NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, August 29, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1963, the Chamizal Treaty resolved a 99-year dispute 
over the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico in the El Paso-Juarez 
Valley.  Chamizal National Memorial in El Paso, Texas, commemorates 
the peaceful settlement.

INCIDENTS

00-533 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - Homicide

On Monday, August 21st, T.C. requested assistance from the 
park in locating his brother, Tr.C., missing since late on the 
evening of August 20th.  Rangers and officers from Lauderdale County 
Sheriff's Office (Alabama) began a search of the area.  On Friday, 
August 25th, Tr.C.'s body was found in the Tennessee River.  
Investigators determined that Tr.C.'s body was thrown from the 
parkway's John Coffee Memorial Bridge, a mile-long span over the 
river. Rangers provided crime scene security and traffic control while 
state officials collected evidence on the bridge. Investigators from 
the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation continue their 
search for the person or persons responsible for Tr.C.'s death.  
(Kim Korthuis, Acting DCR, NATR, 8/28)

00-534 - Valley Forge NHP (PA) - Employee Injury

Maintenance worker Kenneth Halpen was injured on the afternoon of 
August 25th when the lawn tractor he was operating went backwards over 
the edge of a five-foot-high stone wall, flipped over, and landed on 
top of him. Halpen suffered a fractured hip and was taken to 
Phoenixville Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment. The 
incident is still under investigation; the causes for the accident 
have yet to be determined. [Earl Cram, Park Safety Specialist, VAFO, 
8/25]

00-535 - Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Drug Seizures; Other Incidents

On August 10th and 20th, rangers made drug seizures in similar 
incidents. In each case, rangers attempted to pull over a vehicle for 
a traffic violation, pursued, and confiscated marijuana after the 
driver finally stopped, bailed out and fled for the border. One arrest 
was made and 532 pounds of marijuana were seized. On August 23rd, Pima 
County deputies asked rangers to help stop a stolen vehicle heading 
south through the park. Stop sticks were used to deflate one of the 
car's tires; the driver fled and escaped. A loaded .22 semi-automatic 
pistol was found on the vehicle's front seat. All these incidents - 
plus a fire on a boat under tow that required a response by the park's 
fire brigade - occurred on a 22-mile section of Highway 85 within the 
park. The highway connects Mexico with the Tucson and Phoenix areas. 
[Karl Pearson, ORPI, 8/24]

00-536 - Lowell NHP (MA) - MVA with Fatality

On the morning of August 22nd, a 54-year-old Lowell woman was struck 
and killed and four others were injured (including a five-year-old 
boy) when a 71-year-old man lost control of a pickup truck he was 
driving. According to witnesses, the man was parked on Merrimack 
Street behind an unoccupied park patrol vehicle when he started up, 
hit the rear of the patrol vehicle, and pushed it into another parked 
car and out into the travel lane. He then put his truck in reverse, 
causing it to shoot rearward at a high rate of speed. It went over the 
sidewalk, ran over a parking meter, struck several pedestrians on the 
sidewalk, went through a wrought iron fence, struck a large tree, then 
came to rest in the yard of St. Anne's Church. Acting chief ranger 
Dave Redding was first on scene; he reported the accident to city 
police and aided victims until EMS could arrive on scene. No park 
staff were injured. The accident is being jointly investigated by city 
and state police. The operator had not yet been charged at the time of 
the report. Neither alcohol nor drugs were evidently factors. The 
accident appears to have been caused by either operator error or a 
mechanical malfunction. [Dave Redding, Acting CR, LOWE, 8/24]

00-537 - National Capital Parks (DC) - Attempted Suicide 

On August 13th, Park Police officer Jose Fontanez came upon a man 
sleeping in a parked, running vehicle in East Potomac Park. Fontanez 
also saw a suicide note on his lap. The man was unresponsive and had 
an extremely high pulse rate. He was taken to a local hospital and is 
now in stable condition. An empty bottle of sleeping pills was 
recovered from the car. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 8/23]

00-538 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Attempted Suicide

Ranger Mike O'Neil came upon a vehicle on August 24th that had been 
described in an ATL (attempt to locate) bulletin that the park had 
received. Tracks led from the vehicle to the rim; the 40-year-old male 
driver was found 100 feet below the rim, injured but alive. O'Neil and 
ranger Matt Vandzura stabilized his injuries. He was then short-hauled 
to the rim and flown by helicopter to Flagstaff Medical center, where 
he's in critical but stable condition with head and facial injuries. 
The ATL had been issued after the man's family found a suicide note. 
[Nancy E. Mecham, IC, GRCA, 8/24]

00-539 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Drowning

A five-year-old boy from Orem, Utah, was reported missing from his 
family's campsite at Hansen Creek north of Bullfrog Marina around 
mid-day on August 21st. He was found in about three feet of water, 15 
feet from shore. CPR was begun by family members and continued by 
rangers until the boy was medevaced to Page Hospital. He was then 
flown to Salt Lake City, where he died on August 23rd. [David 
Sandbakken, CI, GLCA, 8/24]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level V

CURRENT SITUATION

A total of nine new large fires were reported on Monday, but crews 
contained eight other fires. Initial attack was light to moderate 
nationwide. Predicted strong winds in Wyoming and Montana today will 
present challenges for firefighters on the large fires in the northern 
Rocky Mountains. 

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 729 crews (+ 4), 
7,443 overhead (+ 303), 1,293 engines (+ 1), and 234 helicopters (- 
17).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in Texas, North 
Dakota, Oklahoma, 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

Jewel Cave NM/Black Hills NF (SD) - Jasper Fire (64,900 acres, 5% 
containment, no estimated containment date, 797 FF/OH). The fire 
continues to spread north and west. Substantial progress is being made 
south of Highway 16, but the highway remains closed. Direct fireline 
construction with dozers is progressing on the east and west flanks. 
Evacuations are still in effect around the fire.

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Fires are showing heat on their perimeters but 
no major acreage gains  occurred yesterday and no new fires were 
reported. Highway 212 outside the Northeast Entrance, otherwise known 
as the Beartooth Highway, is currently closed south of Red Lodge, 
Montana, due to fire activity, but the Northeast Entrance itself and 
the Chief Joseph Highway to Cody, Wyoming, remain open. Flagg Ranch, 
located in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, reopened on 
August 28th.  Prohibitions on stopping on the South Entrance Road have 
been lifted.  The park has provided updates on fires in the Spruce 
Complex (5,630 acres, 0% containment, no estimated containment date, 
55 FF/OH):

o       The Plateau Fire, located in a remote area of the southwestern 
        portion of Yellowstone near Boundary Creek, is estimated to 
        have burned 2,600 acres.  This fire, burning towards the 
        northeast, has been putting out a visible column of smoke 
        noticeable to residents of West Yellowstone and central Idaho. 
        This fire is in a remote backcountry location and is not 
        threatening any developed areas.  Firefighters are working to 
        protect a backcountry patrol cabin a mile or two from the 
        fire. 
o       The Glade Fire is located near the southern boundary of 
        Yellowstone in Grand Teton National Park.  This fire is 
        currently estimated to have burned 2,464 acres.  Crews are 
        working to suppress this fire and protect structures at the 
        South Entrance and Flagg Ranch.  
o       The Moose Fire, located near Moose Creek south of Shoshone 
        Lake, is estimated to have burned 1,200 acres.  Previously 
        burned areas from the 1988 Yellowstone fires are helping to 
        naturally keep this fire from significantly spreading.  
o       The Boundary Fire is located along the south boundary of the 
        park near Grassy Lake. This fire is estimated to have burned 
        approximately 250 acres and is burning in an area that was 
        burnt during the 1988 Yellowstone fires.  Earlier this week, 
        park staff established plots to monitor how the 1988 
        Yellowstone fires were affecting the behavior of this fire.   
o       The Unlucky Fire, located in the southwest portion of the park 
        in the Bechler area, is now estimated to have burned 
        approximately 2,200 acres.  This fire is mostly burning fuels 
        within its perimeter and is not expanding significantly.

Grand Teton NP (WY) - Teton Complex (14,920 acres, 0% containment, no 
estimated containment date, Type II team, 417 FF/OH). As noted above, 
Flagg Ranch reopened yesterday. The Wilcox Fire continues to spot and 
advance to the west and north. Structure protection continues for the 
Berry Creek patrol cabin.

Theodore Roosevelt NP (ND) - Blacktail Complex (1,100 acres, 20% 
containment, full containment expected by August 31st, 70 FF/OH). No 
new information.

Glacier NP (MT) - A lightning storm on the night of Thursday, August 
24th, ignited eight new fires in the park.  Very little rain (.02 
inches) was associated with this storm.  Park personnel on Huckleberry 
and Numa Lookouts spotted several fires and others were either spotted 
or verified by aerial reconnaissance the next day. The following fires 
were burning in the park as of yesterday:

o       The Parke Peak Fire is located near Kintla Lake in a remote 
        northwest section of the park and has burned 2,100 acres.  The 
        fire has shown moderate burning activity in the last few days, 
        primarily below Harrison Glacier and in the Red Medicine Bow 
        Creek area.  A two-person NPS crew continues to monitor its 
        behavior.
o       The Sharon Fire has burned 450 acres and is located a half 
        mile east of the Inside North Fork Road below Logging Ridge 
        and is burning in a mature, mixed conifer forest.  It showed 
        moderate activity Monday.  No crews are assigned to the fire 
        due to the terrain and overall potential for upslope fire 
        spread.  The fire is being managed under a confinement 
        strategy.
o       The Naomi Fire is located one mile northeast of the Sharon 
        Fire; it is estimated at tenth of an acre.  No crew is 
        assigned to the fire.
o       The Cerulean Fire is in the upper Quartz Creek drainage. This 
        one-acre fire is showing little activity and it is not staffed 
        at this time.
o       The Loggerhead Fire has burned a tenth of an acre a half mile 
        east of the Naomi Fire.  No crew is assigned to the fire.
o       The Grinnell Point Fire is located a half mile southwest of 
        Grinnell Point above the Grinnell Glacier trail in the Many 
        Glacier area of the park.  It is burning at high elevation in 
        sparse vegetation and is estimated at 20 acres.  It is nearly 
        contained except in areas of steep terrain which cannot be 
        safely cold-trailed.  A reduced NPS crew will monitor the fire 
        today.
o       The Carcajou Fire is located just south of the Canadian Border 
        north of Carcajou Lake (just east of the Continental Divide).  
        Waterton Lakes NP provided initial attack with a helicopter 
        and helitack crew.  The Waterton crew will continue fire 
        suppression unless called elsewhere.  The fire has burned 
        about three-and-a-half acres.

A number of temporary closures have been instituted because of these 
fires. The Inside North Fork Road is closed from Polebridge to Fish 
Creek. Two frontcountry campgrounds - Logging Creek and Quartz Creek - 
and five backcountry campgrounds - Quartz, Lower Quartz, Logging, 
Adair and Grace - are closed. And the Quartz Creek, Quartz Loop, 
Logging Creek and Boulder Pass trails are closed.

Great Basin NP (NV) - Phillips Ranch Fire [2,600 acres, 15% 
containment, no estimated containment date, 40 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 gusty winds, low relative 
humidity, dry fuels and dry lightning in western and central Wyoming, 
and two FIRE WEATHER WATCHES - one for gusty winds and low relative 
humidity in the Rockies in central Montana, the other for a high 
dispersion index due to increased winds and deep mixing in the inland 
areas of northeastern Florida.

A Pacific trough will move across the northwest along the Canadian 
border. This will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms to 
northern Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana. The air mass 
will remain dry in Oregon and central and southern Idaho. Monsoonal 
moisture will bring thunderstorms to the higher elevations in the 
Sierra Nevada, across central Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and southward. 
Some storms in Wyoming may produce dry lightning, but the lightning 
will be wet elsewhere. 

Winds will generally be southwest to west at 10 to 20 mph in the 
northwest United States. East slopes of the northern Rockies will be a 
little stronger. Further south, winds will be upslope or southwest at 
15 mph or less. 

Temperatures will be in the 70's to mid 80's in the mountains, mid 
80's to 90's in the lower elevations and 100 to 110 in the hottest 
deserts.

Relative humidity will be in the teens and 20's with some single digit 
readings occurring in the driest areas. 

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/29; Amy Vanderbilt, PIO, 
GLAC, 8/28; Marsha Karle/Cheryl Matthews, PIOs, YELL, 8/28]

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

Pinnacles NM (CA) - The park is recruiting for a GS-025-11 supervisory 
park ranger. The announcement can be found on USA Jobs. The incumbent 
supervises the east district operation.  This is a required occupancy 
position. For more information, contact Jerry Case at 831-389-4485 x 
247. [Jerry Case, PINN]

Great Sand Dunes NM (CO) - The park is considering filling its GS-11 
chief ranger position through a lateral assignment.  If you are 
interested in this position and would be eligible for a lateral 
reassignment, please send an up-to-date application to Steve Chaney, 
the park's superintendent, arriving in that office no later than 
Thursday September 7th. [Steve Chaney, GRSA]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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