INCIDENTS

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02-489
Southeast Region
Follow-up on Impacts of Tropical Storm Isidore

Several parks along the Gulf of Mexico have provided follow-up reports on the passage of Tropical Storm Isidore:

• Gulf Islands NS (MS/FL) - The storm pounded the park with 10 foot surf and winds of more than 50 miles per hour last Wednesday and Thursday. Erosion and hazardous conditions forced the closure of most of the park. The Naval Live Oaks and Davis Bayou visitor centers reopened on Friday; most mainland areas reopened on Saturday, including Okaloosa, Naval Live Oaks and Fort Barrancas in Florida and Davis Bayou in Mississippi. Offshore islands - except for the developed areas on West Ship Island and Horn Island - reopened on Sunday. The Santa Rosa and Fort Pickens areas in Florida may remain closed for some time. The nine-mile road to Fort Pickens is partially buried under as much as four feet of sand. Water, power, sewage and telephone systems all need to be restored before the area can be reopened to the public. Cleanup crews began removing sand and water from the road yesterday; by Tuesday morning, at least a one-lane administrative road may be open to Fort Pickens. Park staff are now focusing on the prospects of Tropical Storm Lili striking the coast later this week, possibly as a hurricane.
• Jean Lafitte NHP&P (LA) - The park closed on Wednesday in anticipation of the storm, then reopened on Friday. All units and headquarters are fully staffed, and visitor centers are open to the public. The storm dumped from 10 to 20 inches of rain on the park. Tides in the Barataria Preserve were about two-and-half feet above normal, so many boardwalks and trails were closed until the water receded. A damage assessment was conducted on Friday, concentrating on roof leaks and other building damage (which appears to be minor at this point). A complete assessment of trails and other facilities at Barataria, including marsh restoration projects, will not be completed until water levels are back to normal. There have been no reports of serious damage or flooding to employee homes.
• Everglades NP (FL) - The park made the necessary preparations for the tropical storm's possible arrival last week. Although it took a course the avoided southern Florida, the park is keeping its shutters up and remaining in readiness due to the uncertain course of Tropical Storm Lili. The hurricane team is meeting on a regular basis to monitor the storms and discuss contingencies.

[Submitted by Gail Bishop, Public Information Officer, Gulf Islands NS; Jim Carson, Chief Ranger, Jean Lafitte NHP&P; Ben Morgan, Everglades NP]

02-496
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (CA)
Marijuana Eradication Operation

Shasta County deputies and five park resource protection rangers conducted a raid on a marijuana plantation near Crystal Creek on September 26. Over 3,000 mature plants were cut down, then removed by helicopter due to the rugged terrain. Two other marijuana gardens of similar size were raided in the park earlier this summer. Efforts to cleanup and restore the sites will require major investments of labor and long-term site monitoring. Illegal growers routinely cut down native trees and vegetation, utilize large quantities of herbicides and pesticides that contaminate creeks and drainages, and leave behind literally tons of personal garbage and irrigation pipes. Rangers will continue to patrol undeveloped areas in the park that may be prone to marijuana farming.
[Submitted by Steve Prokop, Chief Ranger, Whiskeytown NRA]

02-497
Colonial National Historical Park (VA)
Excavator on Trailer Hits Park Bridge, Causes Major Damage

On the afternoon of September 24, the driver of a Hydraulics Unlimited dump truck pulling a trailer with an excavator on board was southbound on Route 17 when he passed under and failed to clear a bridge on the park's West Tour Road which spans the highway. According to witnesses, the excavator's arm was in the upright position, too high to make it under the overpass, which is about 14 feet high. The excavator's arm hit the concrete support beams, knocking out two of them and heavily damaging the other two. The force of the collision knocked the excavator off the trailer, causing extensive damage to it. The highway was closed for several hours during the cleanup. The West Tour Road will be closed indefinitely. The damage has been placed at over $400,000. The park, state DOT and FHWA are working to arrange funding and develop a time frame for repairs.
[Submitted by Tom Nash, Chief Ranger, Colonial NHP]

02-498
Point Reyes National Seashore (CA)
Woman Rescued from Cliff Side

Dar.M. and her brother Dav.M. attempted to ascend from the beach to the top of the bluff near Tomales Point on September 18. Dav.M. completed the risky ascent, but Dar.M. became stranded about 30 feet from the top of the 200-foot cliff. Dav.M. employed his cell phone to call the park and seek help. Rangers and park firefighters responded by boat, landed, and hiked about a half-mile to the scene. Ranger David Schifsky was lowered to M.'s location and tied in to her; the two were then hauled back up to the top of the bluff. Ranger Angelina Gregorio was IC.
[Submitted by Colin Smith, District Ranger, Point Reyes NS]

02-499
Saint Croix National Scenic River (WI)
Body of Suicide Victim Found

The body of a 47-year-old Minnesota man was found floating in the St. Croix River near the Osceola day use area on the morning of September 20. The visitor who discovered it notified ranger Adam Sears, who had just entered the area on patrol. Sears secured the scene, including a vehicle that had been in the park since September 17. Evidence gathered at the scene and the medical examiner's report both indicate suicide as the cause of death. Prior to entering the river, the man had reportedly drunk a cocktail of household poisons, including antifreeze and rat poison.
[Submitted by Brian R. Adams, Chief, Resource Protection, St. Croix NSR]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack was light everywhere on Sunday. Only 36 new fires were reported, and all were contained. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in the following states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon.

National Resource Commitments

Day	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Date	9/22	9/23	9/24	9/25	9/26	9/27	9/28	9/29
Crews	76	126	189	193	205	229	204	162
Engines	174	242	481	551	630	562	458	341
Helicopters	36	41	61	67	64	57	52	47
Air Tankers	2	5	4	3	8	4	4	4
Overhead	554	853	1,128	964	1,172	1,270	1,318	1,222

National Team Commitments

State	Type Team	Team IC	Fire/Location	Acres 9/25	Acres 9/29	Percent Contain	Est. Contain
CA	T1	Raley	Williams Fire, Angeles NF	22,000	36,265	80	UNK
CA	T2	Carlson	Cone Fire, Lassen NF	------	2,006	95	9/30
CA	CDF T1	Johnson	Croy Fire, Santa Clara	2,529	3,127	100	CND
OR	T2	Morcom	Bowl Fire, Mt. Hood NF	241	339	100	CND

National Fire Highlights

Williams Fire, Angeles National Forest - Minimal fire behavior was observed in heavy brush. Crews are burning out along Mt. Baldy Road, patrolling and mopping up. Residents in the Mt. Baldy Village remain evacuated; structure protection is in place. Residents from San Gabriel Canyon were allowed to return to their homes.

Cone Fire, Lassen National Forest - Minimal fire activity was observed in heavy timber. Crews are mopping up and patrolling.
[Submitted by NICC Incident Management Situation Report]

Park Fire Situation

C&O Canal NHP (MD/DC) - The ban on open fires in the park has been lifted.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs (CA) - The park planned to light the Tar Gap Rx Fire in the Mineral King area on Saturday, contingent on weather conditions and approval from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. The unit is located south of the East Fork of the Kaweah River, east of the Atwell/Hockett Trail, and southwest of the private community of Silver City. Similar burns were conducted in the area in 1997, 1999 and 2001, all with the objective of reducing hazardous fuels near local communities and improving natural forest conditions. No road or trail closures were anticipated.
[Submitted by Jody Lyle, FIO, Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs; Blair Williamson, NCR Dispatch Center]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

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Blue Ridge Parkway
Memorial to Ranger Joseph Kolodski Dedicated

A memorial to ranger Joe Kolodski was dedicated at the headquarters of Blue Ridge Parkway on September 17. Kolodski was shot and killed while responding to a 'man with a gun call' on June 21, 1998. Although a ranger at Great Smoky Mountains NP at the time, the shooting took place on Blue Ridge Parkway.

The memorial is located in the building's courtyard and was created through the collaborative efforts of all divisions.

Rangers from around the Service were joined by many of the agents and officers who responded to the incident and assisted in the prosecution of Kolodski's assailant. Attending were officers and representatives from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the Forest Service, the Buncombe County Sheriffs Department, Cherokee Tribal EMS, the FBI, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Office of the United States Attorney. The honored guests were Mrs. Kolodski and Florie Takaki, his wife.

Speakers during the ceremony were U.S. attorney Bob Conrad, who read a letter from the attorney general; supervisory park ranger Terry Morris, who presented a memorial to Florie Takaki from FOP; Great Smoky Mountain NP superintendent Mike Tollefson; and Blue Ridge Parkway superintendent Dan Brown.

The memorial was established to recognize Kolodski's sacrifice and to assure that his life and service will be remembered for generations to come.

 
[Submitted by John Garrison, Protection Specialist, Blue Ridge Parkway]

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.