NPS Morning Report - Monday, June 24, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, June 24, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-255 - Denali NP (AK) - Climbing Accident with Three Fatalities

On Monday, June 17th, rangers confirmed the deaths of brothers K.S.,
27, of Anchorage, T.S., 21, of Wasilla, and C.S.,
15, of Eagle River, Alaska. The brothers began their climb of the
17,400-foot peak on June 11th. Their last reported contact was made by CB
radio on June 13th, when the climbers reported their location at
10,500-feet on Mt. Foraker.  Although the climbers were not overdue, a
pilot with the group's air taxi flew over Southeast Ridge on June 16th. The
pilot did not see the climbers, but noticed evidence of avalanche activity
in the area.  On June 17th, base camp personnel notified NPS staff at the
Talkeetna Ranger Station that they were concerned about the climbers. At
3:30 p.m., the park dispatched a Lama helicopter with two NPS rangers to
search for them. The rangers found tracks near the 10,500-foot elevation of
Mt. Foraker. The bodies, still roped together, were found at approximately
4:40 p.m. on a slope at 8,500 feet. It's not known what triggered the fall.
The bodies were recovered from the mountain on Monday evening with the Lama
helicopter. [Doug Stockdale, PIO, DENA, 6/20]

02-256 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon NPs (CA) - Plant Poaching

Rangers and the park's special agent contacted a group of family members on
the morning of May 29th after they were observed collecting plants in the
Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park. The four individuals, all of
Korean descent, had several plastic trash type bags filled with fiddleneck
fern shoots. The weight of the plants, found in their van, totaled 140
pounds, with each plant averaging approximately four to eight ounces. One
member of the family spoke a little English; the others spoke none at all.
He said that the fern shoots were collected for personal consumption and
not for commercial use. One individual admitted to owning a Korean
restaurant in the Los Angeles area and said that the fern shoots, known to
the Korean community as "kosari", are served in some Korean restaurants.
Two of the group members are Korean nationals and indications are that they
planned on taking some of the plants with them to Korea. They were
scheduled to depart within a week of being contacted. All family members
were cited for possession of plants. The two naturalized citizens were
given mandatory appearance citations. [Al DeLaCruz, SA, SEKI, 6/18]

02-257 - Castillo de San Marcos NM (FL) - Special Event: VIP Visit

On Monday, June 17th, former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno made a
campaign swing through St. Augustine and visited the park. Reno is the
leading Democratic candidate for governor of Florida and is expected to
oppose incumbent Governor Jeb Bush in November. Superintendent Gordie
Wilson escorted Reno, who also holds the distinction of serving the longest
term as U.S. Attorney General.  Security was provided by NPS rangers and
the St. Augustine Police Department. [Gordon Wilson, CASA, 6/18]

[Additional reports pending?..]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 5

Initial attack was heavy throughout the Rockies and moderate in northern
California on Sunday. One hundred new fires were reported, three of which
became large fires.

Three MAC groups and two area command teams 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. Mann's
area command team is managing the Hayman Fire; Ribar's area command team is
managing the Rodeo and  Chediski Fires.

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

Significant national fires include:

Arizona

Rodeo Fire, Fort Apache Agency (205,000 acres, 0% contained) - Two Type 1
teams (Humphrey and Bateman) are assigned. Extreme fire behavior and
long-range spotting were observed as the fire advanced north, east and
west. Crews constructed indirect lines in Cottonwood Canyon in preparation
for a burnout. Bulldozers and crews are creating defensible space around
threatened structures. Show Low, Pinedale, Lakeside, Clay Springs, Pinetop,
Hon Dah, Linden and surrounding populated areas remain evacuated; 115
structures have been lost so far. Highways 260 and 277 are closed.

Chediski Fire, Fort Apache Agency (100,000 acres, 0% contained) -
Management of the fire has been transferred from Kvale's Type 2 team to
Dash's Type 1 team; Martin's Type 1 team has been ordered. The leading
edges of the Rodeo and Chediski fires joined along Highway 277 yesterday
and the fires are drawing together near Highway 260. Steady southwest winds
caused the fire to be active yesterday, with crowning and long-range
spotting reported in the afternoon. The front reached Overgaard on Saturday
evening, but firefighters were able to successfully save numerous
structures. Burnout operations are underway south of Heber, and crews are
constructing indirect lines on the southeast flank, tying in to the Rodeo
fire. Heber, Overgaard and Forest Lakes remain evacuated; 60 residences, 25
businesses and 40 outbuildings have been lost.

Colorado

Missionary Ridge Fire, San Juan National Forest (63,466 acres, 30%
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 short intense runs,
torching and spotting on the north, west and southwest flanks. The fire is
moving south toward Highway 250 in the Kroger and Haflin Canyons. Crews are
building direct attack lines. Ten subdivisions remain evacuated, and
additional evacuations are currently underway.

Hayman Fire, Pike-San Isabel National Forest (137,000 acres, 45% contained)
- Two Type 1 teams (Fry and Raley) assigned to the fire, which is burning
in ponderosa pine and mixed conifers six miles northwest of Lake George.
The fire exhibited only moderate activity yesterday. Crews are improving
lines and mopping up on the north, south and east flanks. Spike camps and
helispot locations have been identified on the west flank in the Lost Creek
Wilderness and construction will begin today. About 2,400 residents remain
evacuated. Residents of Douglas County, Perry Park, Trumble and Deckers
have been allowed to return home.

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

                  Mon   Tue   Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun
Date              6/17  6/18  6/19  6/20  6/21  6/22  6/23

Crews             349   350   351   409   377   365   289
Engines           745   786   835   832   867   798   630
Helicopters       133   114   118   118   112   109   106
Air Tankers       1     1     1     2     0     1     1
Overhead          2,596 2,427 2,509 2,531 2,639 2,369 2,172
Type 1 IMT        9     9     11    11    10    10    10
Type 2 IMT        5     2     4     4     2     2     4
Fire Use IMT            1     1     2     2     3     2     2

National Fire Warnings and Watches

NICC has not issued any watches or warnings for today.

Park Fire Situation

No fires reported.

Park Fire Danger

Not available.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/22-24]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Uniform Program Update - The new NPS uniform shorts are now available on
the VF Solutions web page. [Randy Coffman, WASO]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Pinnacles NM (CA) - The park has issued announcements for four positions:

•     Permanent full-time botanist (PGSO-02-139-DEU/MPP), closing on June
24th
•     Permanent full-time WG-4749-8/9 water treatment mechanic
(PGSO-02-142-DEU/MPP), closing on July 8th
•     Term budget technician (PGSO-02-140-DEU), closing on July 3rd

For more information, contact Lori Frusetta via email or at 831-389-4485
ext. 227.

                               *  *  *  *  *

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

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