Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Homicide Conviction and Sentencing
On June 12, 2001, rangers responded to a report of an unresponsive
person in a concession housing unit located within the trailer village
on the South Rim. The first ranger on scene found the body of K.Q.,
30, of Hotevilla, Arizona, in a corner of the room under a
bunk bed. A cooperative investigation was begun by NPS rangers and
special agents, Coconino County deputies and detectives, and state crime
scene technicians. In short order, they secured the area, conducted more
than 100 interviews, obtained a search warrant for the crime scene, and
identified J.B., 21, from Tuba City, Arizona, as the prime
suspect. J.B. was found that same night, hiding under his sister's
bed in her dorm room. Evidence recovered from the crime scene (J.B.'s
dorm room) included the knife used in the murder and J.B.'s
blood-spattered pants. The coroner determined that K.Q. had been
stabbed 44 times. Because a justice of the peace had issued the search
warrant rather than a court of record, the case was deferred to the
county attorney's office. J.B. was indicted on a single charge of
first degree murder in the fall of 2001. The case was continued three
times last year and this year by defense request, but culminated on
April 2nd with J.B. pleading guilty to the charge. J.B. has still
not provided a motive for the killing. The investigation revealed that
he'd consumed a large amount of alcohol prior to the murder, and
detectives believe that he may not remember exactly why he killed
K.Q. J.B. will be sentenced on May 13th. Since there was no
evidence of premeditation, the minimum sentence will be from 25 years to
life, with the possibility of parole.
[Submitted by Patrick W.
Hattaway, IC/Management Assistant]
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Search and Short-Haul Rescue
On March 30th, a 51-year-old woman from Arizona went on a day hike
down the Grandview Trail. At a point about three miles down, the took a
misstep and felt her ankle give way. Other hikers ascending the trail
reported her injury via cell phone. Coconino County SO dispatch received
the call and relayed the information to the park communications center.
A park team descended to her and found that she was resting comfortably.
She was treated by ranger Brian Bloom, who determined that she had a
possible closed fracture of the right ankle and stabilized it with a
splint. An effort was made to help her hike out to Horseshoe Mesa, but
it was stopped due to the difficulty of the terrain and concerns that
the injury might be aggravated. A litter carryout was ruled out due to
the steep slopes above and below the trail, the rocky and uneven
terrain, and the potential for injury to rescuers. The park helicopter
accordingly lifted her out by short-haul. Ranger Greg Moore was her
attendant, helitack/firefighter Mark Murray served as spotter, and Greg
Haufle flew the helicopter. The woman was taken to a landing spot on
Horseshoe Mesa, where helitack/firefighter Jay Lusher was managing the
helispot. She was then evacuated to the rim and transferred to an
ambulance. Ranger KJ Glover was IC.
[Submitted by Jennifer Flynn,
Backcountry Supervisor]
Mojave National Preserve (CA)
Forced Aircraft Landing
A single-engine Piper Warrior II on a cross-country trip from Pomona
to Las Vegas made an emergency landing in the park on April 6th. The
pilot, a Spanish national, reported that the tip of one of the blades of
the two-blade propeller had broken off, causing extreme vibration and
loss of control. The plane made a hard landing close to I-15 at Halloran
Summit, causing substantial damage to the air frame. Neither the pilot
nor his passenger was injured. Recovery and removal of the aircraft
should take a few days. This was the second unscheduled landing in the
park in a week. On March 30th, a hot air balloon landed in a wilderness
area, having been blown off course by high winds. Rangers and county
deputies are investigating.
[Submitted by John Wilkins, Park
Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Monday, April 7, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
A total of 240 new fires were reported over the weekend. Fourteen of the fifteen large fires reported during the period, most of them again in the Midwest, had been contained; the only one still burning was a 2,080-acre fire on state land near Bernardo, New Mexico.
Three Type 1 teams and two Type 2 teams are currently committed to the Columbia Response recovery effort.
Fire Danger
| State |
3/28 |
3/31 |
4/1 |
4/2 |
4/3 |
4/4 |
4/7 |
| Colorado |
VH |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
EX |
-- |
| Illinois |
-- |
-- |
-- |
EX |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Indiana |
VH |
-- |
-- |
VH |
VH |
-- |
-- |
| Kentucky |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VH |
VH |
-- |
-- |
| Missouri |
-- |
-- |
VH |
VH |
VH |
VH |
-- |
| Oklahoma |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VH |
VH |
VH |
-- |
VH — Very high EX — Extreme
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
3/28 |
3/31 |
4/1 |
4/2 |
4/3 |
4/4 |
4/7 |
| Crews |
161 |
160 |
176 |
167 |
177 |
182 |
161 |
| Engines |
37 |
15 |
49 |
42 |
77 |
63 |
6 |
| Helicopters |
3 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
2,618 |
2,594 |
2,572 |
2,581 |
2,143 |
2,174 |
2,452 |
National Team Commitments
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Incident/Fire |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
| TX |
T1 |
Studebaker |
Columbia Response |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| TX |
T1 |
Bennett |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
Gelobter |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Houseman |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Gray |
" |
" |
" |
" |
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.