NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, June 19, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, June 19, 2002

                              *** NOTICE ***

Please see "Operational Notes" for an important message to all commissioned
rangers.

INCIDENTS

02-245 - San Juan NHP (PR) - Archeological Theft

Arrest warrants were issued last week for D.M. and J.F. for
theft of artifacts from El Morro fortress. The warrants were issued after a
grand jury returned a six-count indictment against the two men. J.F. was
hired by the park to clean up the fort. He allegedly entered a little-known
passageway, where he discovered some items dating back to the 16th century.
He subsequently sent D.M., a subcontractor, to recover the items - a lead
bar with a carved inscription on one side dating to 1550-1660, two lead
Enfield .557 type bullets dating to 1850-1865, and two .69 caliber ball
shots. [The San Juan Star, 6/12, via SERO]

02-246 - Big South Fork NRRA (KY/TN) - Rescue

Lifeguard Matt Harris was working at the Bandy Creek Pool on the afternoon
of June 11th when he spotted a child lying on the bottom of the pool. He
jumped in and brought the child to the surface, where he coughed up water
and began breathing on his own. The two-year-old boy, later identified as
E.H., had slipped away from his mother's attention while playing in
the baby pool and jumped into the adult pool. The water was approximately
three-and-a-half feet deep and over his head. E.H. was unable to swim
and had just gone under when Harris saw him. E.H.'s mother then took him
home after thanking Harris. (Frank Graham, BISO, CR, 6/13)

02-247 - Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - Water Pollution Arrest

On June 11th, Park Police marine officers noticed that "The Sunset Queen,"
a dinner cruise vessel moored 300 yards off Canarsie Pier in Jamaica Bay,
had a two-inch PVC discharge pipe extending from its side near the location
of the boat's head (toilet). A large slick of sludge was found in the water
adjacent to the vessel. Water samples and photographs were taken, and the
captain of the vessel was subsequently arrested by USPP sergeant Grant
Arthur  and charged with illegally discharging waste into park waters. The
vessel had been operating in conjunction with an NPS concessioner
restaurant on the pier and had been cited for numerous violations of that
concession agreement in the recent past. [Lt. John Marigliano, USPP/NYFO,
6/13]

02-248 - Boston NHP (MA) - Pedestrian Fatality

On June 12th, a resident living adjacent to the Bunker Hill Monument was
struck and killed by a contracted City of Boston street sweeper. The
accident occurred in Monument Square, which is located within the boundary
of the park. The resident, 83-year-old A.C., was walking home from
her car, which was parked nearby. Boston PD is investigating. The victim is
the grandmother of one of the park's protection rangers. [Glenn Van Neil,
SA, BOST, 6/12]

[Additional reports pending?..]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Initial attack was moderate in southern California on Tuesday and light
elsewhere. Nationally, 342 new fires were reported. Three of these became
large fires; four other large fires were contained. Very high to extreme
fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado,
Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and
Wyoming.

A Hawkins and Powers Aviation C-130A air tanker on contract with the United
States Forest Service crashed on Monday while assigned to the Cannon fire
near Walker, California. The three crew members aboard were fatally
injured.

Three MAC groups are now in place: Priorities for large fires in the
Southwest, the Rockies and the Great Basin are being established by the
multi-agency coordinating groups for those areas. An area command team
(Mann) has been assigned to manage the Hayman fire.
Significant national fires include:

Colorado

Missionary Ridge Fire, San Juan National Forest (44,320 acres, 40%
contained) - A Type 1 team (Melton) is assigned. The fire is burning 15
miles northeast of Durango in gambel's oak, ponderosa pine and mixed
conifers. The fire exhibited extreme behavior yesterday - crowning runs,
torching and long-range spotting on the east, southwest and north flanks.
Air tanker operations were suspended due to high winds. Eighteen
subdivisions south of Lemon and Vallecito Reservoirs remain evacuated.
Additional evacuations were ordered yesterday on the southwest portion of
the fire in the Missionary Ridge subdivision and the community of Trimble.

Hayman Fire, Pike-San Isabel National Forest (115,000 acres, 40% contained)
- Two Type 1 teams (Fry 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 was characterized yesterday by torching, short runs and
spotting on the northern flank, and by extreme fire behavior on the east
and southeast flanks. A mandatory evacuation is in place for 5,000
residents. The northern portion of Woodland Park was evacuated yesterday.

California

Bluecut, San Bernadino NF (7,041 acres, 25% contained) - A unified command
has been established among Studebaker's Type 1 team, the San Bernadino
County FD, and CDF. The fire was extremely active yesterday, burning in
heavy chaparral. Residents from the communities of Oakhills and Baldy Mesa
have been allowed to return to their homes, but another 500 structures are
threatened - as are power lines, natural gas and liquid fuel pipelines, and
communications sites. Voluntary evacuations have occurred in Summit Valley
and Summit Estates; livestock are being removed from Silverwood.

Sudden Ranch Fire, Vandenberg AFB (7,384 acres, 75% contained) - A CDF Type
1 team (Maner) is assigned. The fire is burning in heavy brush six miles
west of Lompoc. Significant progress has been made toward containment.

Nevada

Cannon Fire, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (15,000 acres, 10% contained) - A Type 1
team (Stutler) is managing the fire, which is burning in sage, ponderosa
pine and mixed conifers 25 miles northwest of Bridgeport, California, in a
Marine winter warfare training area. Extreme behavior was reported
yesterday. The fire burned on four fronts yesterday afternoon and made a
major run to the north and east. Firefighting efforts are impeded by
unfavorable winds, low relative humidity, a high Haines index and extremely
dry fuels. Camp Antelope and numerous residences east of Highway 395 remain
evacuated, and the town of Wellington is threatened. Members of the NTSB
have arrived to investigate the fatal air tanker crash noted above.

New Mexico

Roybal/Trampas Fire, Santa Fe NF (2,800 acres, 5% contained) - Bateman's
Type 1 is managing the two fires, which are burning in ponderosa pine and
mixed conifers. The Trampas Fire made a major run yesterday. Structure
protection is in place for the 450 residences threatened by that fire. The
Roybal Fire is being mopped up.

National Resource Commitments

                  Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun   Mon   Tue
Date              6/12  6/13  6/14  6/15  6/16  6/17  6/18

Crews             292   310   300   324   335   349   350
Engines           467   615   718   815   736   745   786
Helicopters       85    93    100   100   119   133   114
Air Tankers       2     0     0     4     3     1     1
Overhead          1,785 1,995 2,189 2,179 2,483 2,596 2,427
Type 1 IMT        6     8     8     8     9     9     9
Type 2 IMT        9     9     7     7     7     5     2
Fire Use IMT            2     2     2     2     1     1     1

National Fire Warnings and Watches

NICC has issued the following for today:

A RED FLAG WARNING for very low relative humidity, gusty winds and a high
Haines index for central and southeastern Colorado.
A RED FLAG WARNING for isolated dry lightning in the eastern Uinta
Mountains in Utah.
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for isolated dry lightning, gusty winds and low
relative humidity in northwestern Colorado.

Park Fire Situation

Appalachian NST (GA-ME) - A segment of the Appalachian Trail in the James
River Face Wilderness Area in Virginia remains closed due to fires burning
in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

Park Fire Danger

Not available.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/18-19]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Leave Cancellation for Commissioned Rangers - Effective July 1st, annual
leave for all commissioned National Park Service law enforcement personnel
is cancelled through July 7, 2002. This order is being given for a number
of reasons, including the high state of preparedness and resource demands
being brought on by the current and predicted wildland fire situation as
well as a significant need for protection resources to meeting our homeland
security commitment.  We are currently at planning level IV in the NPS
National Emergency Response Plan, which provides for the cancellation of
leave. There are a number of special events that are planned around the
country in units of the national park system that are calling for
additional resources, and we are committed to providing as many rangers as
possible while ensuring that parks continue to remain open and operational.
Exceptions to the cancellation of leave may be approved on a case-by-case
basis by individual park superintendents for legitimate emergencies.  Thank
you for your continued support and dedication. [Deputy Directors Randy
Jones and Donald Murphy, 6/18]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Rock Creek Park (DC) - The park has posted an all-sources announcement for
a GS-0028-11 environmental protection specialist. It opens on Thursday,
June 20th. This will be a challenging position in a park that combines the
best of both worlds - a thriving forest ecosystem in dynamic urban
surroundings.  We are looking for a candidate who can deal with the
numerous agencies and private contractors that interact with the park or
need to perform work within the park and who knows NEPA regulations and
policy. Speaking Spanish is a definite plus.  Interested persons should
contact chief ranger Laura Illige at 202-895-6010.  (Laura Illige, CR,
ROCR)

                               *  *  *  *  *

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

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