NPS Morning Report - Thursday, May 16, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, May 16, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-175 - Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (MO) - Flooding

The Mississippi River at St. Louis was expected to crest at approximately
39 feet some time yesterday and remain above flood stage for the next five
days. Flood stage for the river at the park is 30 feet. As of late Tuesday,
the water had reached the first landing of the Grand Staircase. Access to
the river from the stairs has accordingly been blocked by barricades.
Visitation is increasing as people come to the park to view the flood. The
record high level for the river was recorded in the major flood of 1993
when the river crested at 49.6 feet. [Rod Danner, CR, JEFF, 5/14]

02-176 - Harpers Ferry NHP (WV/MD/VA) - ARPA Investigation

Ranger Ryan Levins discovered that a series of holes had been dug along a
park trail in the Maryland Heights section of the park late on the
afternoon of Saturday, January 26th. The holes appeared to have been dug
recently, as they came after a period of substantial rain. Rangers secured
the area and began an ARPA investigation. With the help of park
archeologists, they processed the scene over a period of two-and-a-half
days. A total of 156 holes were found in the area, once a Civil War
campsite. Evidence that has been collected is awaiting analysis by the Park
Police lab. Damage to park resources and cost of repair and recovery has
been estimated to be in excess of $20,000. The case has received some local
press attention, and rangers hope to thereby gain information on the
violators. Levins is the case officer. [Scot McElveen, CR, HAFE, 5/15]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack was moderate in the Southwest yesterday, but light
elsewhere. Six new large fires were reported, and three others were
contained. Among the more significant fires reported were the following:

Newly Reported

•     Indian Fire, Prescott NF (700 acres, 0% contained, 350 FF/OH) - A
Type 1 team (Bateman) will assume command of the fire today.      The fire
is burning in ponderosa pine and brush five miles south of Prescott,
Arizona, and has been characterized by spotting,
      crowning and running. Three communities have been evacuated and six
homes have been lost. For current news on the fire
      from the Prescott "Daily Courier", go to
http://www.prescottaz.com/prescottaz/myheadline.asp?S=356&P=592539&PubID=8821

•     Los Lamentos, Socorro District, New Mexico State (no details
available) - This fire is burning in grass, mesquite, oak and pinon
      pine east of Agua Prieta, Mexico, and is burning toward the U.S.
border. Under international agreement, U.S. firefighters are in
      place to assist Mexico in suppression efforts along the fire's
northern perimeter. The fire has burned 5,000 acres in Mexico and
      has been very active along its northern, western and southwestern
flanks.

Previously Reported

•     Mateo Fire, Cleveland NF (1,500 acres, 100% contained, 24 FF/OH) -
The fire has been fully contained.

•     Blackjack Bay Complex, Okefenokee NWR (85,483 acres, 0% contained,
239 FF/OH) - Zimmerman's fire use management team
      is operating under a unified command with Georgia and Florida
forestry. Sustained runs and short-range spotting were observed
      yesterday along the northern perimeter of the Blackjack 02 Fire, one
of three in the complex.

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

National Resource Commitments

                  Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun   Mon   Tue   Wed
Date              5/9   5/10  5/11  5/12  5/13  5/14  5/15

Crews             51    26    43    33    67    46    43
Engines           115   50    124   56    145   117   135
Helicopters       15    9     32    22    38    27    23
Air Tankers       0     0     0     2     2     2     2
Overhead          503   314   418   286   450   460   430
Type 1 IMT        2     1     --    --    --    --    1
Type 2 IMT        --    --    1     1     1     --    --
Fire Use IMT            1     1     1     1     1     1     1

Fire Warnings and Watches

NICC has issued two FIRE WEATHER WATCHES for today - the first for gusty
afternoon winds, low relative humidity and extreme fire danger in the
Guadalupe Mountains of west Texas, the second for relative humidity below
35% for the Florida panhandle.

Park Fire Situation

Grand Teton NP (WY) - The Jackson Lake Lodge Prescribed Fire was begun on
Monday. About 200 acres were burned. The park received support from the
Bridger-Teton NF, FWS, Teton County and Yellowstone NP.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme - Everglades NP
Very High - Lake Mead NRA
High - Hawaii Volcanoes NP

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 5/15; NICC Incident Management Situation
Report, 5/16]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Interagency Lessons Learned Center for Wildland Fire - The new interagency
center is now  up and running, with Paula Nasiatka as the new program
manager. Lessons Learned is a resource center whose primary purpose is to
improve safe work performance and organizational learning in wildland fire.
The program may be expanded to all risk management in the future. The
center is developing a database library of lessons learned/best practices
information, maintains a web site, and will be involved in providing
lessons learned to the wildland fire-training curriculum.  The program
manager is an NPS employee, and USFS, BLM, BIA and USFWS representatives
will also be on staff. Paula can be reached at 520-670-6414 x121 or at
pnasiatka@fs.fed.us. The web site is http://nartc.net.  Paula is asking
that Type I ? V incident commanders complete the Lessons Learned after
incident report (AIR) for each incident this year. Field units are welcome
to complete them for any incident they are assigned to. The simple
four-question form is available on the web site under reports. The Lessons
Learned assistant program manager position is opening on May 17th on USA
Jobs for 30 days.  The position is being advertised governmentwide as a
GS-401-9/11 USFS position. For more information, contact Paula. [Paula
Nasiatka, Lessons Learned Program]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Kings Canyon NP (CA) - The park has a temporary detail opportunity for a
permanent GS-7 or GS-9 protection ranger. This two- to three-month detail
is targeted to begin on June 9th and will be based out of the Grant Grove
Ranger Station. The park will pay travel and per diem. The Grant Grove
subdistrict involves a variety of traditional ranger functions, including
an extensive backcountry operation involving stock. Kings Canyon National
Park offers pristine wilderness and an excellent opportunity to expand
one's experience base in a dynamic operation. Contact Grant Grove
subdistrict ranger Eric Morey at 559-565-4332 or Kings Canyon district
ranger Kinsey Shilling at 559-565-4330. [Kinsey Shilling, DR, SEKI]

                               *  *  *  *  *

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

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