NPS Morning Report - Monday, May 20, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, May 20, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-177 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Suicide

A visitor found the body of a woman under the canoe racks at the concession
operation on Price Lake on the afternoon of Thursday, May 16th. Rangers
found several empty phials of over-the-counter sleeping aids and an opened
bottle of whiskey nearby. Identification found on the 45-year-old woman led
to a missing person report which contained information regarding a history
of disappearances and medical conditions. There were no signs of trauma or
struggle. The medical examiner has ruled the death as a suicide, and
estimated that the woman's body had been there for about 30 hours. [John
Garrison, LES, BLRI, 5/17]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack was moderate in the Rockies and Southwest yesterday and
light elsewhere. Two new large fires were reported - one in the Coconino NF
in Arizona, the other on BLM lands in New Mexico. Among the more
significant fires reported were the following:

Newly Reported

•     Tram Fire, Coconino NF (130 acres, 30% contained, 152 FF/OH) - A Type
2 team (Waldrip) will assume command of the fire this       morning. The
fire is burning in pine and mixed conifer forest six miles west of Clint
Wells, Arizona.

Previously Reported

•     Blackjack Bay Complex, Okefenokee NWR (95,741 acres, 0% contained,
309 FF/OH) - A fire use management team (Adams) is    operating under a
unified command with Georgia and Florida forestry. Only minimal fire
activity is reported.

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

National Resource Commitments

                  Mon   Tue   Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun
Date              5/13  5/14  5/15  5/16  5/17  5/18  5/19

Crews             67    46    43    45    41    31    13
Engines           145   117   135   131   124   94    13
Helicopters       38    27    23    14    13    12    5
Air Tankers       2     2     2     2     2     0     2
Overhead          450   460   430   347   379   345   89
Type 1 IMT        --    --    1     1     1     --    --
Type 2 IMT        1     --    --    --    --    --    1
Fire Use IMT            1     1     1     1     1     1     1

Fire Warnings and Watches

NICC has issued two RED FLAG WARNINGS for today - the first for strong
gusty afternoon winds, low relative humidity and extreme fire danger in
northern Arizona, the second for low relative humidity in northern Florida
and southeast Georgia. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH has been posted for strong
gusty afternoon winds, low relative humidity and extreme fire danger for
southern Arizona.

Park Fire Situation

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - The park went to preparedness level five on Saturday
and put fire restrictions in place due to "unprecedented drought and
extreme fire danger" throughout the park. Under these restrictions,
campfires, charcoal fires, candles and other open flames are prohibited and
camp stoves and gas grills are permitted only in designated campsites,
picnic areas, administrative areas, residential areas and the inner canyon
(except that gas grills and fire pans are allowed along the river). Smoking
is prohibited in all backcountry areas and is permitted only in vehicles
with ashtrays and designated buildings. Off-road parking is prohibited.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme - Lake Mead NRA, Everglades NP
Very High - Grand Canyon NP
High - N/A

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 5/19; NICC Incident Management Situation
Report, 5/18-20]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Capitol Reef NP (UT) ? The park is currently advertising for a GS-025-5/7/9
PFT ranger in the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. The job is
listed in three places on USA Jobs to permit applicants with or without
status to apply (see announcement numbers IMDE-02-54, IMDE-02-55, and
IMDE-02-56). The closing date is June 5th. This is a commissioned position
and has primary 6(c) designation. Duties include frontcountry and
backcountry LE patrol, EMS, SAR, and wildland and structural fire, with an
opportunity to gain experience and training in various collateral duties.
Capitol Reef, a 378-square-mile park, is known for its extensive
backcountry and the spectacular slot canyons of the Waterpocket Fold.  For
additional information, contact Tom Cox at 435-425-3791, ext. 130. [Tom
Cox, CARE]

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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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