Notice
Effective this morning, the web edition of the Morning Report is
coming to you in a new and friendlier format. Additional details will
appear in the future on the interrelationship between this page and
InsideNPS, the National Park Service home page that is accessible only
to NPS employees (the Morning Report web page remains open to all
interested readers, whether within the agency or outside of it). In the
meanwhile, it seems like a good time to reiterate the standards for
submitting incidents to the Morning Report. Please see "Operational
Notes" below.
INCIDENTS
02-441
Death Valley National Park (CA)
Heat-Related Fatality
The park had its third heat-related fatality and second within the
month on Wednesday, August 28th. B.K., 32, of Budd
Lake, New Jersey, began a hike to Stovepipe Wells sand dunes with his
wife around 10 a.m. that morning. The air temperature in the shade was
113 degrees; ground temperatures exceeded 150 degrees. B.K.'s wife,
feeling hot and tired, decided to return to their vehicle after about an
hour. At 1:50 p.m. she reported him as overdue. Three hasty search teams
went to high observation points around the dunes while park pilot Ed
Forner and maintenance worker Ron Giblin searched from the air. Ranger
Aaron Shandor saw a person meeting B.K.'s description walking about a
mile from the Stovepipe Ranger Station. Within moments, he'd disappeared
again. Shandor and ranger Kyle Nelson found his tracks in the sand and
followed them for about 100 yards, where they found B.K. lying
unconscious on the ground. Basic life support was begun. The two rangers
were soon joined by resource management employees Tim Croissant, Jim
Roche and Ryan Taylor. Roche ran the half mile back to the ranger
station and got a vehicle, then drove to meet the others, who were
carrying B.K. out on their shoulders. B.K. was taken to a waiting
ambulance, driven by visitor use assistant Bruce Casper. Roche and
Nelson continued rescue breathing while B.K. was driven to Furnace
Creek. He was transferred to a waiting helicopter, then flown to a
hospital in Las Vegas, where he died the next day due to heat exposure.
Shandor was IC for the incident.
[Submitted by Kyle Nelson,
Park Ranger]
02-442
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (SD)
Illegal Entry Into Closed Area
The park had two incidents involving illegal entry into closed areas
on Mount Rushmore during the last days of August. Rangers saw three
people above and behind the sculptures on the mountain and inside a
closed area around 6:30 p.m. on August 22md. The rangers hiked up the
mountain, found the three men - two age 19 and one age 20 - on the rock
summit above the Hall of Records, and ordered them to halt and remain
where they were. The men instead fled, leading to an hour-long chase
through extremely rugged terrain. The men were eventually found along a
roadway and arrested for illegal entry into a closed area and for
fleeing the rangers. On the afternoon of August 31st, a report came in
that someone had climbed high onto the mountain to a point immediately
below the sculptures and far inside the closed area. Rangers Lee
Buschkowsky and Curt Frain climbed the mountain and arrested the
24-year-old man. Much of the incident was recorded on the park's video
surveillance system. The man's true identify and his status as a
resident of the United States were still being investigated at the time
of the report. INS has joined the investigation. A hearing date has been
set for September 26th; the INS has asked that he be kept in custody
until his residency status can be determined.
[Submitted by
Mike Pflaum, Chief Ranger]
02-443
Glacier National Park
Joint Canadian-American Rescue
S.M., 20, of Kila, Montana, was climbing Going-To-The-Sun
Mountain on August 18th when he was struck on the arm by a
boulder dislodged by one of his two climbing companions, causing an open
compound fracture. Four Canadian park wardens, assisted by at least nine
Glacier NP staff, rescued S.M.. A Kruger helicopter with NPS personnel
aboard provided logistical support; a team of Banff and Waterton-based
Canadian park rescue and climbing specialists were called in due to
their ability to perform short-haul helicopter operations and their
expertise in technical rescues. An Glacier NP medic climbed to the site
and provided treatment while the Canadians were in the process of
responding. The Canadian team conducted a technical rescue operation
that involved bolting in anchors and lowering S.M. to a safer area on
the mountain. The Canadians then short-hauled S.M. and rescue
personnel and gear to the Siyeh Bend area in
Glacier.
[Submitted by Public Affairs]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation
Preparedness Level 3
The preparedness level has done down one step. Preparedness Level 4 drops to Preparedness Level 3 when significant demobilization is occurring. Fifty plus crews are being released daily and sent to home units. One hundred rested crews are available for new fires. All military resources have been released. No red flag conditions are forecast for the next 24 hours and higher humidity or lower temperatures are forecast for the major fire areas.
Initial attack was light everywhere yesterday. Only 84 new fires were reported, and only one of them became a large fire. Five other large fires were contained. Some highlights from Sunday's report:
- The Curve Fire on the Angeles NF is now 52% contained. Moderate to low intensity fire behavior is reported.
- The Kraft Spring Complex on the Custer National Forest has burned 69,900 acres, but is now 85% contained. Evacuation orders have been lifted.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in the following states:
- Continued from last report - Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming.
- Added since last report - None.
- Removed since last report - Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah.
National Team Commitments
New deployments indicated by asterisks.
Type 1 Teams
Studebaker - Curve Fire, Angeles NF, CA
Bennett - Mt. Zirkel Complex, Routt NF, CO
Lohrey - Apple Fire, Umpqua NF, OR
Type 2 Teams
Hartman - Thompson Creek Fire, White River NF, CO
Gardner - Office Bridge Fire, Willamette NF, OR
Swope - Kraft Spring Fire, Custer NF, MT
Fire Use Management Teams
Cook - Big Fish Fire, White River NF, CO/Lost Lakes Fire, Routt NF, CO
[Submitted by NICC Incident Management Situation Report]
Park Fire Situation
Grand Teton NP (WY) - The Grassy Fire is being managed for resource benefits.
Yellowstone NP (WY/MT/ID) - There has been little activity on any of the previously reported small fires. The 9,140-acre Broad Fire is 95% contained and showing interior smoke.
Little new activity is reported on any other NPS fires.
[Submitted by Warren Bielenberg, Fire Information Desk, NIFC]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Incident Report Submission Standards
On June 18, 2000, the Washington Office issued a memorandum containing the following instructions for submitting reports on certain types of incidents. These reporting criteria have been in place, with minor changes, since 1986. The reporting criteria in this version remain in effect and are still to be followed.
Reporting Procedures
Each of the following Level 1 and Level 2 reporting SOP's explains how to submit reports. The basic rules are nonetheless worth reiterating:
- Level 1 reports and some particularly significant Level 2 reports are called immediately to Shenandoah NP dispatch, then followed up with written reports sent via email within three working days.
- Level 2 reports are submitted via email within three working days.
- All Level 1 and 2 written reports are submitted to Dennis Burnett in WASO Ranger Activities and to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA.
- Copies of each should also be sent to your regular regional/system office contacts.
Level 1 Reports
Report immediately by phone; follow-up on email within three working days.
- Call Shenandoah 24-hour dispatch at 1-540-999-3422.
- If for some reason Shenandoah dispatch can not be reached, call Dennis Burnett via pager at 1-888-992-5811 and follow the instructions on leaving a message.
- Submit follow-up reports via email to Dennis Burnett in WASO Ranger Activities and Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA.
- Reports should also be sent to your regular regional/system office contacts.
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1.1 Employee Fatalities: All employee deaths from any cause, whether on duty or off duty.
1.2 High Property Damage: Any incident resulting in property damage in excess of $100,000.
1.3 Officer Fatality or Life-Threatening Injury: The death or life-threatening injury to any law enforcement employee while in the performance of his or her duties.
1.4 Serious Crimes: Serious crimes which occur in any park area.
1.5 Drug Incidents: Major or unusual drug seizures or drug-related arrests in which the circumstances, value, and/or the amount of the seizure could attract media or political attention.
1.6 Political Officials: Serious incidents, major events or serious accidents involving senior political officials of state, Federal or foreign governments or their immediate families.
1.7 Terrorist Activity: Actual, attempted or planned terrorist activity, sabotage or other hostile acts against NPS property.
1.8 Significant LE Events: Significant law enforcement events other than planned special events which have required or may require the dispatch of specially-trained teams to augment normal enforcement capabilities.
1.9 Disasters: Major natural or man-caused disasters which cause significant injuries, resource or property damage to or impact on visitor use of an NPS-administered area, including major structural fires, dam failures, floods and storms. Wildfires are excluded; they should be reported to the NPS Fire Director in Boise.
1.10 Weapons Discharge: The discharge of a weapon by an employee toward another individual or any discharge of a weapon at any employee.
1.11 Use of Force: Any use of force by a law enforcement officer which results in serious injury or death to another individual.
1.12 Aircraft Accidents: Any aircraft accident causing a death or hospitalizing injury.
1.13 Multiple Injury, Work-Related Accident: Any incident that results in the hospitalization of three or more employees due to a work-related accident.
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Level 2 Reports
All incidents under these criteria are to be reported to WASO Ranger Activities via cc:Mail within three working days of the incident's occurrence. Incidents of exceptional significance - Level 2+ incidents, i.e., those that have or will likely draw major media coverage - should be reported immediately following the procedures for Level 1 reports.
Reports should be sent via email to Dennis Burnett in WASO Ranger Activities and Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA. Copies should also be sent to your regular regional/system office contact.
2.1 Visitor Fatalities: Visitor fatalities, except by natural causes. Heart attacks are not reportable incidents unless they involve other Level 1 or Level 2 reporting criteria.
2.2 Employee Injuries: Serious injury to any employee, either on or off duty. For purposes of this reporting system, serious injuries are defined as those which require advanced life support and/or lead to overnight hospitalization.
2.3 Employee Arrest: Arrest or detention of any employee on felony charges, regardless of arresting or detaining agency.
2.4 ARPA Incidents: Any incident which will likely lead to an Archeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) prosecution.
2.5 Wildlife Incidents: Wildlife attacks or incidents which result in serious injury (the definition is the same as in 2.2) or death to persons.
2.6 Drug Incidents: Drug seizures in which the value of the drugs exceeds $5,000, or major drug cases which are investigated by other agencies but which were initiated by the NPS or in which the NPS assisted.
2.7 Missing Persons: Confirmed missing persons where foul play is suspected.
2.8 Felony Arrests: Multiple felony arrests.
2.9 Demonstrations: Demonstrations or other hostile acts (planned, purported or actual) on or adjacent to parks.
2.10 Malicious Destruction: Significant malicious damage to cultural or natural resources.
2.11 Theft and Burglary: Monetary losses in excess of $10,000 through theft or burglary (excluding vehicle thefts).
2.12 Search and Rescue: Major searches and/or rescues, generally defined as any SAR requiring a significant call-out of resources or a prolonged or difficult search.
2.13 International Events: Any significant event involving foreign nationals or international cooperation.
2.14 Arson: Any incident of known or suspected arson.
2.15 Poaching Incidents: Any significant animal, plant, mineral, paleontolgical or other park natural resource poaching incident.
2.16 Multiple Injuries: In-patient hospitalization of five or more NPS personnel or non-NPS personnel in any single incident.
2.17 Structural Fires: Structural fires involving any NPS-owned property.
2.18 Special Events: Any event in a park which requires significant mobilization of resources, attracts substantial media attention, and/or has particular relevance to the National Park System or Service or its cultural, historical and natural assets.
Report Format
As far as possible, all reports should contain the following information. Exceptions are noted.
Subject: Name or description of incident.
Time and Date: Time and date of occurrence.
Location: Brief description of incident location.
Summary: Brief description of incident. Attention should be placed on making the report simple, clear and inclusive. Many reports omit critical information or contain confused narratives. A simple, chronological narrative works best.
Names/Titles: First and last names and titles of persons involved if appropriate - both NPS employees and victims. If victim names must be withheld, please at least specify gender, and, if possible, approximate or specific age.
Status of Case: What's being done and/or will be done next. Optional in routine cases. It's presumed that investigations will always take place when appropriate. The status is important only in major incidents in which extensive follow-up will occur.
Agencies: Other Federal, State, local or other agencies involved or to become involved in the incident. Optional if deemed immaterial to the report.
Media: The level of media interest and involvement.
Contact: Name and telephone number of the park person who can be contacted for additional information, or a 24-hour contact number.
Submitter: The name and title of the person submitting the report, which should appear on the report itself (not in a cover email message).
Please pay particular attention to the following two important considerations: 1) Reporting parties should be judicious regarding inclusion of names of law enforcement rangers and investigators and/or confidential investigative or enforcement techniques in incident reports. The Morning Report is posted on the web; email transmissions are also passed along to many other readers. It's safe to presume that anyone might read it. 2) All reports are considered to be public information unless otherwise indicated. Reports that are wholly or partly confidential and meant for internal review in Ranger Activities only should be so marked.
[Submitted by Bill Halainen, Editor, Morning Report]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Biscayne National Park (FL)
Assistance Needed For Columbus Day Weekend
During October 12th and 13th (the Columbus Day holiday weekend), the park will be conducting special operations focusing on boating under the influence, drug detection and other alcohol related and boating safety enforcement. The park is seeking law enforcement rangers or Park Police officers from any areas who are available and interested in participating in the operation. Persons selected must be proactive, aggressive, familiar with and self-sufficient in dealing with drug and alcohol-related detection, detention and arrest. Experience operating vessels during day and night in crowded, close quarters, MOCC certification, and experience in conducting arrests from vessels are needed but not necessarily a deal breaker. The park also needs patrol vessels for the weekend's operations. Biscayne NP will provide an account number for travel, per diem and any premium pay accrued while on detail. Help fellow officers provide adequate staffing for this heightened enforcement effort. Persons with supervisory approval who are interested should contact chief ranger Holly Rife or law enforcement specialist David Pharo at 305-230-1144.
[Submitted by David Pharo, LES, 305-230-1144]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.