Golden at 912-267-2246 or cc:Mail him at WASO FLETC-NPS. [Tom Cherry, FLETC]

MEMORANDA

"Alignment of Law Enforcement Training," signed on August 21st by Director Stanton and sent 
electronically to the directorate, regional directorate and superintendents. The full text follows:

"The comprehensive law enforcement review of the International Association of Chiefs of Police 
has documented a need to provide greater emphasis and focus on our law enforcement 
training.  The training issue is particularly critical when a significant portion of law 
enforcement training relates directly to ranger safety.  Because of my commitment to both 
safety and professionalization of the workforce, the following actions will be undertaken.

"Effective immediately, the management and supervision for all law enforcement training will 
be transferred from the Associate Director, Administration, to the Associate Director, Park 
Operations and Education.  This action is also consistent with our commitment and decisions 
under Ranger Careers.  The fiscal alignment and transfer of funds will occur with the new fiscal 
year on or about October 1, 2000."

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - The park is seeking applicants for the soon-to-be vacant GS-12 
district ranger position for the Uplake District, which is based in Bullfrog, Utah. The vacancy 
announcement for this position is available on USAJobs; it opened on August 21st and closes 
on September 15th. This is a commissioned position, covered as a secondary law enforcement 
position under 6c. Any questions, please call soon-to-be assistant chief ranger Mike Mayer at 
435-684-7410.

                             *  *  *  *  *

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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