NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 28, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, June 28, 2002

                              *** NOTICE ***

Due to a gremlin somewhere in the electronic netherworld, the Morning
Report didn't make it to the NPS web site on the first try yesterday. Nor
on the second try. With a little intercession from the webmaster, we
managed to get it up on the third effort in mid-afternoon.

INCIDENTS

02-267 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Helicopter Crash During Rescue; No
Injuries

A Jet Ranger 206B3 helicopter crashed on Mount Rainier on June 25th during
the rescue of a 19-year-old climber injured by falling rock on the
demanding and difficult Liberty Ridge route. The incident began around 8:30
a.m. when an eighteen-inch boulder that had probably been dislodged by
melting ice fell and hit J.W. in the head, smashing his climbing
helmet. He then fell about 100 feet, suffering neck lacerations and
possible head and/or spinal injuries. His father, the team leader, and the
other climber administered EMT-level first aid until climbing rangers were
flown in via a Chinook helicopter. Because the accident site was steep and
still subject to frequent rockfall and a helicopter could not safely
extract J.W., the decision was made to insert another team of climbing
rangers to lower J.W. to the Carbon Glacier, where they could more
safely be extracted by the Chinook. As the second team of two was being
transported to the site, the Jet Ranger crashed, landing nose-down on the
glacier at 8,800 feet. Remarkably, neither the pilot nor either of his two
passengers - climbing ranger Chris Olson and RMI guide Dave Hahn - was
hurt. Olson and Hahn continued with their mission, climbing to J.W. to
assist with the rescue. By 9:45 p.m., J.W. and his rescuers had all
been safely hoisted off the mountain. Probably due to the five recent
climbing deaths in the park and the recent helicopter crash on nearby Mount
Hood, regional media interest was high. Rick Kirschner was IC. An
investigation into the accident by OAS and the NPS is underway. The
investigators were unable to fly to the site of the damaged helicopter as
planned on Wednesday, but were hoping to reach the site yesterday. [Maria
Gillett, PIO, and Patti Wold, Acting PIO, MORA, 6/26]

02-268 - Voyageurs NP (MN) - Flooding

Due to rainfall in the month of June that has been almost three times
normal, water levels on Rainy Lake in Voyageurs have reached their highest
levels in 52 years and continue to climb. The lake is partially within park
boundaries and partially within Canada. There has been extensive flooding
on both sides of the border, including International Falls, Minnesota, and
Fort Frances, Ontario, and downstream along Lake of the Woods. Rainy Lake
is almost two feet above flood stage and numerous facilities and buildings
in the park and surrounding communities are incurring water damage. The
local communities have been declared federal disaster areas. Preliminary
flood damage reports by the park show damage to boat docks, hiking trails,
and boat harbor fuel dispensing stations at Kettle Falls and the Rainy Lake
Visitor Center. In addition, sinkholes are developing in flooded parking
lots and visitor access drives.  A hillside washout has occurred and debris
has been removed from the roadway and ditch area on the park's Ash River
entrance road. Numerous navigational buoy markers have floated off
established boat channel lanes, making boating difficult.  Park staff are
stabilizing docks, campsites, fueling facilities, and navigational aids and
assisting local communities with sandbagging efforts. Local media interest
is high. Assessments of damages cannot be completed until the levels peak
and then recede, which may take weeks.  Significant manpower committed to
emergency operations, as well as the water levels, are impacting
large-project work and normal operations. [Barbara West, Superintendent,
VOYA, 6/26]

02-269 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Search

A mother and daughter were reported as overdue hikers in the Carbon River
area on the evening of Sunday, June 23rd. According to the woman's husband,
the pair had gone hiking along the river with their pet dog on Sunday
afternoon. Rangers were notified at 10 p.m.; they conducted hasty searches
throughout the night, but without luck. A search with a tracking dog was
scheduled to get underway the next morning when the mother, daughter and
dog walked out of the woods and contacted park staff. All were okay.
According to the husband, his wife often visited this area and parked at
odd locations (other than trailheads) so that she wouldn't be seen with her
dog while in the park. [Uwe Nehring, MORA, 6/26]

02-270 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Double Suicide Attempt; Rescue

A couple from Bonney Lake, Washington, left their home on the morning of
June 24th and drove to Chinook Pass to find a location to drive over a
cliff and commit suicide. The driver left the road at milepost 67.5 and
crashed through a snow bank. The car rolled over, crashed into the snow
slope below, then slid another 50 feet downslope. Alcohol and sleeping
pills were on board. The two were extricated from the vehicle by rangers
and local VFD personnel and flown to Providence Hospital in Yakima. Both
are in stable condition and undergoing evaluation by mental health
professionals. A series of financial setbacks prompted them to make the
suicide attempt. [Uwe Nehring, MORA, 6/26]

02-271 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Sexual Assault

On the afternoon of June 21st, a 911 call came into the park reporting that
a partially-nude woman was running down the parkway, screaming for help,
and that she was being chased by a partially-nude man. Rangers and officers
from several agencies responded, but couldn't find either party. A short
time later, A.B.H. called park dispatch, provided a
statement about the incident, and agreed to wait at his office until
rangers and Buncombe County deputies could arrive. The initial
investigation was headed by the park. Meanwhile, information was received
that the woman had been taken to an area hospital by a passing motorist.
Later that evening, A.B.H. directed rangers to a crime scene that was off
park land, so the case shifted to the sheriff's office. A.B.H. was arrested
by county detectives the next day and charged with rape in the second
degree. A follow-up investigation revealed that the sexual assault had
actually taken place in the park. Since A.B.H. had been charged in the
state system and the park and state have concurrent jurisdiction, the
charges were allowed to stand. A.B.H. is a private provider of therapy and
counseling for emotional and mental health issues; the victim is a
professional associate. Mike Clarke is the case ranger. [John Garrison,
LES, BLRI, 6/25]

02-272 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Theft

A local woman attempted to make a purchase from the Mabery Mill gift shop
on March 24th. Included in the purchase were 16 pieces of jewelry ranging
in price from $35 to $100 each. After the credit card she attempted to use
was rejected, the woman grabbed the jewelry and fled in her vehicle. The
clerk was able to get the license plate number. Ranger Greg Johnson
responded and found the woman at her home. According to the woman's
husband, she had been off the medication she was taking for mental illness
for some time and refused to take it. All of the merchandise, valued at
$800, was recovered. Discussions are underway with the concessioner and
AUSA on whether or not to charge the woman. Prosecution may be waived if
she agrees to enter a mental health program. [John Garrison, LES, BLRI,
6/25]

02-273 - Cape Lookout NS (NC) - ATV Accident with Fatality

W.O. of Molena, Georgia, and friend D.G. of Wake Forest,
North Carolina, were seen operating their ATV's on the ocean beach of South
Core Banks just after 8 p.m. on June 22nd. D.G. looked back as he
crossed several washes in the beach and saw W.O.'s ATV flip and land on
him. D.G. removed the ATV from W.O., began CPR, and had a rider from
his ATV summon help from a cabin camp several miles down the beach. W.O.
was flown to Carteret County Hospital by a Marine Corps medevac helicopter,
where he was pronounced DOA. [Wouter Ketel, CR, CALO, 6/25]

[Additional reports pending...]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 5

There was moderate initial attack yesterday in the Rockies, Great Basin,
California and Northwest. Of the 199 new starts reported, two became large
fires.

Three MAC groups and three 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; Chesley's area is managing the
Missionary Ridge fire.

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

Significant national fires include:

Arizona

Rodeo/Chediski Complex, Fort Apache Agency (417,000 acres, 10% contained) -
Four Type 1 teams (Dash, Martin, Humphrey and Bateman) are assigned. The
fire was very active yesterday, with flanking and aggressive backing
against the wind. The fire spotted across containment lines on the
southwest flank in the Carrizo and Cibecue areas. Firefighters were
redeployed and are now constructing indirect attack lines in preparation
for a burnout. Crews were successful in holding the east flank in
Cottonwood Canyon and along Highway 60, preventing fire spread into
Pinetop, Lakeside and communities to the east. A secondary line north and
west of Cibecue is complete and burnout operations are underway. Show Low
and other previously listed towns remain evacuated. Resources committed:
4,323 firefighters and overhead personnel, including 109 crews; 239
engines; 19 helicopters.

Colorado

Missionary Ridge Fire, San Juan National Forest (70,812 acres, 30%
contained) - Two Type 1 teams (Bennett and Hart) are assigned. Isolated
torching and moderate fire behavior were observed yesterday. Crews are
constructing lines and burning out the southwest flank of Missionary Ridge;
others are patrolling and mopping up in divisions with completed lines. A
temporary evacuation of homes north of Vallecito Reservoir occurred
yesterday due to fire growth and erratic winds. Nine subdivisions remain
evacuated. Resources committed: 1,706 firefighters and overhead personnel,
including 37 crews; 160 engines; 11 helicopters.

Hayman Fire, Pike-San Isabel National Forest (137,000 acres, 90% contained)
- A Type 1 team (Frye) is assigned to the fire; Lohrey's Type 1 team will
take over today. Crews are improving and rehabilitating lines and mopping
up on the north, south and east flanks. Residents of Trout Creek, West
Creek and Painted Rocks were allowed to return to their homes yesterday.
Reoccupation of evacuated areas is nearly complete. Resources committed:
1,091 firefighters and overhead personnel, including 23 crews; 54 engines;
10 helicopters.

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

                  Fri   Sat   Sun   Mon   Tue   Wed   Thu
Date              6/21  6/22  6/23  6/24  6/25  6/26  6/27

Crews             377   365   289   293   281   327   364
Engines           867   798   630   553   532   757   869
Helicopters       112   109   106   98    102   116   131
Air Tankers       0     1     1     0     0     0     5
Overhead          2,639 2,369 2,172 2,400 2,271 2,590 3.003
Type 1 IMT        10    10    10    10    10    9     9
Type 2 IMT        2     2     4     4     5     6     6
Fire Use IMT            3     2     2     2     2     2     1

National Fire Warnings and Watches

NICC has not issued any warnings or watches for today.

Park Fire Situation

Dinosaur NM (CO) - The Bear Fire (1,000 acres, 0% contained) is burning in
well-grazed sagebrush and pinyon-juniper forest along both sides of the
Yampa Bench road in the east portion of the park. There is currently no
threat of it burning off park lands. Suppression operations are being
coordinated through the Craig Interagency Dispatch Center; at last report,
49 people (including a Theodore Roosevelt NP Type 2 crew and a Modoc
interagency hotshot crew) and a helicopter were committed. Firefighters
expect to contain the blaze within natural barriers on the north side and
through fire lines on the south side. The cause of the fire is not known,
as there's been no lightning in the past seven days. Bob Panko is IC.

Yellowstone NP (WY) - The park reports five lightning-caused fires - one
out, three staffed, and the fifth on a peninsula in Yellowstone Lake that
is to be suppressed this morning. All are burning in old, light, dead
material and are surrounded by 1988 burn areas. No problems are
anticipated.

Shenandoah NP (VA) - The Rockytop Fire (900 acres, 100% contained) has been
fully contained. Thunderstorms again moved over the area yesterday
afternoon, dropping heavy rain on the fire. Forty firefighters remain
committed to the fire, but two helicopters and about forty other
firefighters have been released. No structures are threatened. Skyline
Drive remains open, but the following trails have been closed - Brown
Mountain, Rocky Mountain Run, Big Run Portal, Patterson Ridge, Big Run
Loop, Madison Run Spur, Rockytop, Austin Mountain and Lewis Peak.

Park Fire Danger

Not available.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/28; Brad Cella, NPS/NIFC,
6/28; Lyn Rothgeb, SHEN, 6/27; Art Latterell, IMRO, 6/28; Debee Schwarz,
WASO, 6/28]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Washington Office - The vacancy announcement for the director of the Fire
and Aviation Division is being re-advertised. Those who previously applied
(vacancy NPS WASO-02-025) must reapply for consideration. The WASO position
will be filled at the GS-14 or GS-15 (full performance) level. A relocation
or recruitment bonus may be considered by management when filling the
position. The vacancy announcement (NPS WASO-02-058 ) closes on August
30th.  For a copy of the announcement, go to
http://jsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/summary.asp?OPMControl=IE3470. [Debee
Schwartz, WASO]

                               *  *  *  *  *

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

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