NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, August 14, 2001



                        NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, August 14, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-433 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Follow-up: Fatal Helicopter Crash

On August 10th, the park helicopter responded to the previously 
reported crash of the Papillon tour helicopter, which occurred on BLM 
land near Meadview less than a mile outside of the park's boundary. 
Upon arrival, the park team - pilot Eddie Thoroughgood, helicopter 
manager Carl Helquist, paramedic Bill Reynolds and ranger/IEMT 
Jennifer Flynn - found that the one surviving occupant had been 
evacuated by a private air ambulance. Flynn directed operations on 
scene until Mohave County officials arrived. Ranger Chris Mengel 
assisted at the multi-agency ICP in Meadview. Ranger Hunter Bailey was 
IC for the Grand Canyon response. [Jennifer Flynn, PR, GRCA, 8/14]

01-443 - Mount Rushmore NM (SD) - Special Event: Sturgis Rally

The annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally officially ended on Sunday, August 
12th, after a week of official events and about ten days of heavy 
motorcycle traffic that significantly impacted national park units in 
the Black Hills area.  Preliminary estimates from rally officials are 
that about 300,000 to 400,000 people attended this year's event. 
Approximately 78,000 bikers visited Mount Rushmore during the period, 
about 30% fewer than during last year's blowout 60th anniversary 
rally. There were also fewer serious incidents related to the rally at 
Mount Rushmore this year than last year. Rangers responded to seven 
motorcycle accidents, handled about 20 emergency medical incidents, 
made a DUI arrest, investigated the theft of a  $20,000 Harley 
Davidson motorcycle, and dealt with a number of other, less 
significant incidents. They also managed the heavy traffic and large 
crowds. Although there were some outlaw motorcycle gang members 
wearing "colors" in the park, there were fewer than in recent years. 
Mount Rushmore rangers were assisted by rangers from other area 
national parks in managing the traffic, crowds, and incidents. The 
word on the street is that the rally two years from now (2003) will be 
another blockbuster affair because of the association with the 100th 
anniversary of the resurgent Harley Davidson motorcycle company. [Mike 
Pflaum, CR, MORU, 8/13]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 4

Eighteen new large fires were reported on Monday - nine in the 
Northwest, four in the eastern Great Basin, and one each in Rocky 
Mountain, Southwest, southern California, western Great Basin and 
South. Crews contained another twelve large fires. Initial attack was 
heavy in the Northwest and northern Rockies, moderate in the eastern 
Great Basin, and light elsewhere.  

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in California, 
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington 
and Wyoming.

NICC has not issued any watches or warnings for today.

For the full NICC report, see http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.

National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)

                        Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue
Date                    8/10    8/11    8/12    8/13    8/14
        
Crews                   280     372     454     432     516
Engines                 643     699     719     804     795
Helicopters             81      112     103     131     135
Air Tankers             3       13      12      12      12
Overhead                1,458   1,896   2,010   1,882   2,033
Type 1 IMT              ---     ---     ---     3       4
Type 2 IMT              ---     ---     ---     10      13
State IMT               ---     ---     ---     ---     6

Park Fire Situation

No significant developments reported.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme         Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Very High       N/A
High            Mojave NP, Redwood N&SP

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 8/13; NICC Incident Management 
Situation Report, 8/14]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Padre Island NS (TX) - CORRECTION: The August 10th Morning Report 
entry regarding the vacancy announcement for chief ranger (PAIS-B-12) 
said that it had been extended until August 22nd. The park advises 
that the date is actually Monday, August 20th. [Gus Martinez, PAIS]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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.

                             --- ### ---