NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, May 8, 2002



                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, May 8, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-155 - Colonial NHP (VA) - Storm Damage

On May 2nd, a severe thunderstorm moved through the park, uprooting
numerous trees and knocking down power lines throughout the area. The
Colonial Parkway was closed from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. due to downed trees
and a high voltage power line across the road. All of the park's tour roads
were closed due to downed trees. Rangers and maintenance workers were able
to remove the trees on the parkway that evening, permitting the reopening
of the highway, but the tour roads were not reopened until May 4th.
Maintenance crews are still in the process of removing debris and downed
trees from areas in the park. [Tom Nash, CR, COLO, 5/7]

02-156 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - MVA with Fatality

J.D., 35, of Tupelo, Mississippi, was struck and killed by a
vehicle on the parkway near MM 259 just before 11 p.m. on Thursday, May
2nd. A witness who was traveling north on the parkway saw J.D. in the
middle of the southbound lane. He said that he drove up to J.D. and was
talking with him when a second vehicle heading south on the parkway hit
J.D., killing him instantly. The driver of the second vehicle called 911
on his cell phone and Tupelo PD officers and park rangers responded. After
emergency crews arrived on scene, the driver who struck J.D. suffered a
heart attack and was taken to a local hospital. Heavy rains were passing
through the area at the time of the accident. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR,
5/6]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack was moderate in the Southwest on Monday and light elsewhere.

Two Type 1 teams are currently committed. Gelobter's team has been assigned
to the Dalton Fire (600 acres, 0% contained) in the Santa Fe NF ten miles
north of Pecos, New Mexico. Extreme fire behavior has been reported on that
fire, which has forced the evacuation of Upper Pecos Canyon. Bateman's team
continues management of the Penasco Fire (15,400 acres, 65% contained),
which is a dozen miles southeast of Cloudcroft, New Mexico. All existing
containment lines held on Monday; dozer line rehab is underway.

Hartman's Type 1 team is managing the Black Mountain Fire (245 acres, 40%
contained) in the Pike-San Isabel NF in Colorado. The fire, which is two
miles southeast of Clear Creek, is burning in lodgepole pine and threatens
about 1700 primary residences. All subdivisions and private land holdings
within three miles of the fire have been evacuated. Crews are making good
progress with fire line construction.

Zimmerman's fire use management team has been assigned to the Bay Creek
Fire (1,158 acres) and the Black Jack 02 Fire (12,800 acres) in the
Okefenokee NWR in Georgia. Both are being managed under confinement
strategy. Resources are being assembled to meet planned contingency actions
in the event that the fire leaves the refuge.

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

National Resource Commitments

                  Mon   Tue   Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun   Mon
Date              4/29  4/30  5/1   5/2   5/3   5/4   5/5   5/6

Crews             18    41    52    57    --    58    58    68
Engines           77    112   106   77    --    93    83    140
Helicopters       16    20    20    16    --    19    17    21
Air Tankers       0     1     0     0     --    0     0     0
Overhead          220   343   356   317   --    366   399   484
Type 1 IMT        --    3     3     1     --    1     1     2
Type 2 IMT        --    0     1     0     --    0     1     1
Fire Use IMT            --    --    --    --    --    --    1     2

Park Fire Situation

No new reports.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme - Lake Mead NRA
Very High - Indiana Dunes NL
High - Grand Canyon NP

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 5/7; NICC Incident Management Situation
Report, 5/7]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Safe Transportation of Rifles - Second Notice: Confusion has arisen about
the proper and safe way to carry AR-15 rifles in patrol vehicles, vessels
and aircraft. There is only one way to transport the weapons safely - with
the safety on, the chamber empty, the bolt forward, the dust cover closed,
and a magazine inserted into the magazine well. [Paul Henry, NPS/FLETC]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Grand Teton NP (WY) - Richard Spomer, district ranger for the park's South
District, is retiring after 35 years of government service. Prior to his 13
years at Grand Teton, Rich and his family spent time in Big Horn Canyon,
Lake Mead, Rocky Mountain and Glen Canyon. His retirement party will be
held in Moose, Wyoming, on June 29th. There will be a Dutch Oven catered
dinner. Tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for children eight and under. If
you're interested in attending, please contact Susanne McDonald at the
Chief Ranger's Office at 307-739-3470. RSVP's and dinner payments must be
received by June 19th. If you have any photos or stories you'd like to
contribute, please send them to Susanne at: Grand Teton National Park, PO
Box 170, Moose, WY 83012, Attention: Susanne McDonald. They must be
received by June 8th. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]

Cumberland Island NS [GA] ? The park has announced a GS-9 law enforcement
ranger vacancy. It is on USAJobs (SESO 02-79) and closes May 15th.
Cumberland Island offers a tremendous variety of resources and job
experiences. The park includes the natural resources of a 20,000-acre
barrier island, a large collection of historic structures and prehistoric
sites, designated wilderness, endangered species, and a limited amount of
recreational hunting. Due to daily limits, annual visitation is around
50,000. The person in this position will be heavily involved with the
wildland and structure fire programs; a rating of IC Type 4 will be
expected. Law enforcement rangers participate in reducing the feral hog
population for protection of nesting sea turtles and other resources. This
position is required occupancy on the island. Any rangers interested in
active fieldwork, willing to work hard to upgrade programs, and enjoying
independent work, should contact chief ranger Brian Peters at 912-882-4336,
ext. 258.  [Brian Peters, CUIS]

                               *  *  *  *  *

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

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