NPS Morning Report - Friday, May 31, 2002
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, May 31, 2002
- Date: Fri, 31 May 2002
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, May 31, 2002
INCIDENTS
02-183 - Valley Forge NHP (PA) - Follow-up on Employee Death
The funeral for protection ranger JoAnn Gillette will be held on
Saturday, June 1st. The viewing hours will be on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the funeral following
immediately thereafter. Both the viewing and funeral will be held at the
Bowen-Farr Funeral Home, 6 Gordon E. Farr Street, Ulster, PA 18550. For
directions call 570-265-2272. Park Service employees attending the
viewing and funeral should wear the Class A summer uniform; law
enforcement personnel should wear full duty gear. For information on
hotels in the Ulster area, please contact park dispatch at 610-783-1050.
[Denver Audyatis, TEO, VAFO, 5/24]
02-194 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Car Clout Arrest
During the months of March and April, a number of car clouts occurred in
the park, most of them at trailheads in the Sugarlands and Roaring Fork
motor nature trail area. There was no visible damage to the vehicles in
most of the break-ins, and in almost each case purses with credit cards
were stolen. The credit cards were normally used to make purchases in
department stores in the Sevierville and Pigeon Forge area;
occasionally, bank cards were used to withdraw cash from ATM machines in
the area. Department store video surveillance tapes were examined and
video footage was found of a man and woman using credit cards that had
been stolen from vehicles in the park. The video footage of the suspects
was of good enough quality to identify them, but there were no leads at
the time as to who they might be. On April 30th, special agent Jeff
Carlisle set up a surveillance operation at the Rainbow Fall trails
parking lot. After watching the lot for a couple of hours, Carlisle saw
a pickup truck with three people pull in and a man and woman exit from
it and begin looking into car windows. Carlisle identified them as the
man and woman in the surveillance tapes. They got back into the truck
and drove toward the Grotto Falls trail parking area. Carlisle followed
and called for backup. The pickup was stopped with assistance from
Gatlinburg PD officers and ranger Robert Harris. The three people in the
truck were identified as M.V., M.G.V., and
J.E.C. As a result of physical evidence, video tapes, and
good interviewing, all three were charged with four separate felony
counts of theft from motor vehicles. Carlisle is the primary case agent.
[Rick Brown, DR, GRSM, 5/23]
02-195 - Harpers Ferry NHP (WV/VA/MD) - ARPA Conviction, Sentencing
In December, 1999, rangers investigated an ARPA case in the Maryland
Heights section of the park and subsequently brought criminal charges
against M.Y. and C.Y. On May 20th, the two men, who had
entered pleas pursuant to plea agreements to one count each of
misdemeanor ARPA violations, were sentenced in magistrate's court. Their
fines were $225 and $75, respectively; they also got two years'
probation each and are required to publish a half-page notice on their
case and conviction once a week for three successive weeks in two local
newspapers. Damage assessments were prepared for the case, but were not
used in the plea agreement. The park is now considering civil action
under 16 USC 19jj to recover costs of the investigation and damage
assessment and for restoration of the affected resources. [Scot
McElveen, CR, HAFE, 5/22]
02-196 - Badlands NP (SD) - MVA with Fatality and Injuries
While on patrol on the morning of May 23rd, ranger Beth Kolb came upon a
single-vehicle rollover accident on Sage Creek Rim Road about two miles
west of the park's boundary. A 20-year-old woman ran up to Kolb and
reported that her father was seriously injured and that her mother was
dead. Kolb requested a multi-agency response and began administering
emergency care to the two surviving passengers. Efforts to approach the
vehicle and assess the driver's condition were hindered by spraying
vehicle fluids and fire danger. The emergency response included rangers
and employees from the park, ambulances from the town of Wall, and
personnel from the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Pennington County SAR
and the coroner's office. The father and daughter were taken to Rapid
City Regional Hospital. The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle
and was pronounced dead at the scene due to massive head trauma.
Investigators determined that the driver had lost control of the car on
the gravel road and that it had rolled over several times, collapsing a
portion of the vehicle's sunroof onto the driver and killing her
instantly. [Mark Gorman, Acting CR, BADL, 5/24]
02-197 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drug Arrests
On May 26th, a multi-agency drug task force comprised of county, state
and federal law enforcement officers concluded a major undercover
operation within the Bullfrog Subdistrict. Rangers participated in both
an undercover capacity and as part of the uniformed response. A special
agent from WASO Ranger Activities Division's technical investigations
unit provided technical surveillance. The operation resulted in ten
felony arrests on a host of charges, including distribution of
marijuana, cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms. During the operation,
information was obtained that resulted in the execution of a search
warrant at night on a houseboat in a remote area of the lake.
Significant quantities of controlled substances, four kegs of beer, 20
cases of beer and two cases of liquor were seized. [Brian O'Dea, SA,
GLCA, 5/27]
[Additional reports pending. . . .]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was light nationwide on Thursday. Among the more
significant fires on the NICC were the following:
* Bullock Fire, Coronado NF (21,800 acres, 55% containment, 1,218
FF/OH) - Humphrey's Type 1 team is managing the fire, which is burning
in grass, oak and chaparral about 15 miles northeast of Tucson. The fire
was active yesterday, with some torching, up-slope runs and spotting.
Burnout operations are underway from Mount Bigelow to the west.
* Borrego Fire, Santa Fe NF (12,850 acres, 80% contained, 549 FF/OH) -
Bateman's Type 1 team has been assigned. The fire is burning in pinion,
juniper and mixed conifer forest two miles southeast of Cordova, New
Mexico. Crews are constructing and improving hand lines in the Pecos
Wilderness Area. Burnout operations are underway in the Rio Quemado
drainage and along the eastern flank.
* Witch Fire, Arizona State (1,300 acres, 80% contained, 116 FF/OH) -
The fire, which is 27 miles southeast of Wilcox, spread rapidly
yesterday in oak woodland. Some spotting was also observed.
* Blackjack Bay Complex, Okefenokee NWR (114,314, 0% containment, 160
FF/OH) - A fire use management team (Adams) is operating under a unified
command with Georgia and Florida forestry. The fire was very active
along its southwest flank. Tractor plows are disking a firebreak along
the southern flank.
* West Fork Chena Fire, Alaska Division of Forestry (19,827 acres, 5%
contained, 312 FF/OH) - A Type 2 team (Jandt) is assigned. The fire is
burning in black spruce about 50 miles east of Fairbanks. Its growth
slowed somewhat yesterday due to cooler temperatures and higher relative
humidity. Red Squirrel campground and Angel Rocks trail are closed;
thick smoke has also forced the closing of Chena Hot Springs Road at
Granite Tors.
* Vinasale Fire, Alaska Division of Forestry (49,600 acres, 0%
contained, 154 FF/OH) - Ketcher's Type 2 team will assume command of the
fire today. The fire is burning in black spruce, taiga and hardwoods 15
miles south of McGrath. Extreme fire behavior and significant runs
occurred yesterday as the fire moved toward McGrath. Crews are building
fire lines along the west flank. A contingency line is staffed to
protect McGrath and structure protection is in place for cabins and
burial sites.
* MP 78 Elliott Highway, Alaska BLM (84,000 acres, 20% contained, 163
FF/OH) - The fire is burning seven miles southwest of Livengood in black
spruce, hardwoods, brush and litter. Johnson's Type 2 team is assigned.
Strong southerly winds resulted in significant runs to the north and
northwest yesterday. Elliott Highway is closed.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Texas and Utah.
National Resource Commitments
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date 5/23 5/24 5/25 5/26 5/27 5/28 5/29 5/30
Crews 128 121 126 135 139 137 142 149
Engines 200 143 107 109 67 57 83 139
Helicopters 45 28 38 33 41 36 31 40
Air Tankers 3 2 5 1 1 2 1 2
Overhead 690 565 591 604 719 605 631 611
Type 1 IMT 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2
Type 2 IMT 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 3
Fire Use IMT 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Fire Warnings and Watches
NICC has not issued any watches or warnings for today.
Park Fire Situation
Lake Mead NRA (NV) - Two engines responded along with Bullhead City FD
to a fire that burned three structures close to the park's boundary on
Wednesday. The associated wildland fire was minor and extinguished.
Everglades NP (FL) - The park conducted two new Rx burns on Wednesday.
One will involve about 250 acres in the Cape Sable area and will
continue for the next few weeks; the other was in the Hole-in-the Donut
area, but the operation was halted due to unfavorable winds.
Mesa Verde NP (CO) - Fire danger remains extreme. Two crews are staged
in the park - the Craig Hotshots and the Idaho State Heat Seekers.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon NPs (CA) - The Arrowhead Hotshots are in the park
and available.
Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - The Alpine Hotshots are in the park.
Park Fire Danger
Extreme - Mesa Verde NP, Saguaro NP Very High - Lake Mead NRA, Rocky
Mountain NP High - Joshua Tree NP, Everglades NP
[NPS Situation Summary Report, 5/30; NICC Incident Management Situation
Report, 5/30-31]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
National Capital Region (DC) — Pat Toops, deputy chief of natural
resources and science in National Capital Region, is retiring after 30
years of government service. Prior to his three-and- a-half years at
NCR, Pat worked at Everglades NP, Shenandoah NP, Crater Lake NP, Gulf
Islands NS, Buffalo NR, Natchez Trace Parkway, Lava Beds NM, and the C&O
Canal NHM. His retirement party will be held on June 13th at the Center
for Urban Ecology (CUE), Washington, DC. A picnic lunch is planned at
11:30 a.m.; $10 covers lunch and a gift. For additional information,
please contact Denice Pitman at 202-342-1443 ext. 209. If you're
interested in attending, please RSVP and send your payment to Denice by
June 3rd. Photos, stories, or farewell letters and wishes for Pat's
retirement album are welcome and can be sent to Denice at CUE, 4598
MacArthur Blvd, NW, Washington, DC 20007. [Diane Pavek, NCR]
Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - The park has a temporary position which is
targeted for a current federal employee who is a permanent (STF) GS-5 or
GS-7 protection ranger. This two-to three- month assignment in the
Visitor and Resource Protection Division will begin as soon as possible.
The person in the position will have primary law enforcement duties,
with additional duties of search and rescue and emergency medical
services. A valid Level I or II commission is required. Indiana Dunes
will pay the current benefits of the position. Rental housing is
available in the local area. The park is located at the southern tip of
Lake Michigan, approximately 50 to 60 miles southeast of Chicago. Access
to professional sports complexes via rail is easy. The park is
surrounded by small towns and resort communities on the beaches of Lake
Michigan and farms interspersed with large tracts of woodlands and
wetlands. An abundance of cultural and recreational activities are
available. The park has a 24-hour dispatch center; law enforcement
activities include the full range of criminal and resource- related
incidents typically encountered in an urban/wilderness interface. For
more information, contact supervisory park ranger Larry Edwards at
219-926-7561 ext. 314 or protection branch chief Joni Jones at ext. 306.
[Joni Jones, PBC, INDU]
* * * * *
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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