NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, July 30, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, July 30, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-341 - Voyageurs NP (MN) - PWC Pursuit

A lengthy international pursuit of two jet skiers operating illegally in
the park took place on the afternoon of July 15th. Ranger Karl Spilde was
contacted by interpretive rangers when two jet skis passed the park tour
boat at the west end of the park. Spilde placed his marked patrol boat
within a narrow passage ahead of the jet skis and attempted to stop the
operators - two young adult males with three young adult female passengers.
The operators disregarded Spilde's orders and continued further into the
park. Spilde continued his pursuit for about 30 miles and requested air
support from the park aircraft. Due to the high speed of the PWC's, the jet
skiers were able to reach a remote island before Spilde, drop off their
passengers, and return. They passed Spilde and twice pulled ashore at
cabins within Canadian waters as the park aircraft, piloted by Tom Hablett,
followed them. When they say the plane, they returned to park waters and
the pursuit resumed. Although the PWC's were operated at speeds estimated
to be in excess of 60 mph, the operators were nonetheless able to entertain
Hablett with hand gestures as they raced along the water. The 80-mile
pursuit ended when the operators pulled into a Canadian marina and moored
there, preventing Spilde from contacting them. Canadian and U.S. customs
officials were notified during the pursuit, but were unable to provide
support. A subsequent plain clothes site visit by the chief ranger led to
verification of the operators' identities and jet ski registrations. They
reentered U.S. waters late that evening and were greeted by a Border Patrol
agent. Charges are pending for illegal operations and violating a lawful
order. U.S. customs and immigration officials have declined to take action
against the pair for their illegal entries into American waters. [Jim
Hummel, VOYA]

[Additional reports pending. . . . ]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 5

Initial attack was light across the nation. Of 132 new fires reported, two
became large fires - one of them a major fire in Mesa Verde National Park
(see below). Another two large fires were contained.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California,
Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South
Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Three area command teams are in the field - Mann's team has been assigned
to southeast Oregon to manage the large fires there, the Williams-Rhodes
team is assigned to management of large fires on the Malheur and Ochoco
National Forests in Oregon, and Ribar's team is managing fires in southwest
Oregon.

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

                  Sun   Mon   Tue   Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun   Mon
Date              7/21  7/22  7/23  7/24  7/25  7/26  7/27  7/28  7/29

Crews             520   568   646   674   628   658   651   682   670
Engines           1,013 1,175 1,057 1,078 1,012 1,021 1,040 1,024 1,089
Helicopters       147   153   175   197   153   175   187   175   174
Air Tankers       7     13    13    15    10    10    10    4     13
Overhead          4,830 4,391 4,320 4,887 4,546 4,378 4,591 5,284 5,013
Area Commands     2     2     3     3     3     3     3     3     3
Type 1 IMT        11    10    11    10    9     6     6     9     9
Type 2 IMT        14    12    14    15    13    14    14    11    11
T1/T2 S/IMT *     4     4     4     3     4     4     3     3     5
Fire Use IMT            1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1

* Type 1 and Type 2 state incident management teams
# Information not available

National Fire Warnings and Watches

NIFC has issued a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for dry lightning and gusty winds for
south central and southeast Montana.

Park Fire Situation

Mesa Verde NP  - The Long Mesa Fire, a lightning-caused holdover fire,
broke out yesterday afternoon and had burned about 1,400 acres as of early
today. The fire is terrain and fuel driven and plume dominated (the fire is
creating its own weather). It has burned through the headquarters and old
CCC areas; four residences and three commercial properties are confirmed
lost, and a dozen more are threatened. The park has been closed and
evacuated. Utilities have been lost. Sisk's Type 2 team has been ordered
and should be on scene tonight. Helicopters, air tankers and initial attack
firefighters will be utilized today. The current ICP is in Morefield
Campground. A CISD team may be ordered. More details will be posted as they
become available.

Redwood NP - The Sour Biscuit Fire, which began in the Siskiyou National
Forest in Oregon, has now burned six miles into California and is just
north of the park. Structural fire protection is in place for two
communities to the northeast of the park, Hiouchi and Gasquet. There is no
immediate threat to Redwood N&SP.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/30]

                               *  *  *  *  *

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

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