NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, May 17, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-219 - Gateway NRA (NJ/NY) - Assault

Two fishermen got into a verbal dispute over fishing limits near the 
Navy Pier at Floyd Bennett Field around 10:30 p.m. on May 15th. The 
dispute escalated when one of the fishermen placed a knife to the 
other's throat and threatened to kill him if he said anything else. 
The assailant - J.S. of Brooklyn - then fled the area, 
but was found after an extensive search by USPP officers. He was 
arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. [John Lauro, 
USPP, GATE, 5/16]

01-220 - Lowell NHP (MA) - Assist; Homicide

On the afternoon of May 12th, Lowell PD dispatch broadcast a report of 
gunshots fired at an intersection near the park. Ranger Eric 
Provencher was in the immediate area and was the first on scene. He 
found L.A., 23, lying on the sidewalk, bleeding, and summoned 
police and EMS. Provencher helped paramedics provide EMS assistance 
until L.A. was taken to Lowell General Hospital. He was pronounced 
dead at the hospital. It appears that L.A. was shot three times 
following an altercation over a stolen car belonging to his cousin. 
L.A. was a Lowell resident and five-time New England Golden Gloves 
boxing champion. Provencher assisted Lowell and state police with the 
search for the weapon, which was not found until later. The incident 
occurred less than 200 yards from the park maintenance facility and 
near the NPS canalway currently under development. [Dave Redding, CR, 
LOWE, 5/16]

01-221 - San Antonio Missions NHP (TX) - Special Event

The park, the United Services Automobile Association, and Los 
Compadres, the park's friends group, sponsored a concert for the 
general public on May 11th. The evening event was held on the grounds 
around Mission San Jose and drew over 1400 people. The USAA Concert 
Band and Chorus played jazz and contemporary music. USAA funded the 
stage and lighting, with assistance from Los Compadres; the park 
supervised the event and assisted with security, set-up and 
break-down, clean-up and interpretation of the park. [Elizabeth 
Dupree, PIO, SAAN, 5/14]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

No new information. Please check the NPS Fire Management Program 
Center web page (www.fire.nps.gov) for further information on fire 
plan projects.

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 1

Initial attack activity was moderate in the South yesterday and light 
elsewhere. Two new large fires were reported in Florida; one was 
contained. High pressure will persist in the Southeast, bringing dry 
and warm weather and light winds to Florida. High pressure will move 
into Montana, decreasing winds there. Very high to extreme fire 
indices were reported in Arizona, Florida, New Mexico and Texas. 

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for low relative humidity this 
afternoon in the Florida Panhandle and a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for low 
afternoon humidity in the majority of Florida and southeast Georgia.

The full NICC Incident Management Situation Report can be found at 
http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf

National Resource Status

Date                    5/13    5/14    5/15    5/16    5/17

Crews                   113     92      63      54      36
Engines                 159     125     123     88      84
Helicopters             29      25      25      22      22
Air Tankers             2       2       0       1       0
Overhead                531     390     444     337     287

Park Fires

Everglades NP (FL) - The Lopez Fire (8,533 acres - up 300 acres from 
Tuesday) has been 95% contained. A total of 51 firefighters and 
overhead are currently committed, along with three engines, two 
helicopters and a single-engine air tanker. Summary, as of yesterday: 
Firefighters continue to patrol the perimeter of the fire, looking for 
hotspots in the hardwood hammocks. This fire will probably continue to 
smolder in the hammocks until sufficient rain falls on the area, so 
there is still a threat that it could escape into unburned vegetation. 
Fire monitoring will continue via aerial reconnaissance and road 
patrols. Fire danger remains very high in the park. Overall water 
levels in the park have dropped over a foot since the fire started. It 
is expected that the low soil moisture, combined with the low surface 
water levels, will push the park into the extreme condition staffing 
class within the next three days. 

Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - The park reports one new start of less than an 
acre.

Zion NP (UT) - The Telephone Canyon Fire was ignited by lightning on 
Sunday. It has burned less than an acre. It's expected to smolder and 
burn out over the next week and is being managed for resource 
benefits.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme         Hawaii Volcanoes
Very High       Everglades
High            Great Smokies, Lake Mead

[Mike Warren, NPS FMPC, 5/16; Deb Nordeen, IO, EVER, 5/15; NICC 
Incident Management Situation Report, 5/17; NPS Situation Summary 
Report, 5/16]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

DO-52D - This is a reminder that comments on Director's Order 52D, 
"Use of the Arrowhead Symbol," are due. The comment period has been 
extended to close of business on Tuesday, May 29th. Comments should be 
sent to Julie Schroyer at Harpers Ferry Center. [Julie Schroyer, HFC]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Steamtown NHS (PA) - Superintendent Terry Gess will retire on June 1st 
after more than 30 years of federal government service. A driving 
force in the park's evolution, Terry established a forum for the 
development of a number of the park's annual events and firmly 
established Steamtown's commitment as an active and vital community 
partner. He began his NPS career as a park engineer at Lake Mead and 
later became assistant chief of maintenance there. He then served as 
chief of maintenance and engineering at Mount Rainier and Yosemite and 
headed up Rocky Mountain Region's maintenance and construction prior 
to his move to Steamtown. Terry will not be taking a traditional 
retirement, though; he describes it instead as "a career transition 
filled with new activities and a change of scenery." He's already 
accepted a position with the California Department of Transportation 
in Bishop, where he will lead an engineering development team. [Ralph 
Coury, STEA]

Kenai Fjords NP (AK) - The park will be seeking a detailee for its 
vessel operator position shortly. The detail will begin ASAP and last 
from 60 to 90 days (the length is negotiable). The vessel is a 53-foot 
Modutech with twin diesel engines; it's operated with a deckhand/cook 
and can sleep eight plus the crew. The boat is based in the Seward 
harbor and operates on the open Gulf of Alaska and along the park's 
450-mile-long coastline. This spectacular setting includes abundant 
marine wildlife, calving glaciers, towering cliffs, and protected 
bays. The vessel provides logistical support for ongoing research 
projects and ranger operations. Hazards include extreme weather, 
uncharted rocks, glacier ice, and tidal fluctuations up to 15 feet.  
Preferred candidates will have Coast Guard operator's license for 
vessels up to 100 tons (50 ton license acceptable) with a near-coastal 
endorsement and experience managing all phases of a vessel's operation 
(including maintenance, trip planning, general operations, and 
emergency operations). The best candidate will have a demonstrated 
ability to work closely as a team member with an interdisciplinary 
group of park professionals. Specifics of how the detail will be 
structured and filled remain to be determined.  For further 
information, contact chief ranger Peter Fitzmaurice via cc:Mail, 
Internet email (peter_fitzmaurice@nps.gov), or at 907-224-2118. [Peter 
Fitzmaurice, KEFJ]

Mount Rainier NP (WA) - The park is currently seeking candidates for 
temporary dispatch positions. The job title is GS-392-4 communications 
operator, and the announcement is on USA Jobs as MORA-2001-22 (OPM 
control number BW7093). The pay is $10.38 per hour under Seattle 
locality pay. Shared housing is available. The work schedule is 
variable and subject to shift rotation. Openings are available 
immediately for qualified applicants. More information is available 
from the Human Resources Office at 360-569-2211 ext 2365. [Patty 
Klump, MORA]

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS

Regular sections not appearing today (due either to lack of 
submissions or time constraints in preparing this edition) but are 
available at all times:

o  Natural/Cultural Resource Management - Significant developments in 
   these fields.
o  Interpretation/Visitor Services - Significant developments in these 
   fields.
o  Memoranda - Memoranda from WASO to the field on all operational 
   matters.
o  Interchange - Requests or offers from any park or office for 
   materials, information or any other operational needs.
o  Hot Links - Web addresses for NPS-related sites.
o  Film at 11 - Reports on current or upcoming print or electronic 
   media stories on the NPS.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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