NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, April 17, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, April 17, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-110 - Big Bend NP (TX) - Death of Employee

Seasonal trail worker R.A., 33, was killed in a motor vehicle
accident on the Chisos Basin Road on the evening of April 14th. Rangers
arrived at the accident scene at 8:40 p.m. and discovered that R.A.had
been ejected from his personal pickup truck, which had left the roadway and
flipped several times. He was transported to Big Bend Regional Hospital in
Alpine, where he was pronounced dead at 10:50 p.m. Superintendent Frank
Deckert had this to say: "We regret this unfortunate incident and extend
our sympathies to Mr. R.A.'s family. We, his National Park Service
family by extension, grieve with them in the loss of their son." The
investigation continues with the assistance of the Texas Department of
Safety. [Todd Brindle, BIBE, 4/16]

02-111 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescues

On Saturday, April 13th, rangers received reports of cries for help coming
from the general vicinity of the Five Open Books climbing area in Yosemite
Valley. Rangers and SAR team members climbed to the party and found that
one of them had an open fracture of his left forearm from being hit by a
falling rock. After stabilizing his broken arm, the rescuers assisted him
in rappelling to the bottom to a waiting litter team. The injured climber
was then evacuated down a 600-foot scree slope to the road. While he was
being prepared for evacuation, two other climbers hailed the rescuers. They
also reported an injury, but were able to self-evacuate to the base of the
route. Other rangers met these climbers at the bottom and assisted them to
a waiting ambulance. Interviews with the climbers revealed that both
parties were hit by the same rockfall. The lead climber of the upper team
dislodged a rock the size of his head. This block then struck a glancing
blow to the helmet and shoulder of his belayer. The rock then hit the
leader of the second party on the pitch below. He received a glancing blow
to his helmet, and a solid strike on his forearm, breaking it. The rock
went on to strike his belayer in the arm and hip, but luckily just glancing
blows. Two lives were saved by climbing helmets. [Steve Yu, IC, YOSE, 4/16]

02-112 - Mojave NP (CA) - MVA with Two Fatalities and Serious Injury

Ranger Tim Duncan responded to a report of a double fatality accident on
the Cima-Kelso Road a mile east of Kelso Depot at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April
14th. Three Marines were returning to the 29 Palms Marine Base from Las
Vegas when their vehicle, a PT Cruiser, hit a dip in the road at a speed
estimated at over 85 mph and overturned numerous times. One Marine who was
wearing only a lap belt was killed instantly; a second, who was wearing no
seatbelt, was ejected from the car and died on board a medevac helicopter.
The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, is in serious condition. The
victims were G.G. and J.L., both 19; the driver is K.N.
There's no indication that alcohol was a contributing factor. All
were stationed at the base. [Sean McGuinness, MOJA, 4/16]

02-113 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Natural Resource Theft

Gr.L. and Go.L. of Bassett, Virginia, were apprehended in the
park on April 5th with about 900 "ramps" (a plant, Allium tricoccum) in
their possession. The ramps, an onion/leek favored by both residents of the
southern Appalachians and by gourmets, were taken from the park for
commercial sale. The collection of ramps is a spring tradition for many
people, but commercial collection has been on the increase as the plant has
become a popular item at ramp festivals and in restaurants across the
eastern U.S. Wholesale prices for ramps range from $5 per pound unprocessed
to $13 per pound processed; retail prices are about four times as high. The
growing popularity of ramps has placed this plant under intense and
unsustainable pressure. A significant body of work on the status of ramps
has been done by the resource management staff at Great Smoky Mountains NP.
The case ranger is Greg Johnston. [John Garrison, LES, BLRI, 4/16]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Daily preparation and dissemination of the national fire report has been
temporarily suspended due to lack of activity.

Park Fire Situation

Indiana Dunes NL - Park firefighters were dealing with a fire of more than
250 acres on Monday in the Miller woods section of the park. Numerous
firefighters and overhead staff had been ordered and were en route. The
Midewin Hotshots were expected to arrive yesterday. Four fire departments
are cooperating in efforts to suppress the fire.

Lake Mead NRA - The park reports one new start, an initial attack fire that
was contained at 2.5 acres. The park has been under a red flag watch for
the last several days because of high winds and dry conditions.

Everglades NP - The park had on new human-caused fire on Monday for two
acres. Fire danger is still high.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme - N/A
Very High - N/A
High - Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Lake Mead NRA, Indiana Dunes NL

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 4/16]

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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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