NPS Morning Report - Sunday, August 19, 2001
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Sunday, August 19, 2001
- Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 12:02:11 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Sunday, August 19, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-449 - Glacier NP (MT) - Follow-up: Climbing Fatality
On Wednesday, August 15th, rangers recovered the body of a 22-year old
man who died from massive trauma received in a fall that occurred two
days previously while he was descending from the summit of Mt. Jackson
(10,052 feet). He has been identified as W.K. of Warsaw,
Poland. W.K. was an employee of St. Mary Lodge in St. Mary,
Montana, and was participating in Work Experience USA, a program that
brings foreign students to the U.S. for summer employment. [Public
Affairs, GLAC, 8/16]
01-453 - Manassas NB (VA) - ARPA Arrest
On August 5th, ranger Scott Ryan came upon a vehicle parked adjacent
to the park boundary in the area of the Unfinished Railroad. This same
vehicle had been seen several times in various locations in and
adjacent to the park throughout the week. Ryan became suspicious when
he saw several items in the front seat that indicated that
archeological thefts might be occurring in the park. Ryan staked out
the Unfinished Railroad trailhead until 1 a.m., when a passing county
officer reported seeing two people associated with the vehicle walking
down the trail. Ryan headed down the trail and saw the pair using what
appeared to be low-level light and metal detectors. He summoned backup
from seasonal ranger Jamie Monroe, who had returned from basic ARPA
training the day before. They arrested B.K. and K.M.
Investigation revealed that B.K. had been cited for possession of a
metal detector in 1995 at Gettysburg NMP. Through the cooperative
efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Eastern District of
Virginia and the Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania,
special agent Clark Guy and several rangers and agents from National
Capital and Northeast Regions successfully executed a search warrant
on B.K.'s residence on August 8th. Artifacts and Civil War
publications were seized from his residence as evidence. K.M. was
interviewed and agreed to a consent search of his residence, which
yielded several more artifacts and a confession that he and B.K.
had been to Manassas and Gettysburg on at least two previous occasions
and that they had removed artifacts from the both parks. K.M. also
said that they had gone to Antietam but had not found anything. K.M.
told Ryan that he and B.K. would have returned to Manassas if they
had not been caught. Ryan is working with assistant United States
attorney Dennis Kennedy, NCR archeologist Stephen Potter, rangers and
agents on the prosecution of this case. (Kim Coast, CR, MANA, 8/13)
01-454 - Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Special Event
President Bush made a visit of about three hours' duration to the park
and the adjoining YMCA site on August 14th. Secretary Gail Norton,
director Fran Mainella, Colorado governor Bill Owens and members of
the Colorado Congressional delegation accompanied the president.
President Bush spent an hour reviewing and working with park staff on
a trail reconstruction project and nearby fuel reduction project along
the boundary with the YMCA. This was followed by a picnic with
visitors and staff from the park and YMCA. The incident was managed
under ICS. Supporting park staff were five protection rangers from
Fort Laramie NHS, Curecanti NRA and Florissant NM. [Joe Evans, CR,
ROMO, 8/17]
01-455 - Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Multiple Rescues
Park staff responded to numerous incidents during the early part of
the month:
o On August 3rd, a maintenance worker reported that a
24-year-old man had fallen on an ice axe on Mills Glacier,
lacerating his right leg. Rangers reached him two hours later
and littered him to a landing zone, where he was flown by
helicopter to a hospital in Denver.
o On the afternoon of August 5th, a man in his 20s fractured an
ankle while hiking near the junction of the Ledges and the
Trough on the Longs Peak trail. A team of ten responded and
littered him to the Boulderfield area, where he was flown by
helicopter to a hospital.
o Later on August 5th, a visitor called and reported that a
42-year-old man had had an apparent stroke while climbing the
Spearhead, a technical climb in the Thompson River District.
Although partially paralyzed, he was able to get himself to
the base of the Spearhead with the help of his partner. He,
too, was flown to a hospital in Denver.
o On the afternoon of August 6th, rangers in Wild Basin District
and Allenspark fire personnel responded to an incident in
which a 13-year-old girl fell and lost consciousness while
hiking near Copeland Falls. She was taken by ambulance to
Estes Park Medical Center.
o Only minutes after the above incident, a cell phone call came
in from Boulderfield reporting a hypothermic 20-year-old
woman. Visitors and family were huddled around her in a privy
without a roof, trying to keep her warm. She was unable to
speak or move when rangers arrived. The group had been caught
in a violent downpour. The woman was flown to Longmont
hospital, where she was treated with warming therapy and
released.
o On August 7th, rangers littered a woman with a fractured ankle
from Dream Lake.
o Early on the morning of August 8th, members of the wilderness
rehab crew heard screams at the base of Longs Peak. Rangers
found that a 29-year-old man had broken an ankle. He was
littered to Chasm Lake, then flown to a hospital in Denver.
o On August 16th, three boys were reported missing from an
Outward Bound cross-country hiking trip. They had become
separated from their leader two days previously near Rowe
Mountain (13,184 feet), at which time the leader had attempted
to find them himself. Severe rain and lightning had been
occurring over the north part of the park for several days.
Through contacts made with other hikers by hasty teams on the
16th, the search effort on the 17th focused on the West Creek
drainage east of Mummy Mountain (13,425 feet). A helicopter
spotter found the boys around 2 p.m. in the primary search
zone. They were picked up and flown out. The primary cause of
this incident appears to have been poor judgement, leading to
separation of the leader from the inexperienced group and
delayed notification to park staff. The IC was Doug Ridley.
Most of the rescues were complicated by daily thunderstorms and
unusually frequent lightning strikes. [Sharon Brubaker, Joe Evans,
ROMO, 8/15 and 8/17]
01-456 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Drug Seizure
Border Patrol agents notified staff at the park's visitor center that
they were in pursuit of a truck headed into Coronado on the afternoon
of August 15th. A ranger at the VC headed out to the road in front of
the center. Before he could make radio contact with the Border Patrol
to get further information, he saw a two-tone Ford F-350 speeding down
the road. He fell in behind it and pursued. Realizing that the driver
was not going to stop, the ranger tried to stay as close to the truck
as possible to give some advanced warning to any oncoming traffic.
About a mile-and-a-half west of the VC, the road changes from asphalt
to dirt and makes a sharp right hairpin turn. The truck was going too
fast to make the turn and slid up onto an embankment, hitting a tree.
The driver attempted to continue through the turn after the truck
bounced off the tree, but instead hit a large boulder. He nonetheless
continued on, but the next bend - also a hairpin turn - proved to be
his undoing, as the truck slid into another embankment. The driver
baled out and entered a steep ravine. The ranger saw him take a long
and hard fall as he went over the edge and decided not to pursue until
help arrived. Just then, another Ford pickup came speeding up the
road, which was blocked by the abandoned truck and the patrol vehicle.
The ranger had no place to go, so drew his weapon, pointed at the
driver, and yelled to him to stop. The truck came to an abrupt stop
and the driver jumped out and ran into the woods. Border Patrol and
Customs agents arrived on scene shortly thereafter to assist and look
for the two drivers. Neither was found, but 2,200 pounds of marijuana
and both trucks were seized. [CR, CORO, 8/16]
01-457 - Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - Drowning
On Monday, August 13th, K.S., 19, of Niles, Illinois, drowned
off Porter Beach in the park. K.S. was on a camping trip to Indiana
Dunes State Park with a group of 35 people from the Downers Grove
church. Waters at the state park were closed to swimming early that
morning due to high waves and a rip current. K.S., his brother and a
friend went swimming off of unguarded Porter Beach west of the state
park in the afternoon. K.S. and his friend were caught in a rip current
and pulled out into the lake. K.S.'s friend was barely able to make it
back to shore. When he got to land, he called for help. State park
lifeguards, assisted by others on the beach, began a water search and
found K.S. underwater at the buoy line. He'd been underwater for about
five to ten minutes by that time. CPR was begun and he was taken to
Porter Memorial Hospital and placed on a ventilator. Around 7 p.m.,
doctors pronounced him dead. [Joseph Wieszczyk, INDU, 8/14]
[Additional reports pending....]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 5
Eleven new large fires were reported on Saturday - four in the eastern
Great Basin, three in southern California, two in the South, and one
each in northern California and the Northwest. Five large fires were
contained. Initial attack was moderate in 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 285 fires were reported in the West yesterday; together,
they burned 61,852 acres over that 24-hour period. The following notes
were taken from today's 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 fires. Evacuation orders remain in effect along
portions of Route 155 on the Virginia Lake Complex Fire. Okanogan
County has declared a state of emergency. Mandatory evacuations of
residences near he Icicle Complex have been expanded. There were
evacuations of areas near the Rex Creek Complex and Spruce
Springs/Dome Complex Fires. The mandatory evacuation of the Pacific
Crest Trail in Mount Hood NF remains in effect. Structures are
threatened on the Horse Creek, Tonasket Complex, and Mount Leona
Complex Fires. Structural task forces on the Bridge Creek and
Brewster Complex Fires were demobilized.
Northern California: One new fire was reported yesterday, one fire was
contained, and two fires continue to burn. Evacuations of Blue Lake
campground and area roads remain in effect on the Blue Complex Fire.
The Ponderosa Fire is threatening structures; evacuations and road
closures are in effect.
NICC has posted a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for windy and dry conditions in
western Wyoming.
For the full NICC report, see http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.
National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Date 8/15 8/16 8/17 8/18 8/19
Crews 574 590 663 767 774
Engines 826 932 949 1,053 1,115
Helicopters 155 165 176 190 193
Air Tankers 15 11 9 11 24
Overhead 2,432 3,253 3,377 4,151 4,670
Area Command IMT -- 1 1 1 1
Type 1 IMT 4 6 6 6 7
Type 2 IMT 15 16 9 9 11
State IMT 6 6 8 7 7
Fire Use Team -- -- -- -- 2
Park Fire Situation
Zion NP (UT) - The Langton Mountain Fire (140 acres, 18 FF/OH) is
being managed for resource benefits. Cook's fire use management team
has been assigned.
Yosemite NP (CA) - The Hoover Fire (850 acres, 50 FF/OH) is ten miles
southeast of Yosemite Village. It is being managed for resource
benefits. Zimmerman's fire use management team has been ordered.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Very High Mojave NP
High Olympic NP, Yosemite NP, Zion NP
[NPS Situation Summary Report, 8/18; NICC Incident Management
Situation Report, 8/19]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Update on National Ranger Activities Council (NRAC) - The council met
on August 6th. Attending were members Greg Dudgeon, Andy Banta, Mike
Pflaum, Ginny Rousseau, Chuck Young, Curt Sauer, Sheila Williams,
Paula Nasiatka, and Dennis Burnett. The following is a summary of the
meeting:
Committee Liaison - Ginny Rousseau reported that natural resources
committee had contacted her and invited ranger participation in the
review of natural resource GPRA goals. Joe Evans attended the Denver
meeting for the NRAC. Evans will be asked to take the lead on
furnishing Natural Resources with information pertaining to resource
protection for inclusion in the revised GPRA goals. NRAC members will
assist Joe as requested.
Training and Development - Ranger Activities is interested in
maintaining a focus on training in all the disciplines in addition to
law enforcement. With the retirement of Chuck Annibal, the NRAC has
proposed that the training and development community fill that
position with a person from the ranger profession. WASO Administration
is aware of and supports the concept. Due to their own internal
analysis of training and development, they are not currently filling
any vacancies. John Tyler (deputy leader for training and development)
will attend a work session at the October NRAC meeting which will
quantify training needs for the ranger profession. Rousseau and Olsen
will prepare information for the meeting with him.
Review of the National Fire, Aviation and Emergency Response
Programs - Bill Wade and a committee have been commissioned to review
the role and function of wildland fire and aviation. He is contacting
the NRAC and other staff throughout the Service and other agencies to
survey them on their opinions on how the Boise fire and aviation
programs might be improved. This review is based on concerns on how to
fill Rick Gale's position when he retires in January, how best to
interface with natural and cultural resource needs, the relationship
of wildland fire to structural fire, and where the emergency
operations aspect of the position best fits. NRAC members will
participate in the survey.
Information Management Committee - Dick Ring has asked NRAC to
identify a person from the Ranger Activities disciplines who could
work with the IMT committee. This fits well with the
information/technology section of the "Rangers of the 21st Century"
initiative. Sauer will contact Sue Hawkins and identify the skills and
traits that would fit well with the IMT community. The assignment will
then be publicized and nominations sought.
CIRS Replacement - There have been no significant developments in the
effort to replace CIRS. Regional chief rangers and Dick Powell, head
of WASO's Risk Management Division, are aware of the issue and working
on it. Funding for a contractor to pursue a remedy is also an issue.
Uniforms - The management of the national program and the national,
multi-agency contract continue to require a great deal of time from
the NPS emergency services coordinator in WASO. The scope and
complexity of duties mandate establishment of a full-time position to
oversee the program. Ranger Activities is evaluating the increased
costs of the uniform program incurred through the expanded fee and
fire programs with the objective of determining if these costs can be
covered by the respective programs, thereby furnishing enough money to
fund a full-time position. This has been supported in principal by
WASO Operations and Administration. Additional information on this
approach should be available by the October meeting.
Agenda Items for October NRAC Meeting - Agenda items to date include
the "Rangers of the 21st Century" initiative, training and
development, liaison with other national committees, IMT selection,
national coordination of resource stewardship training, an RM-57
update, a FLERT/6C update, the time in grade issue, and the Wade
committee on fire, aviation and emergency response. Please contact
you regional representatives if you have additional ideas.
[Curt Sauer, OLYM]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
NPS Fire Management Program Center (ID) - The center has advertised
for a GS-401-11/12 fire equipment and facilities specialist OR a
GS-1670-11/12 equipment specialist (fire). Duties include management
of the Service's participation in BLM's remote automated weather
system (RAWS), providing expert advice on wildland fire equipment for
the NPS, and management of the NPS working capital fund (WCF) program.
The vacancy announcement is CCSO-2001-53/53A and closes on August
31st. For more information, contact Teresa Wright via email or at
206-220-4069. [Mike Warren, FMPC]
Mississippi NR&RA (MN) - The park is advertising for a GS-12
supervisory park ranger (chief of interpretation). The announcement
closes on September 20th. Primary responsibilities include long- and
short-term planning, development of educational partnerships, and
management of interpretation and visitor services. Also responsible
for leading the park's extensive interpretive planning efforts, as
specified in the park's management plan. For additional details,
contact Ruby Webster via email or at 651-290-3030 ext. 241. [Ruby
Webster, MISS]
Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - EXTENDED: The park is advertising for
a GS-13/14 assistant superintendent. The announcement number is MARO
01-39 and it now closes on August 31st. The assistant superintendent
is responsible for assisting with the planning, directing, organizing,
development and program control for the entire park and for assisting
in addressing critical management problems and issues. For more
information, contact Marlene McPhatter at 215-597-4971. [Diane Kimsey,
DEWA]
* * * * *
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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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