NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 14, 2002
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 14, 2002
- Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 09:34:06 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, June 14, 2002
INCIDENTS
02-234 - Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Attempted Carjacking
On the evening of June 9th, a Hispanic male employed a park barricade to
stop three older woman who were traveling north in a mini-van about a mile
north of the border on Highway 85. The barricade was being used to close a
nearby park road for safety reasons. The man was wearing dark clothing and
looked like a Border Patrol agent. He placed the barricade in the highway
to stop the van and had a revolver in one hand and a rock in the other. He
ordered the women out of the van, but the driver instead drove around the
barricade. As they were going around the barricade, the occupants of the
van heard a loud noise that they described as a gun shot and saw both rear
windows break and glass enter the vehicle. Two park resource management
employees who were heading south on the highway witnessed the event. The
man fled into the desert and has not been found. [Dale Thompson, CR, ORPI,
6/12]
02-235 - Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - Arrest for Environmental Contamination
The foreman of a bridge repair project was arrested on June 12th for
environmental contamination of Jamaica Bay. The park administers most of
the lands and waters within the bay. Park Police officers made the arrest
after receiving information that significant amounts of lead paint were
being dropped into the bay from a construction project on the Mill Basin
Bridge. Sergeant Arthur, detective Ramos, officer Closs and identification
technician Piccolo investigated on the USPP vessel "Marine 3." They watched
a construction crew working on the bridge while sparks, chips of metal,
paint and large amounts of cinders and ash of unknown material fell into
the water. Molten metal and ash fell directly onto Marine 3 while it was
positioned under the bridge. At no time did the crew show any concern for
vessels navigating the channel below the bridge. R.R., the engineer
in charge of the bridge project, was placed under arrest and issued
multiple notices for violations of federal regulations. Officers from the
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also charged R.R.
with applicable violations of state law. The construction project is being
run by the New York City Department of Transportation. [Capt. Martin Zwieg,
USPP/NYFO, 6/12]
02-236 - Antietam NB (MD) - Suicide
Sharpsburg EMS contacted rangers on June 11th and advised them that they'd
received a 911 call reporting a serious injury on the Sherrick Trail near
Burnside Bridge. A search of the area was conducted with help from a state
police helicopter; it had been underway for about an hour when a visitor
reported finding a body south of the bridge along the old roadbed. A
revolver was found at the scene along with a note with phone numbers of
family members who were to be notified. The victim was a 40-year-old man
from Pennsylvania. The death was ruled a suicide. The family was notified
and the victim's parents came to the park the following day to meet with
the investigating ranger and retrieve the vehicle and other items. [Ed
Wenschhof, CR, ANTI, 6/12]
[Additional reports pending...]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation
Initial attack was light in all areas on Thursday. There were two new fires
in the Southwest and another in southern California; three others were
contained.
Two MAC groups are now in place: Priorities for large fires in the
Southwest and for the Rockies are being established by the multi-agency
coordinating groups for those areas. An area command team (Chesley) has
been assigned to manage the Hayman fire.
Because of the rapidly escalating fire situation, Deputy Director Randy
Jones has issued a memorandum on providing support for fire operations.
Please see "Memoranda" below.
Among the more significant fires on the NICC Incident Management Situation
Report were those noted below. Due to the numerous fires burning during the
summer, only the most significant (and all NPS fires) appear here. For a
map showing their locations, click on
http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/firemap.html ; for details on all major fires
currently burning, click on http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf or
http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html.
Colorado
Hayman Fire, Pike-San Isabel National Forest (99,915, 5% contained) - Two
Type 1 teams (Martin and Raley) have been assigned to the fire, which is
burning in ponderosa pine and mixed conifers six miles northwest of Lake
George. The fire crossed containment lines on the southeast flank
yesterday, and is now moving south, east and north-northwest. Crowing,
torching, spotting and many short runs occurred yesterday. Approximately
10,000 residences are threatened; 5,430 residents have been required to
leave their homes under a mandatory evacuation order. Inventories of lost
structures are now being conducted. Highway 67 is closed. For details on
this major fire, go to http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/fire/hayman/.
Coal Seam Fire, Grand Junction Dispatch Center Area Counties (11,800 acres,
30% contained) - Hart's Type 1 team is assigned. The fire is burning in
heavy oakbrush four miles from Glenwood Springs. The fire made short runs
on its northwest flank yesterday, and torching was observed as the fire
moved toward the Flat Top Wilderness Area. Heavy fuel loading with dead and
downed fir on the northern perimeter is reducing the effectiveness of both
direct and indirect containment tactics. Personnel are scouting the area
for anchor points, safety zones and spike camp locations.
Miracle Complex, Grand Junction District, BLM (3,875 acres, 60^ contained)
- Hartman's Type 2 team is assigned. The complex consists of the Long
Canyon and Dierich Creek Fires, both burning near Grand Junction. The
mandatory evacuation has been lifted, but structure protection remains in
place.
Trinidad Complex, Colorado State Forest Service (33,480 acres, 85%
contained) - Swope's Type 2 team is managing the complex, burning eight
miles south of Stonewall. Fire behavior moderated yesterday due to light
winds and higher relative humidity. Significant progress was made in
establishing lines.
Missionary Ridge Fire, San Juan National Forest (10,570 acres, 20%
contained) - A Type 2 team (Solarz) is assigned to the fire, which is ten
miles north of Durango. A Type 1 team (Melton) has been ordered. Extreme
fire behavior and rapid rates of spread characterized the fire yesterday as
it moved south and east. Many structures are threatened.
New Mexico
Roybal Fire, Santa Fe NF (600 acres, 0% contained) - Bateman's Type 1 team
will assume command of the fire today. The fire is burning in ponderosa
pine and logging slash four miles northeast of Pecos. The fire was
characterized yesterday by extreme behavior, long-range spotting, torching
and a major run north toward Pecos Canyon. Numerous commercial properties,
Brush Ranch School and more than 500 permanent residences are threatened
within the canyon. Livestock and homes in Cow Creek have been evacuated.
Ponil Fire, New Mexico State Forestry Office (91,000 acres, 50% contained)
- Lohrey's Type 1 team is assigned. Indirect fire lines are being
constructed on the west flank in preparation for a burnout operation.
Arizona
Walker Fire, Coronado NF (1,300 acres, 0% contained) - A unified command
has been established between Kvale's Type 2 team and the government of
Nogales in Sonora, Mexico. The fire is burning in chaparral, oak and grass;
extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread were observed yesterday.
Attempts at both direct and indirect attack failed during the first burning
period. Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico, are threatened.
Utah
Big Wash Fire, Cedar City Field Office, BLM (5,250 acres, 85% contained) -
Hefner's Type 1 team is assigned. Torching, backing and short runs were
reported yesterday. Cedar Breaks NM remains closed due to access road
closures.
California
Wolf Fire, Los Padres National Forest (21,645 acres, 95% contained) - A
Type 1 team (Gelobter) is managing the fire. Crews are mopping up and
patrolling.
National Fire Danger
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California,
Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
National Resource Commitments
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Date 6/7 6/8 6/9 6/10 6/11 6/12 6/13
Crews 365 315 321 304 332 292 310
Engines 499 488 497 510 553 467 615
Helicopters 85 94 89 110 82 85 93
Air Tankers 2 5 8 4 6 2 0
Overhead 1,683 1,627 1,551 1,703 1,899 1,785 1,995
Type 1 IMT 4 4 5 7 6 6 8
Type 2 IMT 6 9 10 7 7 9 9
Fire Use IMT 1 1 1 1 2 2 2
National Fire Warnings and Watches
NICC has not issued any watches or warnings for today.
Park Fire Situation
El Malpais NP (NM) - The Cherry Fire (15,500 acres, 90% contained) is being
managed by a Type 2 team (Gardner). A total of 454 firefighters and
overhead personnel and 12 engines are committed. Crews are mopping up and
rehabilitating fire lines.
Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - There was no acreage change yesterday on the
Kupukupu Fire (3,660 acres, 65% contained). A total of 100 firefighters and
overhead personnel are committed. No new information reported.
Appalachian NST (GA-ME) - A segment of the Appalachian Trail in the James
River Face Wilderness Area in Virginia has been closed due to fires burning
in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
Park Fire Danger
Not available.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/14]
MEMORANDA
"Staff Support for 2002 Wildland Fire Season," signed on June 12th by
Deputy Director Randy Jones and sent to all regional directors and
superintendents. The text follows:
The 2002 fire season is escalating. This year, many parts of the country
are experiencing moisture deficits, some already worse than last year at
this same time. It is evident that a chain of weather events has now set
in place conditions for another potentially severe fire season that could
place significant demands on our resource capability. On Monday June 10,
2002, the National Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group declared a
National Preparedness Level IV, based on the prevalence of large-scale
project type fires in several geographic areas creating intense competition
for wildland fire suppression and support resources.
Successful and safe responses to the rigorous demands of an above-average
fire season require a concerted effort by National Park Service employees
at all levels of the organization and all disciplines. If the current trend
in conditions continues, requests will be made for above average numbers of
employees from parks, for assistance both within and outside home units.
Initial preparations and long-term planning can ? and should ? be done now.
I am asking regional directors and park superintendents to ensure that our
employees and equipment are ready for another potentially difficult fire
season.
The following sections clarify areas where most questions occur related to
support of wildland fire activities. Please review these sections and
disseminate to appropriate staff members.
Park Operations -- As preparedness levels change and the call for
assistance broadens, base park operations and visitor services may have to
change due to the need to shift staff and equipment to fire suppression
efforts. Plan for this before it becomes a crisis. Each superintendent
should consider how park operations may be changed at each preparedness
level. Following are some considerations:
• Some services may be reduced, such as visitor center hours.
• Some facilities must operate regardless of the preparedness level,
such as wastewater treatment plants.
• Adequate staff must be present in the park to provide essential and
critical services.
Resource Availability -- National preparedness levels established by the
MAC Group are dictated by burning conditions, fire activity and resource
availability, and guide continual preparations for worsening situations.
Resource availability is the area of greatest concern.
Preparedness Levels I ? V are described in the National Interagency
Mobilization Guide (NMG) available on the web at
www.nifc.gov/news/2001nmg.pdf. (Descriptions of these various preparedness
levels, with I being the lowest and V the most severe, are found in NMG
Chapter 20, section 26, pages 49-54, and may be helpful to you in your
long-range planning.) All offices are to assess their need for qualified
fire personnel and make available those not essential to initial attack or
critical park operations. Permanent employees should be assigned to
overhead assignments, wherever possible, while seasonal employees should
generally fill our commitments for crew assignments. Those personnel that
have received additional training since their last assignment should be
identified for a qualifying trainee assignment into that newly acquired
skill. All regions are to expedite their mobilization efforts in concert
with their cooperators.
Information Dissemination -- As services are reduced to address national
firefighting priorities, we will increase the information program to assure
that park visitors are aware of and understand the need for reductions in
hours of operation or suspension of programs.
National Fire Plan Objectives and Wildland Fire Suppression ? This year, we
are actively engaged in fuel treatment activities as part of the National
Fire Plan (NFP). The NFP represents one of the highest priority programs
for the Department of the Interior. It is critically important that we
continue these activities to the greatest extent possible or until the
wildland fire situation dictates a higher priority. In support of these
objectives, all fire personnel funded through the 251 and 252 PWEs will
remain dedicated to fuel treatment activities during National Preparedness
Levels I, II, and III. At National Preparedness Levels IV and V, all
qualified personnel will be made available for firefighting or support
assignments. Fire Use Modules will remain dedicated to fuel treatment
activities during Preparedness Levels I, II and III and will be available
for wildland fire assignments (use or suppression) only if priority fuel
treatments have been completed, or fuel treatment work is suspended. If
there are questions about specific situations and circumstances, please
contact your Regional Fire Management Officer.
Backfill ? Program managers are reminded that they have authority to shift
regular hours to fire accounts (Base 8) or they have backfilling authority
for positions assigned to emergency wildland fire operations. See Shifting
Regular Hours to Fire Accounts (Base 8), page 4, Chapter 19, RM-18 and
Backfilling, page 5, Chapter 19, RM-18. RM-18 is on the web at
www.nps.gov/fire/fire/policy/rm18.
I expect all parks and offices to contribute fully to the effort, as we
remain committed to providing an appropriate level of support to NPS and
interagency wildland fire suppression activities. Any questions related to
this information can be directed to your Regional Fire Management Officer
or Sue Vap, National Fire Management Officer, at the Fire Management
Program Center in Boise, at 208/387-5225.
* * * * *
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation
and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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