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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Saturday, June 2, 2001
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Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2001 12:14:25 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Saturday, June 2, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-242 - Denali NP (AK) - Rescue
Two members of a British expedition on Mount Hunter suffered a
climbing fall at 6 a.m. on the morning of May 29th. The two climbers
were roped up and ascending the mountain's southwest ridge when they
lost their footing and fell an estimated 700 feet. Four other team
members were not involved and were able to assist the pair. Two of the
uninjured members of the expedition skied down the glacier to get help
and were able to reach a Talkeetna Air Taxi pilot via CB radio just
before 11 a.m. the next morning. The pilot picked them up, notified
the park, then flew them back to the accident site. The park's
high-altitude Lama helicopter flew to Thunder Glacier with rangers
Kevin Moore and Gordy Kito on board. An Air National Guard Pavehawk
and crew joined them to assist. A Hudson Air Service Cessna 206 flew
overhead as a 'cover ship' to assist with communications and
visibility. A military Hercules C-130 was also dispatched by the
Rescue Coordination Center in Anchorage to refuel the Pavehawk and
provide enhanced radio communications. Once on scene, Lama pilot Jim
Hood lowered Moore via short haul line to the victims. Moore placed
the first victim in a backboard unit called a "Bowman Bag," then
clipped him to the short haul line for transport to the landing zone.
The climber was suffering from a lower back injury, possible lower leg
fracture, and a possible head injury. Hood and Moore then returned to
the accident site and short hauled the second victim to the LZ. He was
suffering from a lower leg fracture, torn ligaments, and other
injuries. The two climbers were taken to a hospital in Anchorage on
the Pavehawk. [Daryl Miller, Acting DR, South District, DENA, 5/29]
01-243 - Statue of Liberty NM (NY) - Suspected Bomb
On Wednesday, May 23rd, a suspicious package was found near the
entrance to the statue during visiting hours. The device inside had
exposed wires and appeared to have been strategically placed outside
the range of surveillance cameras and just outside the entrance with
magnetometers and x-ray machines. USPP and park staff evacuated the
park and the NYPD bomb squad was summoned. They determined that it was
a tape recorder and that it was non-explosive. A second search was
conducted and turned up nothing else, so the park was reopened to
visitors. Wednesday was the start of Fleet Week in New York, and
people protesting the Navy's use of the Vieques Island bomb range off
Puerto Rico indicated that they would attempt to disrupt the
celebration. USPP and park staff maintained a heightened state of
alert throughout the week. [Chris Pappas, USPP, STLI, 6/1]
[Additional reports pending....]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level II
New large fires were reported yesterday in Florida, Idaho and New
Mexico. Large fires in Florida and northern California were contained.
Initial attack was moderate in northern California and the South and
light elsewhere. Very high to extreme indices were reported in
Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and
Utah.
NICC has posted:
o A RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds and low relative humidity
in southwest and west central Utah.
o A RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds in the upper Snake River
valley in Idaho.
o A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for possible dry lightning in north
central Utah.
o A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for strong winds and low relative
humidity in northern Arizona.
National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)
Date 5/29 5/30 5/31 6/1 6/2
Crews 84 113 112 112 105
Engines 169 237 338 353 247
Helicopters 35 34 40 39 31
Air Tankers 1 0 0 1 0
Overhead 383 598 610 574 681
Park Fire Situation
Crater Lake NP (OR) - The park reports that conditions on ground are
similar to late August.
Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - The park had record heat on Thursday and Friday
and has moved to PL IV.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme Crater Lake, Lake Mead
Very High Grand Canyon, Zion, Carlsbad Caverns
High Joshua Tree, Mojave, Everglades, Guadalupe Mountains
[Mike Warren, NPS FMPC, 6/1; NPS Situation Summary Report, 6/1; NICC
Incident Management Situation Report, 6/2 - the full report can be
found at http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Message Project - The National Park Service message program web site
is now up and running. Over the course of this month, downloadable
templates for a variety of uses will be posted. The site can be found
at http://www.graphic.nps.gov/. [Gary Cummins, Site Manager, HFC)
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Tallgrass Prairie NP (KS) - The park is seeking an individual who is
interested in a temporary promotion or detail opportunity as a GS-11
supervisory park ranger. Duties include directing the on-site
interpretive, maintenance and resource management operations of the
park. Permanent chiefs for these divisions will likely be hired in the
fall and throughout next fiscal year. The park was established in 1996
to preserve, protect, and interpret nearly 11,000 acres of the once
vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem. It is located in the Flint Hills of
Chase County, just north of Strong City, Kansas, with administrative
offices in Cottonwood Falls. Chase County is rural and lightly
populated. Major groceries, medical and dental services are located
in Emporia, Kansas (20 miles distant). The detail/temporary promotion
is expected to last from mid-June to mid-September, or may be worked
in one-month increments. Salary and per diem will be provided by the
park; housing may be provided (or lodging costs reimbursed).
Interested parties should contact superintendent Steve Miller or
administrative officer Anne-Marie Rizzi at 620-273-6034. An
abbreviated application AND signed supervisory approval will be
requested. [Anne-Marie Rizzi, TAPR]
FILM AT 11...
In the "In Quotes" section of the June 4th edition of U.S. News and
World Report (page 6), you'll find a succinct comment by acting
director Deny Galvin on the approach to take when visiting a national
park: "Have a good time, don't fall down, and learn something." [Dave
Barna, WASO]
* * * * *
The Morning Report solicits entries from the field and central offices
for its daily and weekly sections (below). The general rule is that
submissions, whatever the category, should pertain to operations, be
useful to the field, and have broad significance across the agency.
Additional details on submission criteria are available from the
editor at any time (Bill Halainen at NP-DEWA, or
Bill_Halainen@nps.gov). Ask for either incident reporting criteria
(issued by WASO, June 18, 2000) or general criteria.
Daily and weekly sections are available for news or significant
developments pertaining to:
Field incidents Interpretation and visitor services
Natural resource management Cultural resource management
Operations (WASO only) Memoranda (WASO only)
Requests/offers of assistance Park-related web sites
Parks and employees Media stories on parks
Training, meetings, and events Queries on operational matters
Reports on "lessons learned"
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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