NPS Morning Report - Thursday, August 30, 2001
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, August 30, 2001
- Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 09:27:16 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, August 30, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-470 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Follow-up: Search for Missing Hikers
On the evening of August 18th, the park was notified that two hikers
were ten days overdue from a hike in the Grand Canyon. Long-time Grand
Canyon hiker G.L.M., 46, and his hiking companion,
L.B., 51, were due back home in Flagstaff on August 8th. A
search for them was begun the next day. On August 23rd, park and
Coconino County Sheriff's Department SAR personnel found L.B.'s
body at the lower end of Big Canyon, a tributary to the Little
Colorado River, which is on the Navajo Indian Reservation. On the
morning of August 26th, while interagency crews were searching the
Little Colorado for G.L.M., river patrol rangers found his body about
six miles from the point where L.B.'s remains were discovered.
G.L.M.'s reputation as a Grand Canyon hiking aficionado and acclaimed
outdoor photographer had drawn considerable attention to the search
efforts. Based upon the search investigation, it's believed that
G.L.M. and L.B. departed their campsite at the base of Salt Trail
Canyon for a day hike to a waterfall known as Emerald Pool in Big
Canyon. That same afternoon, a monsoon storm hit State Highway 89 30
miles east of their location with such intensity that vehicles on the
roadway were suddenly stranded by flood waters. This storm probably
caused a flash flood in Big Canyon that caught G.L.M. and L.B.
without warning. The incident was managed under unified command. [Ken
Phillips, GRCA, 8/29]
01-478 - Saguaro NP (AZ) - Heat-Related Fatality
On August 26th, 52-year-old G.P. of Ottawa, Ontario, set out
on a day hike in the Rincon Mountain District. Temperatures reached a
record-breaking 107 degrees by mid-afternoon. Late that afternoon, a
visitor found a cellular phone, camera, fanny pack and empty water
bottles by a trail junction and contacted ranger John Williams. Using
the cell phone memory functions to call phone numbers listed, Williams
determined that the phone was owned by G.P. G.P. was said to be
driving a rental vehicle, which was soon located. Due to the extreme
heat, a search was immediately begun. Approximately 20 searchers
participated in the nighttime search, including ranger Carin Harvey,
park volunteers, and members of the Southern Arizona Rescue
Association and Pima County Sheriff's Department Mounted Posse. A
Tucson Police Department helicopter was also utilized. At
approximately 10 p.m., G.P.'s body was found 20 feet off-trail in
the desert, about a mile from his rental vehicle. Although the medical
examiner's office has not officially determined the cause of death, it
appears to be heat-related. According to family, G.P. was an avid
hiker, but had experienced jet lag after arriving in Tucson on the
evening of August 25th. The investigation is continuing. [John
Williams, IC, SAGU, 8/27]
01-479 - Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Attempted Homicide; Suicide
On the evening of Sunday, August 26th, the Larimer County Sheriff's
Office responded to a report of gunshots fired in a residential area
of Estes Park near the park's boundary. A domestic dispute over
custody of three small children had reportedly taken place between
M.P.C. and his common law wife, A.K. Following a
confrontation in which she was held against her will, A.K. attempted
to flee the house by driving into the park. M.P.C. chased the
vehicle down on foot and fired three rounds from a .25 caliber
Browning semi-automatic pistol, striking A.K. in the shoulder and hand
as she passed by. M.P.C. then turned the gun on himself, inflicting a
mortal gunshot wound to his temple. A.K. was able to get assistance in
driving to a nearby medical center, where she was treated for
non-life-threatening wounds. Responding rangers worked with deputies
to secure the area, begin investigations, and assist the county crime
scene unit. The investigation is being handled jointly by the NPS and
sheriff's office. [Doug Ridley, ROMO, 8/29]
[Additional reports pending....]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 5
Four new large fires were reported yesterday - two in the eastern
Great Basin and one each in the northern Rockies and the Southwest.
Three large fires were contained. Initial attack was moderate in the
Rockies and the Great Basin and light elsewhere. A second area command
team has been deployed to manage the Fridley and Little Joe fires on
the Gallatin NF. The other team continues to oversee the Virginia
Lake, Icicle, Spruce Springs/Dome and Tonasket complexes in eastern
Washington.
Very high to extreme fire danger was reported in Arizona, California,
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah,
Washington and Wyoming.
NICC has not posted any fire weather watches or warnings for today.
For the full NICC report, see http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.
National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date 8/26 8/27 8/28 8/29 8/30
Crews 618 632 573 580 473
Engines 640 607 594 627 604
Helicopters 191 196 187 163 165
Air Tankers 7 6 5 5 1
Overhead 4,535 4,672 4,968 3,929 4,349
Area Command Teams 1 1 1 1 2
Type 1 IMT 8 8 6 8 6
Type 2 IMT 9 9 8 5 7
State IMT 2 1 0 0 0
Fire Use Team 2 2 1 1 2
Park Fire Situation
Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - The park is managing several lightning-caused
fires for resource benefits:
o Vista Fire (1,122 acres) - This fire is several miles
northeast of the developed area on the Walhalla Plateau on the
North Rim. There's been limited activity on the west side and
some smoke. Cape Royal Road and the Ken Patrick trail are open
at this time. The fire is being monitored.
o Swamp Ridge Fire (113 acres) - The fire is 15 miles northwest
of the North Rim developed area near Swamp Point. It's a
low-intensity fire, burning primarily in pine needles and
duff. The fire is spreading to the southeast and southwest
along Swamp Ridge Road, which remains closed from its
intersection with Kanabownits Road to Swamp Point. The fire is
being monitored. An interagency fire use management team
assumed management of the Swamp Ridge and Vista fires on
Monday.
o Tower Fire (.1 acre) - Burning on the North Rim two miles
southwest of Kanabownits Tower.
o Dufner Rock Fire (.1 acre) - The fire started near the
intersection of the South Rim entrance road and Highway 64
east and is being monitored. It is displaying little activity.
o Long Jim Fire (.1 acre) - The fire is burning south of
Shoshone Point on the South Rim. It's also relatively
inactive.
Backcountry and river travelers should expect short-term smoke impacts
along the river corridor during late evening and early morning hours.
Yellowstone NP (WY) - The park reports several fires in what is being
called the Yellowstone Parkwide Complex:
o Falcon Fire (3,480 acres; 900 within the park) - The fire was
fairly quiet. The most active portion was in a basin to the
west of the main fire. Ground fire and torching were observed.
The fire has spread to an open ridge and the only activity
should be pockets of timber burning out. There was some
movement on the flanks near the ridge on the southwest
perimeter. This may continue, but major runs are not expected.
No significant movement towards the Yellowstone River was
seen. However, the fire continues to burn in the 1988 burned
areas and this could eventually bring it to unburned pockets
next to the river. These pockets are big enough to generate
spotting across the river.
o Sulphur Fire (630 acres) - Spread was observed on the fire's
southeast and northeast flanks yesterday. A new spot fire from
yesterday's run was found about a half mile from the fire
perimeter. It crossed Cottongrass Creek and came to life on
the next ridge. Active fire on the spot was observed and it
grew to approximately an acre and a half. The spot burned to
the ridge and should be active today, backing downslope and
possibly making runs along the ridge.
o Little Joe Fire (770) - This human-caused fire originated on
the Gallatin NF and is being managed by an interagency IMT.
Progress was made on the southwest flank of the fire.
Structure protection continued. Significant mop-up occurred on
the north flanks of the fire adjacent to and within the park.
o Stone Fire (120 acres) - There was little activity on the fire
yesterday. The fire is being held on its west flank by a
narrow strip of grassy meadow. The only observed activity was
on the northeast flank in an area of old burn. The fire should
continue its slow progress to the northeast if the weather
continues to hold.
Yosemite NP (CA) - The five lightning-caused fires in the Hoover
Complex are being allowed to burn in an effort to return wildland fire
to its natural role in Yosemite. The largest is the Hoover Fire, which
has to date burned 6,981 acres. Eighty-five firefighters and overhead
staff are assigned to it. The remaining four fires have burned about
80 acres. The park remains open to visitors. Smoke from these fires
and from fires outside the park have reduced visibility in some
locations. Smoke is heaviest in Yosemite Valley during night and
morning hours; it is heaviest in higher elevations from mid-morning
until late afternoon.
Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs (CA) - The Burnt Fire (1,306 acres) is
actively spreading north up through Dog Creek and the eastern interior
of Dog Creek and through Rattlesnake and northwest of Rattlesnake
Creek. The fuels in these two areas are ceanothus and manzanita.
Continued growth is expected over the next couple of weeks.
Extreme N/A
Very High Zion NP, Hawaii Volcanoes NP
High Redwood NP, Lake Mead NRA, Point Reyes NS
[Donna Nemeth, GRCA, 8/29; Johanna Lombard, YOSE, 8/29; J.D.
Bauman/Doug Wallner, YELL, 8/29; NPS Situation Summary Report, 8/29;
NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/30]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Uniform Ordering - Final reminder: Friday, August 31st, is the last
day that uniform orders will be accepted by Uniform Solutions. Orders
MUST be submitted by close of business that day. Employees with items
on order should also check the status of those orders. If you have a
backorder, contact customer service at 1-800-448-7968 to determine
when or if these orders will be filled. You may want to cancel the
backorder and buy something else instead. [Randy Coffman, RAD/WASO]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - Jim Rienhardt, director of interpretation,
recreation, and community outreach for Gateway NRA, is ending his 25
year career with the National Park Service. He will continue to work
with the NPS, however, as executive director and CEO of Pocono
Environmental Study Center, a non-profit organization that operates
within Delaware Water Gap NRA. A retirement party will be held at the
Silver Gull Club in Gateway's Breezy Point District on September 19th.
If you would like to attend, contact Judy Smith and/or Rita Mullally
at 718-354-4559. Jim has run across a lot of people in his numerous
positions with the NPS, which included a tenure as a Job Corps center
director and acting superintendent of the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway.
Cards, notes, funny stories, or just about anything else well-wishers
may want to send are being collected and will be presented to him at
the party. If you would like to send something, please mail it to
National Park Service, Gateway NRA, Office of IR&CO, 210 New York
Avenue, Staten Island, New York, 10305-5019, Attn: Jim's Retirement.
If you don't think your item will be in time for the party on the
19th, you may send it to Jim at: Pocono Environmental Education
Center, R.R. 2 Box 1010, Dingman's Ferry, Pennsylvania, 18328. [Liam
Strain, GATE]
* * * * *
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