INCIDENTS

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02-472
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Ranger Injured in Backcountry Accident

On September 17, ranger Chuck Sypher fell approximately 50 feet while hiking in a remote area of the park while on backcountry patrol. Sypher was on the fourth day of a seven day backcountry patrol of the Kanab Creek drainage in a remote western part of the park. Ranger Michael Grate and a volunteer accompanied him. Grate was able to summon help via satellite phone. Initial reports indicated that Sypher had sustained serious head injuries. Two ranger/paramedics responded on the park helicopter. An Arizona DPS rescue helicopter and a Classic Lifeguard air ambulance were also dispatched. Rangers reached Sypher's location at the bottom of a narrow canyon and found him conscious, alert and in stable condition. He was extracted from the canyon via helicopter short-haul, then transferred to the Classic Lifeguard helicopter and flown to Flagstaff Medical Center. Sypher miraculously sustained only lacerations, bruises and head wounds and was released from the hospital the following day. There were no fractures or internal injuries. Rangers were able to respond quickly due to mandatory requirements that satellite communications be employed on backcountry patrols and that rangers on all highly technical patrols be accompanied by partners.
[Submitted by Sherrie Collins, Incident Commander, Grand Canyon NP]

02-473
Noatak National Preserve (AK)
Solo Canoer Bitten by Bear

On August 30, K.K., 28, of Hokkaido, Japan, was nearing the completion of a 21-day solo canoe trip down the Noatak River. That evening, he went ashore on an island seven miles below the confluence with the Kelly River to camp for the night. At approximately 1 a.m. the next morning, K.K. was awakened by the growling and grunting of a bear in close proximity to his camp. The bear pounced on his tent, breaking the tent poles and flattening it; it landed on K.K.'s legs, then bit through the tent fabric and into his right shoulder. Although K.K. had capsicum spray (used to ward off bears), he was reluctant to use it inside his tent and remained silent and motionless the entire time. The bear departed, but returned approximately one hour later, again grunting and growling near his tent. K.K. remained in the collapsed tent, lying motionless, until the bear departed without further incident. Because of darkness, K.K. never saw the bear, so it's not known whether it was a black or grizzly bear. The following afternoon, K.K. floated down to the village of Noatak, where he was treated at the local clinic for puncture wounds to his right shoulder. He then flew to Anchorage. On September 17, K.K. returned to Kotzebue and reported the incident to a National Park Service ranger. By then, the puncture wounds were nearly healed, but a measurement of scars indicated that the bite had been by a large bear. At the time of K.K.'s encounter, the Noatak River salmon run was nearing its annual peak, which draws a concentration of bears - especially grizzly bears - to the area.
[Submitted by Leigh Selig, Deputy Superintendent, Western Arctic National Parklands]

02-474
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (CO)
Search for Missing Visitor

A search resumed yesterday at the north rim of the canyon for a missing California man. M.L. of San Jose, California, entered the park last Thursday, paid an entrance fee, and reserved a campsite through Sunday. His 1994 white Dodge minivan was still parked in the campground on Monday. Due to the steep and rugged terrain of the north rim, a brief helicopter search was conducted on Monday. On Tuesday, Colorado search and rescue air-scent dogs were on scene along with a small ground search team. A 15-member National Park Service and Montrose County Sheriffs Office ground search team is working the area to find clues regarding M.L.'s disappearance. M.L. is described as a 49-year-old white male, 6'1" 220 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He wears glasses. It appears that he is by himself and did not register for a backcountry wilderness permit. The National Park Service and the San Jose police department are continuing the investigation into M.L.'s disappearance.
[Submitted by Phil Zicheterman, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP]

02-475
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Rescue of Sick Hiker; Life Saved

Park dispatch received a report of a backpacker with a medical emergency on the Boucher Trail just before midnight on September 16. The report was received via satellite telephone from S.U., a guide for the Grand Canyon Field Institute. S.U. reported that one of her clients, a 45-year-old woman, was vomiting profusely and actively seizing and unconscious. S.U.'s group had started hiking that morning and had camped at White's Butte Saddle, about nine miles from the trailhead. Due to clear skies, calm air, a bright moon and the relative flatness of the terrain at their location, the park asked an Arizona DPS rescue unit to consider responding. DPS dispatched a Bell 407 with night vision capability. The pilot was able to locate the camp with assistance from members of the group, who employed flashlights and headlamps to delineate the helispot. The pilot had to abort his approach and postpone the mission, though, due to lack of contrast visibility in his night vision goggles. The helicopter flew back in at daybreak, picked up the woman, and took her to Flagstaff Medical Center, During the six intervening hours, S.U., a veterinarian, cared for the woman, keeping her airway open and maintaining her body temperature. The woman was diagnosed as suffering from hyponatremia and is expected to fully recover. Hyponatremia is caused when there is an abnormally low concentration of sodium in the blood. Too little sodium can cause cells to malfunction, and extremely low sodium can be fatal.
[Submitted by Bil Vandergraff, Incident Commander, Grand Canyon NP]

02-476
Antietam National Battlefield (MD)
Rescue of Woman Injured in Fall

Rangers received a report that someone had fallen from the 70-foot-high observation tower at Bloody Lane on the afternoon of September 16. Rangers Todd Stanton, Jeremy Sears and Ed Wenschhof responded and found that the woman had fallen about a dozen feet down one flight of stairs inside the tower, striking her head. She was conscious, but unable to recall the events leading to her fall. Local paramedics and volunteer firefighters treated her at the scene. She was then carried up a flight of stairs to the 70-foot-high observation deck, where she was picked up by rescuers on a 100-foot ladder from a ladder truck and lowered to the ground. A Maryland State Police helicopter flew her to a shock trauma unit in Baltimore.
[Submitted by Todd Stanton, Park Ranger, Antietam NB]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack continues to be light nationwide. Only 73 new fires were reported on Tuesday, and none escaped initial attack.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in the following states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming.

National Resource Commitments

Day	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue
Date	9/10	9/11	9/12	9/13	9/14	9/15	9/16	9/17
Crews	148	175	114	103	99	91	88	96
Engines	406	250	196	175	243	202	192	173
Helicopters	62	66	62	46	44	47	50	35
Air Tankers	7	4	2	0	2	1	5	0
Overhead	1,720	1,701	1,615	1,025	1,330	1,251	1,046	1,013

National Team Commitments

State	Type Team	Team IC	Fire/Location	Acres 9/15	Acres 9/17	Percent Contain	Est. Full Contain
WA	FUMT	Cones	Quartz Mountain Complex, Okanogan NF	4,922	5,766	0	UNK

[Submitted by NICC Incident Management Situation Report]

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Park Fire Situation

Firefighters completed ignitions on the 147-acre Sunset Rx Fire in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon on the evening of Monday, September 16. The fire consumed most ground fuels and a large number of small trees, thereby reducing the hazardous conditions for local communities. Similar to natural fires in the past, the Sunset Fire burned in a mosaic pattern, leaving most mature trees and many islands of unburned vegetation. This type of fire creates diverse habitat for both plants and animals. Assisting park staff were additional NPS engines and crews (including the Arrowhead Hotshots), a BLM engine and crew, and an engine and 20-person hand crew from the Forest Service.
[Submitted by Jody Lyle, Fire Information Officer, Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs]

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.