Denali National Park & Preserve (AK)
Rescue from Mount McKinley
Mountaineering rangers were called in to assist an unconscious
climber at the 17,200-foot camp on Mt. McKinley shortly before noon on
Friday, June 13th. F.B., 51, became ill and his conditions
rapidly deteriorated for reasons his four climbing partners could not
readily ascertain, as he had not shown any serious signs of mountain
sickness during their summit of the mountain the previous day. With
medical guidance provided via radio from volunteer ranger/medic Michael
Dong, ranger Meg Perdue and two volunteer rangers who were positioned at
the high camp at the time of the incident administered oxygen and
medication for cerebral edema. F.B. gradually regained
consciousness and motor functions. Skies were clear on Friday afternoon,
although gusty winds of 25 to 30 miles per hour precluded a helicopter
evacuation. The three-member ranger patrol roped up with the patient and
assisted him down the ridge and fixed lines to the 14,200-foot ranger
camp. The climber's condition improved dramatically as the group
descended. After spending a night at the 14,200-foot camp under medical
supervision, F.B. felt strong enough to continue and descended
safely to the 7,200-foot base camp with his four teammates on Saturday
afternoon. At 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, however, rangers at base camp were
awakened by F.B.'s teammates with news that he had again lapsed
into unconsciousness. Oxygen and cerebral edema medication treatments
were begun. F.B. again responded with dramatic improvement. When
skies at the base camp cleared on Monday afternoon, a military Pavehawk
helicopter picked him up and transported him to Alaska Regional Hospital
in Anchorage for further care. Without the rapid medical response
provided by the ranger and volunteer staff on Mt. McKinley, F.B.
might not have survived his unusual illness. During both episodes,
rangers were provided with excellent medical advice from medics and
physician volunteers on ranger patrols, as well as physicians on private
expeditions.
[Submitted by Kris Fister, PAO]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Driver Hits Bison, Then Drives Into River
Rangers from the Madison Subdistrict investigated a report of a
vehicle submerged in the Madison River early on the morning of June
14th. They found the car in the river and the occupants nearby, wet and
under the influence of alcohol. One was also injured. They determined
that the driver had hit a bison weighing about 2,200 pounds, causing
significant damage to the car (including the loss of the windshield).
They attempted to drive to Old Faithful but ended up driving into the
river. The driver was taken to a hospital outside the park by NPS EMS
personnel; the passenger was arrested. The bison suffered serious and
possibly lethal injuries. A major operation was undertaken to recover
the car from the river. Both the driver and passenger face numerous
charges, including DUI, giving rangers false information, unsafe
operation, destruction of wildlife, and, possibly, misappropriation of
the vehicle. The case remains under investigation. The prosecutor plans
on seeking significant restitution for damage to or destruction of
wildlife and other costs associated with the incident. Supervisory
ranger Curt Dimmick is the primary investigator.
[Submitted by Brian
Smith, Supervisory Special Agent]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was moderate on Tuesday in the Rockies, Great Basin and Southwest, with 260 new large fires reported. Two Type 1 teams have been ordered for fires in Arizona on the Prescott and Coronado National Forests. A Type 2 team is managing a fire in the Tonto NF, and another is on order for a fire on BLM land in Alaska.
Fire Danger
|
Day |
6/13 |
6/14 |
6/15 |
6/16 |
6/17 |
6/18 |
|
Alaska |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Arizona |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
California |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
|
Colorado |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Idaho |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
|
Nevada |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
New Mexico |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Oklahoma |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
-- |
VX |
|
Oregon |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
|
Texas |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Utah |
VX |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Washington |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VH — Very high
EX — Extreme
VX — Very high to extreme
Fire Weather Watches and Warnings
No watches or warnings have been posted for today.
National Resource Commitments
|
Day |
6/12 |
6/13 |
6/14 |
6/15 |
6/16 |
6/17 |
6/18 |
|
Crews |
29 |
47 |
46 |
34 |
61 |
50 |
105 |
|
Engines |
46 |
89 |
82 |
52 |
87 |
123 |
188 |
|
Helicopters |
14 |
14 |
11 |
9 |
18 |
24 |
45 |
|
Air Tankers |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Overhead |
704 |
720 |
698 |
666 |
1,288 |
796 |
286 |
National Team Commitments
|
State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
|
AZ |
T1 |
Humphrey |
Aspen Fire Coronado NF |
120 |
0% |
UNK |
|
AZ |
T1 |
Oltrogge |
Cherry Fire Prescott NF |
800 |
0% |
UNK |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Behrens |
Picture Fire Tonto NF |
NR |
NR |
UNK |
|
AK |
T2 |
Kurth |
Albert Creek Fire Upper Yukon Zone, BLM |
1,500 |
0% |
UNK |
|
NM |
FUM |
Goheen |
Dry Lakes Complex Gila NF |
18,000 |
0% |
UNK |
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.