NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 28, 2001
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 28, 2001
- Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 10:40:38 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, June 28, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-309 - Carlsbad Caverns NP (NM) - Lightning Fatality
On Saturday, June 23rd, N.L., 32, of Lubbock, Texas, was
walking across the visitor center parking lot with his family when he
was struck by lightning. N.L. was carrying a camcorder battery at the
time he was struck. A visitor reported the incident to the park staff;
when they arrived, they found him lying on his side with a pillow
under his head. He had a weak, thready pulse and was coughing when
first observed, but respirations and pulse both ceased. Two bystander
nurses assisted with CPR while an AED was applied. Carlsbad Fire
Department transported N.L. to Carlsbad Medical Center, where he was
pronounced dead after extensive ACLS efforts. There was a thunderstorm
in the area at the time of the incident, but no severe storm watches
or warnings had been issued by the National Weather Service. Bridget
Bohnet was IC. (Mark Maciha, CR, CAVE, 6/25)
01-310 - Saguaro NP (AZ) - Natural Resource Destruction, Resisting
Arrest
On May 31st, R.B., 41, of Tucson drove his Ford Explorer
approximately one mile cross-country through the park, causing over
$60,000 in natural resource damages in the Rincon Mountain District.
The vehicle was discovered stuck, with its engine running and doors
locked. R.B. was located a short distance away, sitting naked under a
bush. He refused to cooperate and resisted arrest before being
pepper-sprayed by BLM and NPS rangers and safely handcuffed. Further
investigation revealed that R.B. had driven through BLM and private
property, causing additional resource damage, before heading into the
park. Drugs and paraphernalia were located in the vehicle in addition
to over $250 in cash strewn around the cab. Evidence indicates R.B.
attempted to set his vehicle on fire. R.B. has an extensive criminal
history, including numerous assaults, resisting arrest, and narcotics
violations. He was recently unconditionally released from a state
mental hospital after serving two years of a five-year sentence in
which he was found guilty but insane of aggravated assault on a police
officer. R.B. was booked into federal prison on initial charge of
violation of resisting/ impeding/interfering with a federal officer
(18 USC 111). A federal grand jury convened this week for additional
indictment charges. [Bo Stone, PR, SAGU, 06/18]
01-311 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Rescue
A tour guide and a park visitor saved the life of a 12-year-old boy
who had fallen into the canyon at Artist Point lookout around 8 p.m.
on June 25th. A.F., 12, was visiting the park with his
family and had stopped at Artist Point on the south rim of the Grand
Canyon of the Yellowstone to view the Lower Falls. After viewing the
falls, the family began walking back to their vehicle. According to
the parents, their two young boys were off-trail, throwing stones. The
parents had walked about 30 to 40 feet ahead of the boys in an effort
to encourage them to move along when they heard cries for help. Andrew
had slipped on some loose gravel into a chute; he fell 10 to 15 feet
before he was able to grab onto a rock, then slipped another 10 feet
before he was able to grab onto a quarter-inch root and hold on. His
calls for help attracted other park visitors, who tried tying T-shirts
together in an effort to reach him. The boy's cries for help also
attracted the attention of tour guide M.D., 30, of Eaton,
Ohio, who assessed the situation, then asked a nearby RV owner for a
rope. The RV owner was able to provide a long extension cord. An
unknown park visitor volunteered to climb down the extension cord to
the boy. The visitor climbed down and tied the cord around Andrew to
secure him; M.D. and other visitors then pulled the two of them up.
Rangers were notified of the incident, but the rescue had been
completed and the unknown rescuer had departed by the time they
arrived on scene. An emergency medical evaluation was completed on
Andrew, who was found to be fine. If Andrew had been unable to hold
on, he would have slipped over an edge just 30 feet away, then fallen
another 100 to 200 feet onto some rocks. [Public Affairs, YELL, 6/26]
01-312 - Big Bend NP (TX) - Illegal Immigrant Incidents
The park is experiencing an upsurge in incidents of Mexican nationals
attempting to enter the United States through the park:
o June 22nd - Visitors reported a man walking along the road
between Rio Grande Village and Panther Junction who appeared
to need assistance. Ranger Cary Brown located him and found
that he was an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who was out
of water and subsisting on prickly pear cactus fruits. While
this contact was in progress, three more illegal aliens were
reported near the park entrance station at Persimmon Gap.
Ranger Lance Mattson apprehended the trio. All four were
turned over to the Border Patrol.
o June 24th - Ranger Gary Carver spotted a suspicious rental van
in the Rio Grande Village area and kept an eye on it for most
of the day. The van headed northbound from the village as
Border Patrol agents were en route to assist Carver. The
agents passed the van on the way and turned around to stop it.
The driver quickly pulled into the main visitor center parking
lot and four people got out and ran into the restroom to hide
before the agents got there. Two nationals from Guatemala and
two more from El Salvador were later found and arrested. Due
to communications problems, however, the agents had already
released the driver and van.
o June 25th - The next morning, the dispatcher who had been
unable to reach the agents was telling another ranger what had
happened when they saw the same van drive into the parking
lot. The driver got out and checked the restrooms. The vehicle
was subsequently stopped north of Panther Junction and the
driver was arrested and turned over to the Border Patrol.
Although the U.S. attorney declined to take the smuggling
case, rangers discovered that the van was stolen from a rental
car company and will be prosecuting the driver on theft
charges.
o June 26th - While off-duty and walking his dog near the
housing area at Rio Grande Village, Carver encountered seven
people walking north. He asked where they were headed, and
they said "America." He asked where they from and was told
that they came from El Salvador. He held them there until
other rangers could arrive to convey them to Border Patrol
agents. Although the agents had been in the park earlier that
day, they had left to follow three suspicious vehicles that
Carver had discovered. They were stopped outside the park, and
two of the three drivers were arrested as illegal immigrants
from El Salvador. The vehicles were seized.
[Mark Spier, Acting CR, BIBE, 6/27]
01-313 - Fort Sumter NM (SC) - Special Event: Flag Day
On June 14th, a replica of the 20-foot by 36-foot, 33-star "Garrison
Flag" was unveiled in the park. The flag will be the primary exhibit
at the new Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center and Ferry Boat
Facility, scheduled to open this summer in Charleston. On April 14,
1861, Major Robert Anderson lowered the Fort Sumter garrison flag in
surrender, signifying the end of the first battle of the American
Civil War. The flag, badly deteriorated, is now in a special container
in Fort Sumter's curatorial storage facility. The container has small
windows that permit visitors to view portions of the flag; it will be
on display along with the replica. About 200 people attended the
program, with 40 veterans participating. [Bill Martin, PIO, FOSU,
6/26]
01-314 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Drowning
A family of four were boating on Lake Mohave at Chili Pepper Cove on
the afternoon of June 25th when one of the children fell off an
inflatable raft that was being pulled behind the boat. R.G.,
44, the boy's father, jumped into the water to rescue his son. He got
the boy close to the boat, then, realizing that he was pulling the boy
under, pushed him toward the boat, saying "I'm drowning." R.G., who
was not wearing a life jacket, went under and did not resurface.
Efforts to find him continue; yesterday marked the third day of diving
operations. [Dispatch, LAME, 6/27]
[Additional reports pending....]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level II
Two new large fires were reported yesterday, one in New Mexico and one
in Texas; another two large fires were contained, one in Florida and
one in New Mexico. Initial attack was moderate in southern California
and the Southwest and light elsewhere. Very high to extreme fire
indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
NICC has posted a RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds and low relative
humidity for Alaska's Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island.
The full NICC situation report for today can be found at
http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.
National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date 6/24 6/25 6/26 6/27 6/28
Crews 127 164 155 103 83
Engines 226 248 257 183 94
Helicopters 57 55 50 44 33
Air Tankers 4 6 4 1 0
Overhead 562 572 497 534 394
Park Fire Situation
Carlsbad Caverns NM - The Guad 1 Fire (470 acres, 191 FF/OH) has been
fully contained.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme N/A
Very High Lake Mead NRA, Zion NP
High Joshua Tree NP, Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Carlsbad Caverns
NP, Guadalupe Mountains NP
[NPS Situation Summary Report, 6/27; NICC Incident Management
Situation Report, 6/28]
CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Sleeping Bear Dunes NL (MI) - Zebra Mussels
The US Geological Survey's Great Lakes Science Center conducted an
inventory of unionid mussels in the park's inland lakes last summer
under the direction of Dr. Jerrine Nichols. Researchers discovered at
that time that Otter Lake had been invaded by the exotic zebra mussel.
A thorough search was conducted; only five mussels were found and all
were removed. Of all of the park waters surveyed, Otter Lake was found
to have the greatest diversity and numbers of native mussels. The team
returned to the park to conduct follow-up surveys this year and were
dismayed to find Otter Lake full of zebra mussels. They found emergent
plants that were being dragged to the lake bottom from the weight of
newly attached mussels, and also found native mussels covered with the
zebra mussels. Their most unusual observation was of dragonfly nymphs
with zebra mussels attached. They found a dragonfly exoskeleton molt
on shore in which the individual was able to get out of the lake with
the mussels still attached. They also found live individuals with so
many zebra mussels attached that they were rendered immobile. Several
of the nymphs were collected as examples. Nichols stated that she was
not aware of this being documented in any of the literature on zebra
mussels. The USGS intends to conduct follow-up assessments of the
dragonfly populations in Otter Lake. Plans were to return to the lake
this week. [Roger Moder, SLBE]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Midwest/Rocky Mountain Regions - The Midwest/Rocky Mountain incident
management team is currently recruiting for about 100 level one
commissioned rangers with winter skills and 20 to 25 visitor
services/public affairs staffers for details to the XIX Winter
Olympics, which will be held in Salt Lake City next February. The NPS
has been asked to assist with security at the games. Security will be
coordinated by the Secret Service, and that agency has asked for NPS
rangers as crucial law enforcement resources due to their technical
expertise in winter and alpine travel. One of the major themes for the
Olympics is "The American Experience," so the NPS - along with BLM,
USFS and Utah State Parks - will staff the main visitor information
center in downtown Salt Lake City and information centers at a number
of athletic venues. The NPS will also be working with the media -
9,000 media representatives will be in town for the Olympics. For more
detailed information, please go to the NPS Olympic intranet site at
http://im.den.nps.gov/den_olyDR.cfm (accessible only through DOI
computers). You'll also find applications to participate in this
event. If you do not have access to a DOI computer, send an email to
Rick_Mossman@nps.gov and he will send a packet to you. The deadline
for applications is August 3rd. If you have previously applied for
something similar to this announcement, you need to reapply! [Rick
Mossman, YELL]
Grand Teton NP - Superintendent Jack Neckels has announced his
retirement from the National Park Service, concluding an exceptional
government career that spans 41 years. Among his many experiences in
the Service, he has served as deputy regional director of the Rocky
Mountain Regional Office and associate regional director for park
operations in Southwest Region. Jack began his involvement with the
National Park Service in 1960 as a seasonal ranger at Theodore
Roosevelt NP; his first permanent position was at Blue Ridge Parkway
in 1963, where he worked as a park ranger. Jack became superintendent
of Grand Teton the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway in
August, 1991. He received numerous awards throughout his prominent
career, including the Department of Interior's Distinguished Service
Award, the Department's Meritorious Service Award, and the
Distinguished Federal Manager of the Year Award. During his tenure at
Grand Teton, Jack was also recognized with the Regional Director's
Natural Resource Award and an Intermountain Field Area Park Award.
While at the park, Jack developed a land protection plan for the park
and advanced preservation of open space outside park boundaries. He
fostered a relationship with the state of Wyoming with the objective
of working towards protection of state school section parcels within
the park. Jack cultivated a 20-year relationship with Laurance
Rockefeller, culminating in the recent gift of Rockefeller's
1,100-acre JY Ranch to the park. Jack has often praised his staff and
credited his success to the hard work and dedication of an outstanding
work force. Throughout his distinguished career with the NPS, Jack and
his wife Jolene raised three children, Bill, Jackie and Nancy. Of his
many accomplishments, Jack is most proud of his family. He and Jolene
will temporarily reside in Lakewood, Colorado, before establishing a
residence in Buena Vista, west of Colorado Springs. [Joan
Anzelmo/Jackie Skaggs, Public Information Office, GRTE]
LESSONS LEARNED
A Thursday supplement to the Morning Report for new ideas,
innovations, and lessons learned that shouldn't have to be relearned.
No submissions this week. This section was begun because of repeated
requests from the field from various disciplines for a place where
information could be shared on findings stemming from accidents and
incidents and on new ideas and innovations. If you've got something
that you feel needs to be shared - whether from the realms of
firefighting, law enforcement, safety, maintenance practices or any
other operational arena - please send it along to the editor.
* * * * *
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"
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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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