NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, June 25, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, June 25, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-258 - Voyageurs NP (MN) - Assault Arrest

A potentially tragic event was averted on the night of June 20th at the
West Kabetogama Lake boat launch due to the quick and professional response
by rangers Kevin Grossheim and Chuck Remus. Grossheim was contacted just
before 10 p.m. by a woman banging on his window, asking for help. She said
that a man at the nearby boat ramp had threatened her family with a gun and
threatened to shoot her husband. The family included several small children
and an infant. Grossheim responded after requesting backup from Remus and
other officers. Grossheim found a man in his mid-50s at the wheel of his
truck preparing to leave the area. There was one passenger with him. The
man was known to have a history of assaults, public intoxication,
restraining orders, and threats to rangers. He looked, smelled and acted
like he was under the influence and was quite agitated and verbally
abusive. Grossheim kept him in the truck and ordered the passenger to
remain where he could be seen until backup arrived, but the passenger fled.
When Remus and officers from four other agencies arrived, they removed the
man from his truck, handcuffed and searched him, and took him to the
visitor center for an intoxilyzer test. An empty handgun holster was found
in the truck, but the weapon was not located. The man became increasingly
combative and uncooperative and repeatedly threatened to kill Grossheim and
an assisting DNR conservation officer. At one point, he broke free from the
conservation officer, lunged at Remus, and kicked him forcefully. Remus was
uninjured and the officers regained control of the man. The man repeatedly
threatened to kill Grossheim and an assisting officer, attempted to kick at
the officers, and refused the intoxilyzer test. He was arrested and locked
up in the county jail and is facing numerous state and federal charges,
including DUI, assault, and terroristic threats. Charges against the
passenger are also possible. One of the young children in the threatened
family continues to remain fearful that the man will show up and kill her
grandfather. [James Hummel, VOYA, 6/23]

[Additional reports pending?..]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 5

Moderate initial attack was reported yesterday in the Rockies, Southwest
and northern California; there was little activity elsewhere. Three of the
168 new fires reported grew into 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 (21000 acres, 0% contained) - Two Type 1
teams (Humphrey and Bateman) are assigned. The wind- and fuel-driven fire
is burning in ponderosa pine, juniper and brush. Extreme fire behavior
continues to be reported. Crews are burning out from Cottonwood Canyon to
Highway 60. Show Low, Pinedale, Lakeside, Clay Springs, Pinetop, Hon Dah,
Linden and surrounding areas remain evacuated. Another 45 residences have
been lost.

Chediski Fire, Fort Apache Agency (121,340 acres, 0% contained) - Dash's
Type 1 team is managing the fire; Martin's Type 1 team has been ordered.
Steady southwest winds caused intense activity, including crowning and
long-range spotting. Another 15 homes have burned.

Colorado

Missionary Ridge Fire, San Juan National Forest (66,310 acres, 30%
contained) - A Type 1 team (Bennett) is assigned. The fire is burning 15
miles northeast of Durango in gambel's oak, ponderosa pine and mixed
conifers. The fire was extremely active on its northern, northeastern,
eastern and southwestern flanks yesterday. It's moving south toward Highway
250 in Woodward Canyon. Crews are burning out on the western and northern
flanks. Ten subdivisions remain evacuated; 1,145 residences are threatened.

Hayman Fire, Pike-San Isabel National Forest (137,000 acres, 70% 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.
Crews are constructing line, rehabilitating areas, and mopping up. About
1,300 people remain evacuated. Another 18 structures have been reported
lost.

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

                  Tue   Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun   Mon
Date              6/18  6/19  6/20  6/21  6/22  6/23  6/24

Crews             350   351   409   377   365   289   293
Engines           786   835   832   867   798   630   553
Helicopters       114   118   118   112   109   106   98
Air Tankers       1     1     2     0     1     1     0
Overhead          2,427 2,509 2,531 2,639 2,369 2,172 2,400
Type 1 IMT        9     11    11    10    10    10    10
Type 2 IMT        2     4     4     2     2     4     4
Fire Use IMT            1     2     2     3     2     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, 6/25]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Death Valley NP (CA) - The park has issued an announcement for a full-time
GS-1101-7/11 concessions management specialist. The person hired will
administer the concessions management and special park uses programs and
serve as the superintendent's primary representative on all concessions and
other permitted activity management issues. The park has concessions at
Stovepipe Wells, Scotty's Castle and Furnace creek. In-park housing may be
available by bid. For more information, contact Mary E. Davis at
760-786-3274. [Mary Davis, DEVA]

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

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