NPS Morning Report - Friday, October 12, 2001
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, October 12, 2001
- Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 06:14:23 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, October 12, 2001
INCIDENTS
01-553 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Falling Fatality
On October 3rd, a wrangler called park dispatch to report that a
13-year-old girl had evidently fallen over the edge of the South
Kaibab trail about a mile down from the rim. Park medical and rescue
personnel responded on foot and by helicopter for a possible
short-haul rescue. A spotter in the helicopter located the girl about
150 feet below the site of the fall. Rescuers reached her within a few
minutes and determined that she had expired. Peer counselors were
assigned to the family to help them deal with their loss and with
logistical needs. An extremely complicated operation to document the
incident scene was conducted, and the body was removed by helicopter
and transferred to the county medical examiner. An investigation into
the cause of the fall is underway. [Hunter Bailey, IC, GRCA, 10/11]
01-554 - National Capital Parks Central (DC) - Evacuation
Strong odors were reported to be emanating from the basement of the
memorial on the evening of October 4th. USPP officers and NPS
maintenance personnel checked and encountered fumes that caused a
burning sensation in their throats, eyes and lungs. The memorial was
immediately evacuated and DC hazmat units were summoned. Hazmat
personnel located an unsecured container of cleaning solution in a
maintenance closet in the basement that proved to be the source of the
fumes. About 20 visitors and several USPP officers and NPS staff were
evaluated at the scene by DC fire and EMS personnel and released.
[Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 10/11]
01-555 - National Capital Parks Central (DC) - Burglary Arrest
Park Police officers responded to a break-in at Ford's Theater around
1:30 a.m. on October 8th. A USPP guard had found an unsecured and
damaged door during a security check of the building and immediately
notified Park Police dispatch. Officers established a perimeter around
the building and secured all exits. Lieutenant Shawn Turonis spotted a
man within the building through a glass door and entered along with
several officers and two city PD canines. Two men were arrested and
held pending charges in DC superior court for burglary, destruction of
government property, and unlawful entry. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR,
10/11]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 2
Two Type 1 teams are assigned to FEMA to support operations in New
York City.
Initial attack was light nationwide on Tuesday. Very high to extreme
fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Idaho, and Montana.
Park Fire Situation
No new fires reported.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 10/10]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
National Park Passport Photo Contest - Each year, Eastern National
holds a contest to select ten new images for the collectible "Passport
to Your National Parks" stamp series. The contest is open to NPS
employees and VIPs. The stamps (one national and nine regional) are on
one perforated sheet and fit into the official passport book. Images
of national parks with special events or anniversary celebrations
during 2002 are encouraged. A brief statement about the event should
be enclosed with the photograph. National parks previously featured on
passport stamps will not be accepted. Submissions must be received by
Eastern National by October 31st. Photography will be accepted for all
ten of the passport regions, which are based on tourist/geographic
regions, not on NPS administrative regions. Particulars follow:
o All submissions must be reproduction-quality color originals,
as a 35mm slide, color print, or 4" x 5" transparency.
o Only National Park Service employees and VIPs are eligible.
o All submissions must be clearly labeled, stating the park name
and image location, photographer's name, photographer's status
as an NPS employee or VIP, current park assignment, category
(which region), and mailing address. This information should
be on the slide or transparency.
o Eastern National will review all submissions and make final
selections. Images will be judged on quality, interpretive
merit and appropriateness of subject matter. Lacking a
suitable entry, Eastern National reserves the right to select
a suitable photograph from other sources.
o Individual submissions are limited to ten per category.
o By submitting their work for review, photographers agree that
Eastern National may use the winning photograph for the
passport stamp and promotional purposes. Eastern National will
not be responsible for any lost or damaged photos, slides or
transparencies. All submissions will be returned to the
photographer.
o Contest winners will be announced in December. Eastern
National will pay the photographer $500 for the winning
photograph in each category. If the winning image is a
National Park Service slide or transparency, or was taken on
government time, Eastern National will donate $500 to the
photographer's park to support that park's interpretive
program.
o Send submissions to: Eastern National Passport Photography
Contest, 470 Maryland Drive, Suite 1, Fort Washington, PA
19034.
o Questions? Call Eastern National at 215-283-6900 ext. 158 for
more information.
Eastern National provides quality educational products and services to
America's national parks and other public trusts. Proceeds from the
sale of the passport book and stamp sets benefit educational programs
of the National Park Service. To order the passport book, call
toll-free 877-NAT-PARK. For questions about the passport program, call
215-283-6900. [Kristine Acevedo, Eastern National]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Independence NHP (PA) - The park has several positions now open for
seasonal law enforcement rangers at grades GS-5, GS-7 and GS-9. These
emergency appointments will initially be for 30 days, extendable for
an additional 30 days. The park will shortly be recruiting for
long-term seasonal positions at the same grade levels. These temporary
positions are to provide enhanced security while recruitment is
underway to fill new positions on a permanent basis. Limited
dormitory housing at Valley Forge NHP (approximately 25 miles west of
the park) is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Candidates
must possess a valid seasonal (Type II) law enforcement commission.
This is an excellent opportunity for seasonal employees to continue
their service and enjoy the fall in Philadelphia. Depending on the
results of the competition, these emergency appointments could
potentially result in employment through the spring, or a possible
career-conditional appointment. If you're interested, contact Vanessa
Russell at 215-597-1554 or by cc:Mail (Vanessa Russell at NP-INDE) or
Internet (Vanessa_Russell@nps.gov). [Hollis Provins, INDE)
Washington Office (DC) - DOI's International Affairs Office is seeking
qualified individuals for two short-term assignments in Ecuador.
Interested applicants with experience in visitor center design and
administration or landscape planning should check the DOI
International Affairs website for more information
(www.doi.gov/intl/opportunities.html). Applicants must be able to
speak and write in Spanish. Call Barbara Pitkin for more information
at 202-208-5221. [Dave Krewson, WASO]
Yellowstone NP (WY) -The park is currently recruiting for up to three
GS-1016-7 museum technicians. The vacancy announcements can be found
on USA Jobs. Yellowstone is also looking for an acting GS-1015 museum
curator or a person with similar skills and experience to oversee
Yellowstone's museum staff, operation, and special projects for a
period that is likely to be three to six months. Inquiries may be
directed to Sue Consolo Murphy at 307-344-2208 or via email. [Sue
Consolo Murphy, YELL]
Pacific West Region - The regional office is seeking qualified
seasonal law enforcement personnel to fill temporary positions at the
GS-025-5 and 7 level. These positions will be filled to augment
security at various locations within the region, but predominately
Lake Roosevelt NRA (Coulee Dam, Washington), Lake Mead (Boulder City,
Nevada), Whiskeytown-Shasta- Trinity NRA (Whiskeytown, California),
and USS Arizona Memorial (Hawaii). They will also be advertised
immediately on USA Jobs in order to fill the 30 to 40 temporary
emergency need excepted appointments (5 CFR 213.3102.(i)(3)) to deal
with the aftermath of the recent attacks. Valid seasonal (Type II) law
enforcement commissions are required. Housing may be available. If you
are interested please contact Amy Tien at 510-817-1314 or by internet
at amy_tien@nps.gov. [Marsha Lee, PWRO]
* * * * *
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.
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