NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 20, 2002
- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 20, 2002
- Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2002 09:02:14 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, June 20, 2002
INCIDENTS
02-224 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Follow-up on Fatal Canoeing Accident
D.G., 39, and his son, Q.G., 12, both of Chubbuck, Idaho, went
canoeing on Shoshone Lake on Thursday, June 6th or Friday, June 7th and
evidently overturned. Their canoe was spotted by other boaters on Friday
evening and a search was launched. The canoe was located by the crew of a
helicopter on the afternoon of the 8th and Q.G.'s body was
discovered in the lake shortly thereafter. D.G.'s body was located
in Moose Bay by the helicopter crew on the morning of June 15th, but high
winds prevented them from bringing in divers until late that evening.
D.G.'s body was found in about 18 feet of water. Searchers now believe
that the G.s probably entered the lake from their campsite, which was
only a half-mile away. Both evidently died as a consequence of cold water
immersion. The temperature of the water in Shoshone Lake is currently
between 38 and 42 degrees. Q.G.'s life jacket was only partially
attached to him; D.G. was not wearing one. [Public Affairs, YELL,
6/17]
02-249 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Volcanic Eruption
The lava eruption which started the Kupukupu Fire (see below) is continuing
to make its way to the sea. When the lava made it to within a mile of the
coast, it became evident that the visitor contact station at the end of
Chain of Craters Road was directly in its path. Park personnel using heavy
equipment were able to move the contact station and associated facilities
about a half mile away from the lava's projected route. The lava has caused
increased visitation during early evening and nighttime hours. Since
there's generally nobody working in the park after 5 p.m., the park has
gone into ICS to handle these thousands of extra nightly visitors. [Paul
Ducasse, HAVO, 6/18]
02-250 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Multiple Incidents
While in the midst of dealing with the eruption from Kilauea (above) and
the associated fire (below), the park had a number of significant law
enforcement incidents, including a high-speed pursuit of a stolen car, a
thwarted suicide, and a fatal motor vehicle accident. Louis Alana III was
arrested in Kona after he crashed a stolen vehicle following a 65-mile,
high-speed chase. The stolen vehicle was spotted by rangers outside the
park, and Alana took off when rangers attempted to stop him. The pursuit
continued on a dozen miles of highway within the park, then was turned over
to Hawaii County PD after Alana left the park. Rangers working a roadblock
for the Kupukupu Fire discovered a man from Keaau standing on the edge of
Pauahi Crater past the barricades. He was very agitated and threatened to
jump into the crater and kill himself when park personnel approached. They
determined that he was under psychiatric care by the VA and was suffering
from severe emotional distress. DR Gail Minami and special agent Jeff Judd
talked with the man for over five hours, trying to dissuade him from
jumping. During that time, he repeatedly moved toward the crater, showing
no concern for his safety. Minami and Judd were able to coax him from the
crater's edge to a point where rangers hiding in the bushes were able to
tackle and restrain him. He was taken to Hilo Hospital for psychiatric
evaluation. Finally, rangers responded to a rollover accident in which
17-year-old J.A. of Keaau was ejected from the vehicle. J.A. and
one other passenger were taken to a hospital where she subsequently died
from her injuries. The vehicle evidently hydroplaned, and J.A. was not
wearing her seatbelt. The investigation continues. [Paul Ducasse, HAVO,
6/18]
02-251 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Methamphetamine Lab Arrests
On June 7th, ranger Brad Headley observed a pickup truck driving over the
centerline on Lakeview Drive Road. Headley stopped the truck, which he
found to be occupied by three men - J.W., D.S. and
B.C. A used syringe was in plain sight; this led to a search and
the discovery of 25 grams of methamphetamine, a propane tank containing
anhydrous ammonia, a gas generator, and other chemicals and equipment
commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine. Vapors were issuing from the
generator and tank, so a DEA-approved hazardous material crew was
dispatched to cleanup the vehicle. The subsequent investigation led to the
search of a residence in the Bryson City area and the recovery of
additional chemicals and equipment used to manufacture methamphetamine. The
three men were arrested and have been indicted for manufacture and
distribution of the drug. The maximum penalty is life in prison; the
minimum penalty is ten years in jail. Rangers Tony Welch and Sam Brittain,
special agent John Mattox, and DEA, SBI and Swain County officers assisted
in the case. [John Mattox, SA, GRSM, 6/14]
02-252 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Three MVA's
Rangers handled three serious motor vehicle accidents with injuries to
visitors within an eight-hour period on June 15th. Two vehicles collided on
Newfound Gap Road near the Oconaluftee VC just after four p.m. One occupant
was transported to a medical facility in Cherokee by Cherokee Tribal EMS.
At 7 p.m., two vehicles collided head-on near the Fork Ridge trailhead on
the Clingmans Dome Road, injuring eight people. Three were transported by
helicopter - two by University of Tennessee Lifestar and one by Mission Air
Medical Ambulance out of Asheville. The other five were taken by ambulance
to University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville and Fort Sanders-Sevier
Medical Center in Sevierville. Assisting agencies included Gatlinburg FD
and EMS and Cherokee Tribal Fire and EMS. One of the injured persons is not
expected to survive. At 11:30 p.m., the operator of a motorcycle lost
control of his bike on US 441 at Beech Branch and went off the road. The
two people on the motorcycle were airlifted to UT Hospital by Lifestar.
Gatlinburg PD, FD and EMS assisted. The case rangers for these three
accidents are, respectively, Lisa Jenewein, Jonathan Holter, and Heath
Soehn. [Jack Ramsden, Comm Center, GRSM, 6/16]
[Additional reports pending?..]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation
Initial attack was moderate in southern California and light elsewhere.
Nationally, 161 new fires were reported, five of which became large fires.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas,
Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
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
Hayman Fire, Pike-San Isabel National Forest (136,000 acres, 40% contained)
- There are now THREE Type 1 teams (Vail, Fry and Raley) assigned to the
fire, which is burning in ponderosa pine and mixed conifers six miles
northwest of Lake George. Vail's team is coordinating with local officials
in El Paso County, preparing contingency and structure protection plans.
Torching, spotting and short runs were reported on the north, east and west
flanks yesterday. Busty, erratic winds and very dry fuels are posing
problems. A mandatory evacuation remains in place for about 3,570
residents. Perry Park, Loy Creek Road, Eagle Lake Campground and Farrish
Memorial were evacuated yesterday.
Missionary Ridge Fire, San Juan National Forest (53,888 acres, 25%
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 was characterized yesterday by extreme fire behavior,
significant crowning runs, torching and long-range spotting on its east,
southwest and north flanks. Crews are building indirect attack lines along
the south flank near Lemon Reservoir. Eighteen subdivisions remain
evacuated; additional evacuations were ordered in the town of Trimble
yesterday. The fire has burned 23 residences and 20 outbuildings.
Million Fire, Rio Grande National Forest (6,000 acres, 0% contained) -
Gelobter's Type 1 team is en route. This plume-dominated fire is burning
two miles south of South Fork in ponderosa pine, dead spruce, and mixed
conifers. Crowning with 300-foot flame lengths and rapid spread were
observed. Heavy initial attack is underway, including smokejumpers, crews,
engines and aircraft. Between 2,000 and 3,000 residents have been evacuated
from Willow Park, Beaver Mountain and in a 15-mile radius around South Fork
south of Highway 160.
California
Troy Fire, Cleveland NF (750 acres, 0% contained) - A CDF Type 1 team
(Haines) is assigned. Extreme fire behavior was observed yesterday as the
fire moved northeast toward Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Twelve homes
have been evacuated; three have been lost to date.
Nevada
Cannon Fire, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (21,760 acres, 15% 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. Running and torching were observed as
the fire moved south into Deep Creek.
New Mexico
Roybal/Trampas Fire, Santa Fe NF (4,300 acres, 5% contained) - Bateman's
Type 1 is managing the two fires, which are burning in ponderosa pine and
mixed conifers. Running, torching and spotting were reported on the Trampas
Fire yesterday.
For a map showing the locations of current major fires , 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.
National Resource Commitments
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
Date 6/13 6/14 6/15 6/16 6/17 6/18 6/19
Crews 310 300 324 335 349 350 351
Engines 615 718 815 736 745 786 835
Helicopters 93 100 100 119 133 114 118
Air Tankers 0 0 4 3 1 1 1
Overhead 1,995 2,189 2,179 2,483 2,596 2,427 2,509
Type 1 IMT 8 8 8 9 9 9 11
Type 2 IMT 9 7 7 7 5 2 4
Fire Use IMT 2 2 2 1 1 1 2
National Fire Warnings and Watches
NICC has issued the following for today:
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH for strong winds, low relative humidity and a high
Haines index for southwest Utah.
Park Fire Situation
Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Firefighters have finally contained the
3,660-acre Kupukupu Fire, which was started by lava issuing from the
volcano. Eighty hot shots from California and Arizona worked with 50 NPS
firefighters from Hawaiian parks for the better part of a month to contain
the fire. Six OAS-approved helicopters were used for water bucket work
along with two Army Blackhawk helicopters from the 25th Infantry Division
from Oahu.
Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - The park put fire restrictions into place on Monday
morning due to the drier than normal conditions caused by below average
precipitation. Prohibited are:
• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or any
wood or charcoal burning device outside of a developed
recreation site. Portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or
pressurized liquid fuel will still be allowed.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, at a developed recreation
site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in
diameter that is barren of all flammable material (smoking on
waterways within the park is not prohibited).
• Using fireworks within the recreation area is prohibited at all
times.
The restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
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, 6/20; Karla Norris, LAME, 6/19;
Paul Ducasse, HAVO, 6/18]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Leave Cancellation for Commissioned Rangers (SECOND NOTICE) - 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]
MEMORANDA
"Work/Rest Guidelines, Length of Assignment, and Rest and Recuperation,"
sent on June 12th by the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group at NIFC
to all geographic MAC groups. The memo provides guidance on work and rest
cycles, length of assignments and rest and recuperation for firefighters,
overhead personnel, dispatchers and other support personnel. The text of
this memo, signed by all agency fire directors, can be found on the web at
http://inside.nps.gov/fire/memos/NMAC_R-R_Work_Rest.rtf
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Washington Office, Park Facility Management Division (DC) - The office is
looking for interested candidates for a rotational 60-day detail as a
GS-13/14 housing management officer. The duty station is in Washington, and
the detail will begin on July 15th. Several candidates may be selected to
serve in this position. The person(s) selected will work directly for the
division chief and will be involved in housing program management and
housing rehabilitation. The housing management officer supervises four
staff members and a $12 million budget. This is an excellent opportunity to
gain WASO experience in a servicewide program area that is highly visible
and that touches park operations in areas such as the construction program,
repair/rehab, fee demo, asset management, Volunteers in Parks, etc. Salary,
travel and per diem will be covered by the Park Facility Management
Division. For more information, contact Donna Compton at 202-565-1270 or
via email at donna_compton@nps.gov. Interested persons should contact Dale
Wilking by June 28th via email at dale_wilking@nps.gov. Please indicate
"Housing Officer Detail" in the subject line and include a brief
description of qualifications or résumé. [Donna Compton, WASO]
* * * * *
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation
and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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