NPS Morning Report - Friday, September 7, 2001



                        NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, September 7, 2001

                            *** NOTICE ***

On both Wednesday and Thursday, you likely received two copies of the 
Morning Report in your mailbox. The error was at this end and has been 
rectified. You should again be getting just one issue each day.

INCIDENTS

01-493 - Richmond NB (VA) - ARPA Case

On August 14, 2000, ranger Barry Krieg discovered an unauthorized 
excavation on park property near the vicinity of Fort Hoke within the 
Fort Harrison unit. Investigation revealed that the damage was done by 
M.C. workers placing a new telephone line for a nearby 
private residence. M.C. had been subcontracted by 
Verizon Virginia, Inc., formerly Bell Atlantic. The work was found to 
be completed in an area outside of the approved right-of-way permit. A 
damage assessment completed by NER archeologist Allen Cooper placed 
the total damage at $15,734.47. In an agreement with the Solicitor's 
Office, Virginia Verizon, Inc. was ordered to pay $15,500 in damage 
and response costs, as per terms defined at 16 USC 19jj-1 (b). The 
payment will help fund future archeological research projects in the 
park. This is the second incident of unauthorized excavation with the 
same utility company within a two-year time period. [Tim Mauch, SPR, 
RICH, 9/6]

01-494 - Padre Island NS (TX) - Arrest of Prison Escapee

Rangers learned on September 2nd that S.M., an Arkansas prison 
escapee, might be in the park. Surveillance was begun and conducted 
for two days. S.M. was spotted and his identity confirmed by Arkansas 
Department of Corrections authorities. S.M. was seen in the company 
of a woman whose description matched that of his girlfriend, Trisha 
Mixon. Mixon was also wanted by Arkansas authorities on felony charges 
of harboring an escaped fugitive. Rangers took both into custody on 
September 3rd on North Beach. [Tom Crowson, SPR, PAIS, 9/6]

01-495 - National Capital Parks Central (DC) - Assault

A man walking his bicycle through Dupont Circle Park on August 27th 
was approached by a man who attempted to take his bike. During the 
ensuing struggle, the owner of the bicycle was stabbed in the chest 
with a knife. The assailant fled the area on foot. The bike's owner 
made his way to nearby George Washington University Hospital, where he 
was treated for his wound and released. Park Police detectives are 
investigating. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 9/6]

01-496 - Buffalo NR (AR) - Assist; Drug Lab

On Wednesday, August 29th, rangers received a request from the Marion 
County sheriff to assist with serving a drug lab search warrant on a 
residence immediately adjacent to the Rush area of the park. The 
residence is accessible only by crossing through park property. It is 
located in very rough terrain  and the park radios are the only 
communication that works in the area. Ranger Ben Hansel initially 
served as a lookout and radio relay on the access road that passes 
through the park. The sheriff then asked Hansel to backup his officers 
at the residence. As the sheriff and drug task force officers entered 
the front door, the suspect, Jamey Ply, ran out the back door where 
Hansel was stationed. Hansel ordered Ply to the ground at gunpoint. 
Deputies arrested  Ply and six others in the residence, which 
contained a working methamphetamine lab. While officers were 
processing the scene, two more people arrived to purchase drugs. One 
was arrested on a warrant from Louisiana and the other for possession 
of marijuana. This is the second meth lab on the park boundary in that 
area in less than a year.
[Bob Howard, LES, BUFF, 9/6]

01-497 - Oklahoma City NM (OK) - Special Event

The state of Oklahoma announced on September 5th that it will proceed 
with the prosecution of Terry Nichols for the deaths of 161 people in 
the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. The announcement was made 
in the park. Significant local media coverage of the announcement 
began on September 4th and increased to national coverage the 
following day. The city and county police departments, the DA's 
office, the memorial trust and the park provided protection for the 
conference. No significant events occurred. [Scott Bentley, CR, OKCI, 
9/5]

01-498 - National Capital Parks East (MD) - MVA with Fatality

The Park Police responded to a report of an overturned vehicle on the 
southbound side of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway near Riverdale 
Road around 1 a.m. on August 31st. They found the vehicle on its side; 
the driver and sole occupant was trapped inside. The vehicle became 
engulfed in flames. Officers battled the flames until the operator 
could be extricated. He was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. 
The southbound lanes of the parkway were closed for several hours 
while the investigation was completed. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 
9/5]

01-499 - Point Reyes NS (CA) - Drowning

On the afternoon of Sunday, September 3rd, an eight-year-old girl and 
her brother were swept from the surf line at South Beach by an 
unusually large "sneaker" wave. The boy made it to shore by himself. 
The father entered the 53-degree water and managed to swim to within 
ten feet of his daughter before he lost sight of her and was 
overwhelmed by the current and surf. Rangers coordinated an air search 
of the area by USCG, Sonoma County Rescue, and REACH Aeromedical 
helicopters. A 47-foot Coast Guard vessel responded from Bodega Bay. 
The girl was spotted by the crew of the REACH helicopter about 40 
minutes into the search. A USCG rescue swimmer from the Coast Guard 
helicopter retrieved the girl and transported her to a nearby landing 
zone, where life support efforts were begun. She was flown to a 
regional trauma center, where rewarming and resuscitation efforts 
continued for 90 minutes without success. [Mark Yeston, DR/IC, PORE, 
9/4]

01-500 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Drowning

H.D., 29, of Beckley, West Virginia, was boating the New 
River with two friends, Sheldon Linkous and James Givens, on the 
evening of August 30th. At Hook 99 rapids in a remote section of the 
gorge, H.D.'s Thrill-Seeker inflatable kayak came in contact with 
an undercut rock. The force of the water pulled H.D. and his boat 
under the rock. Linkous and Givens, who were paddling in another raft, 
saw H.D.'s boat being pulled under. They paddled to the rock, 
climbed on top and tried to free the boat; H.D. had gone under 
the rock and could not be seen. After trying to free the boat from the 
rock for about an hour, Linkous and Givens decided to paddle to 
Fayette Station take-out, where their car was parked. They then drove 
to Fayetteville, where they called 911 at approximately 9:30 p.m. The 
911 center notified rangers, who immediately responded. River patrol 
ranger Brian Hunter hiked into the gorge and located the trapped boat. 
Due to the lack of daylight, recovery efforts were postponed until the 
following morning.  At daylight, river patrol and protection rangers 
rafted downriver to the location, set up a Z-drag with ropes and 
pulleys, and removed the boat from the rock. When the boat was 
removed, H.D.'s body floated free from under the rock.  Rangers 
retrieved the body and transported it down river to Fayette Station 
take-out, where it was turned over to the Fayette County coroner's 
office. [Gary Hartley, CR, NERI, 9/3]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 4

Four new large fires were reported yesterday; two others were 
contained. Initial attack was light nationwide. 

NICC has posted a RED FLAG WARNING for low relative humidity and gusty 
northeast winds for Oregon's southern coastal mountains and a RED FLAG 
WARNING for very low relative humidity and gusty winds for the 
northern Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills, particularly on 
the east side of the Coast Range.

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

National Resource Status (Five Day Trend)

                        Mon     Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri
Date                    9/3     9/4     9/5     9/6     9/7
        
Crews                   571     496     510     453     277
Engines                 674     496     546     466     387
Helicopters             146     141     135     142     116
Air Tankers             8       1       5       1       1
Overhead                3,538   2,693   2,647   2,676   2,287
Area Command Team       2       1       1       1       1
Type 1 IMT              3       4       4       4       5
Type 2 IMT              6       4       4       2       1
State IMT               0       0       0       0       1
Fire Use Team           1       1       1       1       1

Park Fire Situation

Glacier NP (MT) - The Moose fire (65,000 acres, approximately 17,000 
within the park; 10% contained, no estimate for full containment; Type 
1 team w/1,129 FF/OH committed - including 32 crews, 13 engines, seven 
helicopters) is burning both near and within the park. Fire activity 
currently consists of smoldering in duff and other fuels. Firefighters 
have begun constructing line from Hallowat Creek to Klemotus Creek. 
Reconnaissance and preparations are underway for line construction 
from Home Ranch Bottoms across Winona Ridge to Cyclone Lake.

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Acreages on the thee fires burning in the park 
are as follows - Vista fire, 1,125 acres; Swamp Ridge fire, 385 acres; 
Tower fire, 380 acres. All are being monitored and evaluated on a 
daily basis. There have been some new closures. Kanabownits Road has 
been closed from its intersection with Forest Service Road 268 south 
to Point Sublime Road. FS Road 268 itself is closed. Swamp Ridge Road 
remains closed from its intersection with Kanabownits Road to Swamp 
Point.

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Due to recent rainy weather, high humidity and 
low fire activity, all park fire restrictions have been lifted, 
effective this morning at 8 a.m. Some backcountry trails and campsites 
remain closed to all day and night use, however; visitors planning to 
day hike or stay overnight in the backcountry are encouraged to call 
the park's backcountry office (307-344-2160) for specific trail 
closure information and other possible restrictions.

Extreme         N/A
Very High       Crater Lake NP, Hawaii Volcanoes NP
High            Joshua Tree NP, Grand Canyon NP

[Donna Nemeth, GRCA, 9/6; Public Affairs, YELL, 9/6; NPS Situation 
Summary Report, 9/6; NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/7]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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