Devils Tower National Monument (WY)
Fatal Climbing Accident
On May 17th, J.W., 27, of Bozeman, Montana, fell 350
feet to her death while climbing Devils Tower. J.W. was rappelling
near the El Cracko Diablo climbing route when the accident occurred.
Rangers are investigating with the assistance of officers from the Crook
County Sheriff's Department. Fifteen people were involved in the
recovery operation, including local guides, Hulett FD personnel, and two
visiting employees from Wind Cave and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
[Submitted by Scott Brown, Chief Ranger]
Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Quarter Ton of Marijuana Seized
Rangers and Border Patrol officers on board a patrol boat spotted
activity consistent with drug trafficking in a known smuggling area on
May 4th. Border Patrol officers approached on the ground while the boat
stood by in a ready response location. Shortly after the boat left, a
Mexican commercial fishing vessel crossed Lake Amistad and dropped of
seven drug backpackers on the U.S. shoreline. When agents attempted to
apprehend them, they dropped their packs and fled on foot south to the
lake. One member of the group was arrested. Agents recovered a total of
eight bundles containing 455 pounds of processed marijuana. The case was
turned over to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
[Submitted by Bruce Malloy, Chief Ranger]
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
Motor Vehicle Accident; Presumed Suicide
The Borger Police Department received a 911 call reporting an
accident in the Sanford-Yake parking area in the park just after 11 p.m.
on May 16th. Rangers, Fritch EMS personnel and Fritch FD firefighters
responded and found a mini-van with one person inside on the shore of
the lake. The driver, a woman from Borger, was extricated from the
van and taken by boat to the Sanford-Yake boat ramp, then flown to
Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. She succumbed to her injuries
while at the hospital on May 18th. Investigation revealed no skid marks
at the point where the vehicle left the road, and that the van had been
traveling at a high rate of speed before becoming airborne and impacting
at the bottom of a 200-foot cliff. Alcohol is thought to have been a
factor.
[Submitted by Rhonda Terry, PIO]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was again light yesterday, with 188 newly-reported fires. New large fires were reported in Lake Woodruff NWR in Florida and CDF's San Benito-Monterey Unit in California. The latter was fully contained.
Fire Danger
| State |
5/15 |
5/16 |
5/17 |
5/18 |
5/19 |
5/20 |
| Arizona |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
| Colorado |
VX |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
-- |
| Kansas |
VX |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Minnesota |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
| New Mexico |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
| Oklahoma |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
| Texas |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VH — Very high
EX — Extreme
VX — Very high to extreme
Fire Weather Watches and Warnings
No warnings or watches have been posted for today.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
5/15 |
5/16 |
5/17 |
5/18 |
5/19 |
5/20 |
| Crews |
19 |
16 |
26 |
18 |
10 |
7 |
| Engines |
40 |
37 |
48 |
39 |
21 |
27 |
| Helicopters |
3 |
5 |
10 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
445 |
53 * |
533 |
473 |
460 |
372 |
* As reported by NIFC.
National Team Commitments
No teams committed.
Park Fire Situation
No reports today.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (SD)
Seasonal Law Enforcement Rangers
The park has a critical need for several seasonal law enforcement rangers through the Labor Day weekend. They've exhausted two certs without being able to fill the positions, and would like to hear from any park with seasonals who've recently completed appointments and are looking for another position, or that have permanents who are currently on furlough. Contact Don Hart at 605-574-3135.
[Submitted by Mike Pflaum, Chief Ranger]
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.