NPS Morning Report - Monday, April 29, 2002



                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, April 29, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-131 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Burglary

Blount County officers investigating a power outage to their radio system
equipment in the Look Rock area on April 22nd found that two air quality
monitoring buildings - one belonging to the NPS, the other to TVA - had
been broken into. All three agencies have equipment located inside a fenced
enclosure near the Look Rock tower. Rangers responded along with a county
crime scene technician. They determined that one or more people had climbed
the fence to get into the enclosure, then broken into both buildings and
removed various items. The thefts occurred between April 20th and the time
of discovery. Items removed included an NPS laptop computer, a CD writer,
various tools and tool kits, a fire extinguisher, and two clocks. Various
items were vandalized in the buildings and the locks on both doors were
destroyed. The investigation is being handled jointly by officers from the
three agencies. The NPS case ranger is Steve Spanyer. [Communications
Center, GRSM, 4/26]

02-132 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Rescue

On the afternoon of Friday, April 12th, D.L., 42, fell while
leading Frosty Cone, a 5.7 climb on the Dairy Queen Wall. He was about
eight feet above his last placed protection and had climbed out of the
crack he was following face-right; he therefore swung sideways when he
fell, pulling out his last-placed protection. D.L. struck the back of
his head (he was not wearing a helmet) and was knocked unconscious. He then
flipped upside down in his harness. D.L.'s partner managed to lower him
about 30 feet while other climbers drove to Hidden Valley and used the
emergency satellite phone there to report the fall. Rangers and two
paramedics from Morongo Basin Ambulance were able to scramble to the area.
Rangers then set up a guideline and lowered D.L. about 80 vertical feet
and 100 horizontal feet to the ground. BLM firefighters who were in the
area at training then completed the carry-out to the ambulance. D.L. was
transported to a Mercy Air ship waiting at Hidden Valley and flown to a
hospital. Joshua Tree volunteer SAR team members also assisted. Scott
Fischer was litter attendant; Jeremy Monroe was IC. [Kathy Krisko, Acting
Cottonwood DR, JOTR, 4/26]

02-133 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - MVA with Fatality, Two Serious
Injuries

Two people were seriously injured and a third killed in a single-vehicle
accident near milepost 344. The vehicle left the parkway and came to rest
about 60 feet down a steep embankment. B.J.K. and K.T.
were flown to separate North Carolina hospitals; A.W., 22, was
ejected from the vehicle and killed. An investigation is underway to
determine the cause of the accident. [John Garrison, LES, BLRI, 4/26]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 1

Initial attack was light nationwide on Saturday; no new large fires were
reported. A Type 1 team (Hart) is assigned to the Snaking Fire in the
Pike-Isabel NF in Colorado. The fire, which has now burned 2,590 acres, no
longer threatens the town of Bailey, so residents have been allowed to
return to their homes. The fire is 75% contained. Two moderately sized
fires on state lands in Florida were 95% contained, and the 500-acre
Evening Fire in Oregon County, California, was fully contained.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, New Mexico,
Texas, and Colorado.

National Resource Status

                  Tue   Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat
Date              4/24  4/25  4/26  4/27  4/28

Crews             56    73    41    43    26
Engines           148   150   191   137   108
Helicopters       16    24    19    17    2
Air Tankers       0     0     0     0     0
Overhead          351   463   379   378   312

Park Fire Situation

Everglades NP (FL) - The Rogers Fire, started by an arsonist, burned about
10 acres in the mangroves and coastal prairie adjacent to Rogers River
before it was contained.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme - N/A
Very High - N/A
High - Everglades NP

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 4/28; NICC Incident Management Situation
Report, 4/28]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Cancellation of Professional Liability Insurance - On April 18th, Wright &
Company, which provides a professional liability policy program to active
federal employees, began sending out notices that the carrier for this
program would be canceling these policies, effective July 1st. NPS
employees in law enforcement, emergency services, fire and management
positions have utilized this coverage through payroll deductions. The loss
of the carrier impacts the ability of policy holders to provide protection
to their personal assets in the event of civil suits. Wright & Company has
entered discussions with other carriers, and it is their intent to secure
another A+ rated company before the cancellation date. A problem with
notification has arisen, since the company utilizes employees' home
addresses for legal correspondence. If you are a policy holder and have not
been notified via certified mail, you should immediately contact Wright &
Company at 1-800-424-9801 extension 7. Additional information and
notifications will be mailed to policy holders on June 1st, so accurate
address information is needed. [John Garrison, BLRI, with concurrence of
RAD/WASO]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Boston NHP (MA) - Former superintendent John Burchill died suddenly at his
home on Cape Cod on Thursday, April 25th. He was 62. A wake will be held
today at Carr Funeral Home at 220 Bunker Hill Street in Charlestown from 3
to 7 p.m. His funeral will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de
Sales Church at 313 Bunker Hill Street. John's career with the NPS spanned
33 years. He served at Cape Cod NS, Big Cypress NP, Yosemite NP,
Yellowstone NP, Lowell NHP, Boston NHP, and Boston African-American NHS. He
leaves his wife, Ann, two daughters and two granddaughters. [Sean
Hennessey, BOST]

Cape Lookout NS (NC) - The park is seeking a Type I or Type II commissioned
ranger for a detail for a minimum of three weeks from May 19th to June 8th.
An MOCC-trained employee is preferred. The park will pay base salary plus
travel, holiday and overtime. Per diem and shared housing are available.
This is an opportunity to work on the beach and practice new boating
skills. Interested parties should contact supervisory park ranger Jim
Zahradka at 252-728-2250 ext. 3007.  [Jim Zahradka, SPR, CALO]

                               *  *  *  *  *

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation
and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

                                --- ### ---