NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, August 23, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-391 - Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's (CA) - Follow-up: Major Search in
Progress

On the afternoon of August 16th, E.S., 25, an off-duty
seasonal Forest Service employee working on a frog research team in Dusy
Basin, departed his base camp for a solo climb of Mt. Winchell. E.S.
left a hand-written note in camp regarding the climb, which was found by
a co-worker. The co-worker contacted E.S. by two-way radio while he
was climbing toward the summit. E.S. told her that he'd call when he
reached the top; when she tried to reach him an hour to an hour and a
half later, though, she was unable to raise him. E.S. was reported
overdue on the morning of the 17th and a major search was begun. On
August 20th, E.S.'s body was found on the north face of Mt. Winchell.
He had fallen over a thousand feet to his death. DR Kinsey Shilling was
IC. More than 35 people participated in the search. [Lisa Meyers, PIO,
SEKI]

02-392 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Follow-up: Serious Employee
Injury

Firefighter Carly Pearson, 26, from Maryville, Tennessee, sustained a
serious back injury while on assignment to a fire in Oregon on Saturday,
August 17th. Pearson was dispatched from the Smokies to Umpqua National
Forest as a helicopter manager to help suppress what is now a
69,000-acre fire. Her injury occurred when she fell onto a rocky
riverbank. She was transported to the Rogue Valley Medical Center in
Medford, Oregon, where she underwent extensive back surgery on Tuesday
to support three fractured vertebrae in her lower back. She will remain
at the hospital for about a week before she returns to Tennessee.
Superintendent Mike Tollefson had this to say: "We feel terrible over
this tragic accident and feel personal concern over her injury and
circumstances.  Unfortunately, accidents can happen at any time, whether
on the fire line, en route, or at the fire camp.  We understand that she
is getting exceptional care and receiving great support from the
hospital, the community, and those she worked with. This severe fire
season, which started earlier than normal, has placed significant
demands on the National Park Service as well as other land management
agencies. So far about 100 Smokies employees, some of whom have been
dispatched multiple times, have assisted in fire suppression efforts in
the West. Currently, we have six employees who are involved in some
firefighting capacity and a 20-person crew is getting ready to be
dispatched and will be staged in Knoxville today (Thursday)." [Nancy
Gray, PIO, GRSM]

02-412 - National Capital Parks (DC) - MVA; OSM Employee Killed

On Monday, August 19th, S.H. from the Office of Surface Mining
at the Department of Interior was struck by a National Park Service
vehicle while crossing the street in the 1900 block of Virginia Avenue
Northwest in Washington. S.H. died later that evening of her injuries.
The accident is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police
Department. [Arnie Goldstein, Superintendent, NCP]

[Additional reports pending . . . ]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 5

Initial attack was moderate in the Rockies yesterday. Two of 150
newly-reported fires became large fires; another five were contained.
Some highlights from today's report:

*     Agner's national fire prevention and education team is working
with the Northwest MAC Group supporting an arson/prevention task force
operation in central Washington and a regional media campaign.

*     The Biscuit Fire on the Siskiyou and Six Rivers NF's has now
burned just over 490,000 acres (no significant change from yesterday)
and is 65% contained (up 5% from yesterday). Resource commitments
include 5,407 firefighters and overhead (down from 5,786 yesterday) and
three Type 1 teams (Bateman, Fry, Vail) operating under a unified
command. Morcom's Type 2 team has been ordered. Evacuations and
evacuation advisories remain in place in several areas.

*     The Battle Creek Fire on the Black Hills NF has burned 13,000
acres (up from 11,500 acres yesterday) and is 74% contained (up from 65%
yesterday). Full containment is estimated for tomorrow.

*     Minimal to moderate fire activity was reported on the Mt. Zirkel
Complex (35,554 acres) and Green Creek Fire (4,400 acres) on the Routt
National Forest in Colorado. Structures were threatened in both
locations.

*     The 148,000 McNally Fire on the Sequoia and Inyo NF's remains 87%
contained. No change from yesterday.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in the following states:

*     Continued from yesterday - Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota,
Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. 
*     Added since last report - Nebraska, South Dakota.
*     Removed since last report - New Mexico.

National Resource Commitments

Day                Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue     Wed     Thu
Date               8/15    8/16    8/17    8/18    8/19    8/20    8/21    8/22
================================================================================
                         
Crews              502     478     466     622     520     538     532     567
Engines            703     718     822     971     965     1,040   959     936
Helicopters        164     146     160     180     179     162     150     157
Air Tankers        10      8       3       3       2       0       1       1
Overhead           3,821   3,514   3,313   4,613   4,465   4,660   4,591   4,699
Area Commands      1       1       1       1       1       3       3       3
Type 1 IMT         5       5       7       7       7       8       7       7
Type 2 IMT         9       11      13      13      10      8       7       7
T1/T2 S/IMT *      1       3       5       6       6       5       3       0
Fire Use IMT       1       3       3       3       3       2       3       3
     
* Type 1 and Type 2 state incident management teams
# Information not available

National Fire Warnings and Watches

NICC has posted a FIRE WEATHER WATCH today for gusty southwest winds,
low relative humidity and dry lightning for western Utah

Park Fire Situation

Bighorn Canyon NRA (MT/WY) - Lightning struck a tree about 60 years from
a historic ranch on Wednesday but was contained.

Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - The park has instituted a ban on open
fires, effective today, due to extreme drought and high fire danger. All
open fires are prohibited on park lands, with two exceptions: Stoves
that use propane or white gas and charcoal fires in grills are still
permitted, but only in developed areas.

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - The park had six small fires (single tree or less
than a tenth of an acre) that started from lightning from a storm on
August 20th. The fires are being suppressed. The park is currently in
extreme fire danger. This increase in fire danger does not involve any
temporary restrictions or closures at this time.

Grand Teton NP (WY) - The lightning-started, quarter-acre Nature Fire
was reported at Colter Bay marina. It has been contained.

Dinosaur NM (CO) - The park has a number of small fires (single tree to
several trees) that were started by lightning on the 20th. All are under
a confinement strategy and will be monitored.

Mount Rushmore NM (SD) - The Battle Creek fire is burning about two
miles northeast of the town of Keystone on the Black Hills NF. The park
remains open. Evacuation areas are being evaluated; some previously
evacuated areas have reopened. Heavy smoke and haze is present in the
area.

Yellowstone NP (MT/WY/ID) - The Phlox Fire was mapped at 3,600 acres.
Fire spread was effectively halted by .15 inches precipitation (rain and
snow). Smoke observed on the Broad Fire was suppressed with bucket
drops.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's (CA) - The Slide Fire (35 acres) is still
active and is being managed along with another fire as wildland fire use
fires The park is increasing fire restrictions, effective today. No
campfires will be allowed below 6,000 feet except within designated
campground; no smoking will be allowed below 6,000 feet except within
vehicles, developed areas and developed campgrounds.

Additional Information

For additional information on all fires, check the following web sites:

Map of fire locations - http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/firemap.html 
Details on all current major fires - http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf 
Fire news and fire year in perspective - http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html. 

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report; Warren Bielenberg, Fire
Information Desk, NIFC]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Colonial NHP (VA) - The park has an opening for a GS-0560-9/11 budget
analyst. The vacancy announcement number COLO-02-14; the closing date is
September 15th. The budget analyst is the technical and administrative
expert in the budget and finance functions at the park and also assists
with purchasing up to the $10,000 per single purchase level. Colonial
National Historical Park is located in southeastern Virginia on the
peninsula formed by the James and York Rivers. It is composed of two
sizable areas, Jamestown Island and the Yorktown Battlefield, which are
connected by the 23-mile-long Colonial Parkway.  The area commemorates
the first permanent English settlement in North America and the last
major engagement of the American Revolution. Williamsburg, Newport News,
and Hampton are cities that are nearby and provide a wide variety of
rental units and residences for sale or rent, as well as other municipal
services, including public and private schools, colleges, and
universities.  Listed communities also contain a wide range of medical
and dental services; many arts and cultural organizations; entertainment
and recreation; and a wide variety of shopping centers and malls. If you
have questions, please call Sue Cooper at 757-898-2404. [Patty Tremblay,
COLO]

*  *  *  *  *

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

--- ### ---