Appalachian National Scenic Trail (CT,GA,MA,MD,ME,NC,NH,NJ,NY,PA,TN,VA,VT,WV)
Murderer of Police Officer Captured on Trail
A Vermont state trooper was killed while attempting to apprehend a
fleeing driver on June 15th. Sgt. M.J., 39, was struck and
killed by E.D., 23, of Lebanon, New Hampshire. E.D. abandoned his
car after hitting M.J., leaving him lying in the median with fatal
injuries. He caught a ride down the Connecticut River with an
unsuspecting canoeists, then headed south with the assistance of
friends. Investigators developed information that E.D. had been dropped
off in Delaware Water Gap NRA, where he was going to pick up the
Appalachian Trail in an effort to elude police. Delaware Water Gap
rangers joined the search for E.D. on June 17th. E.D. was found and
captured by Pennsylvania state troopers on the Appalachian Trail near
Wind Gap that day. He had backpacking equipment and fishing gear with
him and had shaved off his goatee in an apparent attempt to change his
appearance. E.D. did not resist arrest. He's being extradited back to
Vermont to face state charges. M.J. is the fourth Vermont trooper to
die in the line of duty and the first to be killed by the actions of
another person.
[Submitted by Robert Gray, Chief Ranger]
Capitol Reef National Park (UT)
Two Killed When Truck Plunges Into Wash
On the morning of June 15th, a visitor reported seeing a body and a
wrecked vehicle in a deep wash along the highway near Chimney Rock.
Rangers responded along with the county sheriff and state troopers. They
found a pickup at the bottom of a 50-foot-deep wash and the bodies of
the driver and passenger nearby. Investigators were able to determine
what had happened. The 52-year-old driver of the Ford Ranger, a resident
of Henderson, Nevada, had been westbound when he drifted onto the right
shoulder, overcorrected, crossed the oncoming lane, left the road, and
went airborne, traveling about 70 feet through the air before hitting a
rock outcrop on the opposite side of the wash. H. was ejected from
the truck when it hit. The pickup then flipped and hit a second rock
outcrop before coming to rest at the bottom of the wash. The 29-year-old
female passenger, also from Henderson, was partially ejected at that
point. Neither driver nor passenger was wearing a seatbelt. State police
are leading the investigation.
[Submitted by Ken Kehrer, Chief
Ranger]
Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (NY,PA)
Drowning Victim's Body Recovered
On June 10th, boaters spotted the body of a missing 17-year-old high
school student in the Delaware River near Matamoras, Pennsylvania, just
above Delaware Water Gap NRA. He'd disappeared after a rafting accident
further up river on June 2nd. The body was recovered by rescue companies
from Sparrowbush, New York, and Westfall, Pennsylvania. Factors
contributing to the boy's death included high river levels and cool
water temperatures (mid-50s). The victim has been positively identified
and was taken to Allentown for an autopsy.
[Submitted by Cliff
Daniels, LES]
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Probable Drowning
D.H., 38, of Cucamonga, California, was riding his PWC in the
Las Vegas Bay arm of Lake Mead with his eight-year-old son on the
afternoon of June 15th when he hit a wave and fell off the PWC. His son
was unsuccessful in efforts to help his father, so drove the PWC to the
beach camp where they'd launched it. Family members called the park. As
rangers, game wardens and medics were responding, D.H.'s body was found
by fisherman. He was floating face down in the water with a lifejacket
on. D.H. had a history of seizures, and it appears that he had one
after falling into the lake and became unresponsive. He was wearing a
Type 3 life jacket, commonly referred to as a ski vest. Type 3
lifejackets will not keep an unconscious person's face out of the water.
[Submitted by Paul Crawford, Special Agent]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Thursday, June 19, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
NIFC report that there were 211 new fires yesterday, two of which escaped initial attack. About 130 state and federal crews have been committed nationally.
Fire Danger
|
Day |
6/14 |
6/15 |
6/16 |
6/17 |
6/18 |
6/19 |
|
Alaska |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
|
Arizona |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
California |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Colorado |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Idaho |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Nevada |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
New Mexico |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Oklahoma |
VX |
VX |
-- |
-- |
VX |
-- |
|
Oregon |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
|
Texas |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Utah |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Washington |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
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 |
6/13 |
6/14 |
6/15 |
6/16 |
6/17 |
6/18 |
6/19 |
|
Crews |
47 |
46 |
34 |
61 |
50 |
105 |
131 |
|
Engines |
89 |
82 |
52 |
87 |
123 |
188 |
198 |
|
Helicopters |
14 |
11 |
9 |
18 |
24 |
45 |
36 |
|
Air Tankers |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Overhead |
720 |
698 |
666 |
1,288 |
796 |
286 |
410 |
National Team Commitments
|
State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
|
AZ |
T1 |
Humphrey |
Aspen Fire Coronado NF |
300 |
NR |
UNK |
|
AZ |
T1 |
Oltrogge |
Cherry Fire Prescott NF |
1,000 |
70% |
6/19 |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Behrens |
Picture Fire Tonto NF |
1,000 |
5% |
UNK |
|
AK |
T2 |
Kurth |
Albert Creek Fire Upper Yukon Zone, BLM |
1,473 |
75% |
6/20 |
|
NM |
FUM |
Goheen |
Dry Lakes Complex Gila NF |
20,500 |
0% |
UNK |
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Atwood Prescribed Fire (Prescribed Fire Treatment)
A helicopter and hand-held drip torches will be used to ignite the burn over approximately 7 days. Ignitions will begin at the top of the segment and work down to the road. (full report)
Status
The Mineral King Road will remain open, but might have short delays. The trail from Atwell Mill to Paradise Peak will be closed. The Atwell Mill Campground will be open.
Acreage: 2,450 acres
Estimated containment date: Possibly by July 1, 2003[Submitted by Jody Lyle, jody_lyle@nps.gov, (559) 565-3703]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Passing of Budget Analyst Pamela Thompson
Pamela L. Thompson, Budget Analyst, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, passed away on June 15, 2003 after a long battle with cancer. Her enthusiasm and dedication will be missed by all who worked with her. Pam started her 25-year career with the National Park Service in 1974 at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. She worked at Crater Lake National Park 1977-1979 and later returned to the Administration Division at Theodore Roosevelt NP in 1984. Pam served as an instructor on the service-wide Introduction to Park Program Management (IPPM) team and really enjoyed traveling to other NPS areas and getting to know other employees. She took on every challenge with enthusiasm and fortitude!
Pam is survived by her husband, Phillip (Milo) Thompson who is currently employed as a Maintenance Mechanic at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and three daughters Laura Thompson, Lindsey (Danny) Haller and Alexa Thompson. Condolences can be sent to Milo Thompson and family, PO Box 384, Medora, ND 58645. A vigil is planned for 7:00pm Thursday, June 19th at the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Beach North Dakota. The funeral services will be on Friday, June 20 at 1:00 pm at the Community Center in Medora, ND. Donations in Pam's memory can be made to Gift of Life Transplant House, 705 2nd St SW, Rochester, MN 55902 or American Cancer Society.
[Submitted by Carolyn I Barker, Carolyn_I_Barker@nps.gov, 701-623-4466]
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.