Servicewide
Operation July Fourth - Thursday Update
Preparations continue for several major Fourth of July events in the parks. Overseeing the events under a delegation of authority from the director is Skip Brooks' national incident management team. The team is managing the coordination, mobilization and assignment of critical resources for scheduled events and for unplanned Type 1 or Type 2 incidents, excluding fire. Type 2 teams are in place at Mount Rushmore NM (Central Team, Sherrie Collins, IC), Independence NHP (East Team, Rick Brown, IC), and Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Pacific West Team, Felicia Probert, IC). Reports from those parks follow:
- Independence NHP — Meetings were conducted yesterday in the U.S. Marshall and Assistant U.S. Attorney Offices, with all agencies represented. Mass arrest procedures and details of the final sweep of the National Constitution Center with bomb dogs were among the items discussed. No new intelligence has developed concerning any threats, and no "red flags" have been raised. Protest groups are still expected to be out in force and information indicates that they will bus in from Washington, Baltimore, New York, and Boston. The first major event of the Independence Day festivities in Philadelphia took place last night with the "All American Evening On the Mall." This event was billed as a "free, fun-filled evening with themed family events and entertainment from around the country." Festivities culminated with fireworks from the roof of the National Constitution Center. The list of scheduled dignitaries remains unchanged. Good Morning America will broadcast live from the National Constitution Center on Friday morning, and ABC News Tonight with Peter Jennings will pre-tape portions of their Friday night broadcast during the festivities.
- Jefferson National Expansion Memorial — Official check-in of resources and checkpoint security training took place the park on July 2nd. Memorial Drive, located between the Old Courthouse and the Arch, is now closed to vehicles. Eight entrance checkpoints have been constructed and will be fully operational when the fair opens at 3 p.m. on July 3rd. Once again, members of the public without parcels who come to the fair will be directed to "express lanes" at each checkpoint, where no physical search will be conducted. Those with purses, coolers, bags or parcels will be subject to a short but thorough check of their belongings. As of July 1st, the park has issued 11 first amendment permits for the fair. Significant among concerns for this event is the health and safety of personnel due to hot, humid weather. Fair St. Louis 2003 organizers have offered ice, water, and electrolyte replacement beverages to all security personnel free of charge. A coal train derailed about an eighth of a mile from the park on Tuesday night. Cleanup will continue until Saturday. The cause appears to have been a turned rail. Because of the derailment, however, all eastbound trains passing through the city will now have to go through park grounds, which will cause a significant impact due to noise and added security concerns.
- Mount Rushmore NM — Preparations have reached a fever pitch for
the park's Independence Day celebration. All personnel have arrived and
are completing their extensive briefings. Three network satellite trucks
arrived yesterday, representing two regional television stations and
CNN. Regional interest in the celebration continues to be high, with
numerous interviews of visitors and NPS personnel from Mt. Rushmore. The
weather forecast for the July 3rd fireworks is still favorable, with a
projected cooling trend. The fireworks launch zone has been set up in
the shadow of George Washington's head. Yellowstone's helitack crew
airlifted 7,500 pounds of explosives to the launch zone early Monday
morning. More than 40,000 pounds of mortar tubes are secured in 16 tons
of sand to launch the enormous fireworks display. Fireworks shells range
from 3 inches to 12 inches in diameter. The largest shells weigh 35
pounds and can explode at 1,100 feet above the launch site.
Daily updates on the operation will appear in the Morning Report and
InsideNPS through July 7th.
[Submitted by Bill Halainen, IO, Area
Command Team; Shauna Dyas, IO, Pacific West IMT; Rick Jones, IO, Central
IMT; Peter Givens, IO, Eastern IMT]
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
Employee Bitten by Rattler
Garrett Farmer, a member of the park's fire crew, was bitten by a
six-foot rattlesnake while relocating it from the park's maintenance
yard on the morning of July 1st. Maintenance workers discovered the
snake while getting floats to repair a fishing dock. Members of the fire
crew put the snake into a metal trash can for transportation and
relocation. The snake attempted to escape from the can, and Farmer was
bitten on the web of his left hand while trying to secure it. He was
treated by park EMT's, taken to the ambulance bay in Fritch, then
transported to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo, where he underwent
surgery.
[Submitted by Rhonda Terry, PIO]
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
Rescue of Climber Injured in Fall
On the morning of June 29th, T.J., 23, of Grand Junction,
Colorado, was solo climbing a particularly difficult route on
Independence Monument, the park's most climbed spire, when his
protection failed and he fell about 40 feet, suffering numerous
contusions, lacerations and possible fractures. His cries for help were
heard by nearby hikers, one of whom called 911 by cell phone. Ranger
Bill Rodgers and members of both Lower Valley FD and Grand Junction FD
responded. Paramedics stabilized T.J. and he was airlifted to St.
Mary's Hospital, where doctors determined that he had a fractured spine
in addition to his other injuries.
[Submitted by Ron Young, Chief
Ranger]
Natchez Trace Parkway (AL,MS,TN)
Armed Robbery
On June 27th, ranger Carmelo Ortiz was notified of an armed robbery
that reportedly occurred on a park access road. A man employed a vehicle
to block another car being driven on the access road, then got out of
his vehicle, point a gun at the people in the blocked car, and demanded
money. He then drove off. The incident was initially reported to and
investigated by the Lee County SO. The investigation continues.
[Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Thursday, July 3, 2003
Preparedness Level 3
Initial attack was moderate yesterday in California, the northern Rockies and the Northwest, but light elsewhere. A total of 153 new fires were reported. There were three new large fires; another four were contained.
Fire Danger
|
Day |
6/28 |
6/29 |
6/30 |
7/1 |
7/2 |
7/3 |
|
Alaska |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
|
Arizona |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
California |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Colorado |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Hawaii |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Idaho |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Montana |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Nevada |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
New Mexico |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
VX |
|
Oklahoma |
VX |
VX |
-- |
VX |
-- |
-- |
|
Oregon |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Texas |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
VX |
|
Utah |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Washington |
-- |
VX |
-- |
VX |
VX |
-- |
|
Wyoming |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
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 |
6/27 |
6/28 |
6/29 |
6/30 |
7/1 |
7/2 |
7/3 |
|
Crews |
157 |
172 |
177 |
149 |
221 |
197 |
181 |
|
Engines |
246 |
228 |
194 |
205 |
427 |
410 |
309 |
|
Helicopters |
60 |
39 |
43 |
64 |
77 |
60 |
59 |
|
Air Tankers |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
1,716 |
1,163 |
1,159 |
1,178 |
1,889 |
1,160 |
1,027 |
National Team Commitments
New team commitments indicated in bold face.
|
State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
|
AZ |
T1 |
Oltrogge |
Aspen Fire Coronado NF |
44,500 |
60% |
UNK |
|
NM |
T2 |
Mullinex |
Jenny Fire Gila NF |
6,520 |
90% |
7/3 |
|
OR |
T2 |
Hoff |
Davis Fire Deschutes NF |
18,000 |
50% |
7/5 |
|
CA |
T2 |
Wendt |
Friday Fire Six Rivers NF |
389 |
100% |
UNK |
|
UT |
T2 |
Suwyn |
Apex Fire State Lands |
31,000 |
35% |
7/7 |
|
WA |
T2 |
Jennings |
Fawn Peak/Sweet Grass Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
130 |
0% |
UNK |
|
MT |
T2 |
Chrisman |
Dixon Complex Flathead Agency |
470 |
60% |
7/5 |
|
NM |
FUM |
Duncan |
Dry Lakes Complex Gila NF |
46,450 |
0% |
UNK |
|
AZ |
FUM |
Cook |
Powell Fire Grand Canyon NP |
3,060 |
0% |
UNK |
|
UT |
FUM |
Bonefeld |
Woodenshoe Fire Manti-LaSal NF |
1,000 |
5% |
UNK |
|
CO |
FUM |
Rogers |
Yankee Gulch West Slope Center, BLM |
200 |
NR |
UNK |
Noatak National Preserve (AK)
Okoklik Lake (B342) (Wildland Fire,Wildland Fire Use)
Fire was discovered by Alaska Fire Service GIS Section on satellite imagery at 1430 on 6/24/03. Fire is burning in tundra. Fire is located in a limited management option area. Moderate potential for growth. AFS was unable to monitor fire on 6/24 due to lack of resources, they will monitor when resources are available. (full report)
Fire was not flown due to poor visibility and high RH recoveries. Fire remains in monitor status.
Acreage: NPS GIS map 1,423.6
AFS hand drawn map 1,303
Estimated containment date: 9/30/2003[Submitted by Dan Warthin, dan_warthin@nps.gov, (907) 683-8548]
Everglades National Park (FL)
North Pines Rx Fire (Prescribed Fire Treatment)
Hazard fuels reduction treatment in an area of scattered pine lands that has not had fire since 1995 (and did not burn too well then). With water levels relatively high in the Glades prairies surrounding these pine areas this was a good opportunity to treat the understory of the pines with minimal chance of fire extending into the surrounding grass prairies. In addtion to maintaining the natural fire interval, this hazard fuels reduction project creates a buffer between the heavily used Main Park Road and the active nesting habitat of the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (subpopulation E) and completes another portion of the landscape pinelands fire mosaic being conducted this year. This treatment area is directly west of Pine Block D (burned in April 2003)and north of Pine Block C (burned in May 2003). (full report)
Status
No closures or other public impacts. Good viewing of fire north of Main Park Road for public.
Acreage: 75 to 100 acres burned today. Mosaic burn with many patches of unburnt within a several hundred acre perimeter.
Resources Committed: 11 total firefighters and overhead. 2 Type 6 engines, 1 command vehicle, 1 Type 3 helicopter, "Ping Pong" aerial ignition machine.
Estimated containment date: July 5, 2003[Submitted by Bob Panko - FMO, bob_panko@nps.gov, 305-242-7852]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Office of the Director
Partnering and Managing for Excellence
Message from NPS Director Fran Mainella
This morning, July 2, 2003, in Washington, D.C., Secretary Norton and I presented a report detailing National Park Service successes to President George W. Bush. "National Park Service: Partnering and Managing for Excellence," reports on the NPS's accomplishments in four specific areas, including Maintenance Backlog and Facility Management Excellence; Enhancing Partnerships, Volunteers, and Recreation; Resource Protection through Science and Cooperation; and Serving Visitors and Keeping Parks Safe, and identifies "next steps." It stands as an accounting of the incredible work being done in national parks across the nation and is the first document of its kind to be prepared in the 21st century.
First announced in May 2001 at Sequoia National Park, President Bush affirmed his commitment to "ensure proper care of our National Park System" and to "improve outdoor opportunities" through his National Parks Legacy Project, which set forth a vision for caring for and enhancing these special places—our national parks. Now President Bush's leadership team is carrying out this vision through what Interior Secretary Gale Norton refers to as the 4 C's—conservation through cooperation, communication and consultation. And you are a vital part of that team.
We all know that a report of this nature is most valuable when we make good use of the information it contains. This report stands as a testament to the incredible work being done by you and our partners in national parks across the nation. Now, I need your help. We need to get the word out to our visitors that their parks are in good hands under your stewardship.
The release of this report is featured on the NPS homepage, www.nps.gov. Vital information for the public will be posted including the press release, a copy of the actual report and a fact sheet, which summarizes the report's key points. We have also created a special link on InsideNPS to provide you with tools to download, including the report, press release templates, op-ed templates, talking points, fact sheet, Q&A's, etc. for use in reaching out to local communities and visitors. Please take this opportunity to tout your park's accomplishments in the mentioned areas and plan events and/or activities to highlight your efforts—perhaps around already existing events in celebration of Independence Day this Fourth of July, and certainly throughout the summer.
We in the NPS are broadening opportunities for Americans to enjoy their parks. The NPS is restoring old facilities, improving landscape health, and inspiring volunteers to participate in the park's care. You are making these accomplishments possible, and I invite you to tell these stories proudly.
More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Intermountain Region
GS-11/12 Regional Structural FMO
The vacancy for the GS-11/12 regional structural fire management officer has been announced. It is open to both status employees (IMDE-03-55) and all sources (IMDE-03-56). The person in this position oversees and manages the region's structural fire management program, including program review, park and interagency coordination, and overall program leadership.
[Submitted by Mike Warren, FMPC]
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.