NPS Morning Report - Saturday, August 18, 2001
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Saturday, August 18, 2001
- Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 12:01:58 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Saturday, August 18, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-443 - Badlands NP (SD) - Follow-up: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
As with Mount Rushmore NP, Badlands experienced a significant increase
in traffic and visitation - and associated issues - during the 61st
annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. More than 10,000 motorcyclists with
6,200 passengers visited during the period. Visitation by
motorcyclists peaked on August 9th, when there were more than 2,200
bikes in the park. Daily visitation at the fee station at Interior
increased by 800%. Rangers and fee managers had to provide assistance,
as motorcycles were backed up for more than 100 yards awaiting
entrance into the park. Although total visitation was down 17% from
last year's "millennium" rally, rangers still handled almost 400
incidents, issued 55 citations, and made four arrests. Drug violations
were up nearly 90% from last year. During one drug incident, the
violators were found to have two swords and six knives in their
possession. Rangers engaged in one high-speed vehicle pursuit in an
effort to stop a reckless driver, but broke it off in the interests of
public safety when it left the park at speeds in excess of 90 mph. In
addition to law enforcement incidents, rangers coordinated two SAR
operations, investigated three motor vehicle accidents, and handled
eleven medicals. Weather conditions were harsh, with temperatures
exceeding 100 degrees for seven days during the rally and peaking at
108 on August 7th. Park employees and rangers handled numerous cases
of heat exhaustion and dehydration. Hundreds of motorcyclists visited
"watering holes" established by park volunteers, who distributed ice
water. Because of the extreme heat, there were few "colors" displayed
by bike organizations during the rally. Towards the end of the week,
however, the park was visited by many members of the Son of Silence
and the Bandidos. [Mark Gorman, DR, BADL, 8/17]
01-450 - Cape Cod NHS (MA) - Follow-up: Beach Closure
The closure of Coast Guard Beach in Eastham remains in effect. The
beach will remain closed to swimming until at least tomorrow
afternoon. Water samples were taken yesterday and will be taken again
today; if both tests come back "clean," the beach will reopen
tomorrow. If either sample is contaminated at levels above acceptable
limits, the closure will continue and sampling will continue until two
consecutive samples are clean. The source of the bacteria remains
unknown. The park conducted a dye test of the septic system at the
beach on Friday in an attempt to determine whether or not that system
was a contributing cause. There is no way of knowing how long it will
take the dye to move through the system, though, or even if it will
ever reappear. The dye is biodegradable and nontoxic. All other park
beaches remain open. [Mike Murray, Deputy Superintendent, CACO, 8/17]
[Additional reports pending....]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 5
Three new large fires were reported yesterday, one each in the
Northwest, northern Rockies and Great Basin. Another three were
contained. Initial attack was moderate in southern California, the
Northwest, and the eastern Great Basin and light elsewhere.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in California, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and
Wyoming.
A total of 185 fires were reported in the West on Thursday; together,
they burned just under 110,000 acres over that 24-hour period. The
following notes were gleaned from Friday's Washington-based,
interagency National Incident Information Center morning report
(http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fire/mornrpt.html):
Northwest: Extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread have been
observed on many of the fires. Evacuation orders are being lifted in
some areas of the Virginia Lake Fire, but equipment remains in place
to protect structures. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for
some residences in an area near the Icicle Complex Fire in the
Wenatchee NF near Leavenworth. Evacuations also occurred near the Rex
Creek Complex Fire, the Spruce Springs/Dome Complex Fire, the Olallie
Lake Complex Fire, and in the Wenatchee NF. Mt. Hood NF has ordered a
mandatory evacuation of the Pacific Crest Trail (although the report
doesn't say so, this is presumably a closure of only that section
which passes through the forest).
Northern California: There were four large fires burning in h is area.
All evacuations at Blue Lake and Jess Valley remain in effect on the
Blue Complex Fire in the Modoc NF. The Gap Fire is burning in the
Tahoe NF west of Truckee; all restrictions have been lifted on
Interstate 80 except for a one lane closure to westbound traffic for
fire apparatus mopping up along the freeway.
Western Great Basin: Three large fires were burning, but two had been
contained. Several structural protection task forces are in place near
the Buffalo Complex Fire on BLM lands near Midas, Nevada. An
evacuation plan is in place for Midas, which was still being
threatened.
NICC has posted:
o A RED FLAG WARNING for strong southwest winds and low relative
humidity for northeast California.
o A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for gusty winds and low relative humidity
for northwest Nevada.
o A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for strong southwest winds and low
relative humidity for the Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests.
o A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for afternoon and evening dry lightning
and low relative humidity for eastern Montana.
o A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for strong, gusty winds and a dry
unstable air mass for the western deserts and desert mountain
ranges of Utah.
For the full NICC report, see http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.
National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)
Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Date 8/14 8/15 8/16 8/17 8/18
Crews 516 574 590 663 767
Engines 795 826 932 949 1,053
Helicopters 135 155 165 176 190
Air Tankers 12 15 11 9 11
Overhead 2,033 2,432 3,253 3,377 4,151
Area Command IMT --- --- 1 1 1
Type 1 IMT 4 4 6 6 6
Type 2 IMT 13 15 16 9 9
State IMT 6 6 6 8 7
Park Fire Situation
No significant fires reported.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme N/A
Very High Mojave NP, Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Zion NP
High Olympic NP, Joshua Tree NP, Redwood N&SP, Yosemite NP
[NPS Situation Summary Report, 8/17; NICC Incident Management
Situation Report, 8/18]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Midwest Region/Intermountain Region - The MWR/IMR incident management
team (IMT) extends its thanks to everyone for all the interest in
applying to the Winter Olympics 2002 detail. They have received over
50 applications for the six media positions, over 100 applications for
the 15 to 20 visitors services positions, and over 120 applications
for the 100 law enforcement positions. The applications will be
reviewed over the next six weeks and selections made. Please do not
phone or email IMT members concerning your status. The team has
already collectively received over 1,500 emails and countless phone
calls. Once selections are made you will be contacted. If more
specific skills are required for unfilled positions, another
announcement will be made. [Rick Mossman, IMT]
* * * * *
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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