Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (MO)
Transformer Fire Near Arch
A fire alarm summoned the St. Louis Fire Department to the Arch just
before noon yesterday. The fire was confined to an electrical
transformer vault near the north leg of the Arch. The cause of the fire
is unknown, but Ameron UE, the local electrical power supplier, believes
that one of the three transformers in the vault malfunctioned and
overheated, causing it to burn. The smoke was visible from several
blocks away, creating the impression that the north leg of the Arch
itself was on fire, which was not the case; the fire and smoke were
confined to the vault area. The Arch visitor center was immediately
evacuated. The park switched from commercial power to emergency power
(generators) in order use the tram to bring visitors down from the
observation deck. The Arch was closed for the remainder of the day, and
will remain closed until commercial power can be restored. That may take
several days. Park staff are discussing the scope of repairs to the
transformers with Ameron UE and should have an assessment shortly. It
appears that all three transformers will have to be replaced. Media
interest has been very high, with calls coming in from all over the
country. Officers from the city police intelligence branch and bomb
squad were on the scene yesterday afternoon, but there were no
indications that the fire was either a deliberate act or an act of
terrorism.
[Submitted by Ken Schaefer]
Canyonlands National Park (UT)
Rangers Provide ALS To Employee Suffering Heart Attack
Just before midnight on July 10th, rangers in the Needles District
received a call from maintenance worker Jack Kleinke, who reported that
he was experiencing chest pain and other symptoms of a possible heart
attack. Rangers Michelle Busbee, Tom Wilson, Kevin Moore and Leigh
Guenther provided advanced life support, summoned an ambulance and
medevac helicopter, and established a landing zone. A Life Flight
helicopter from St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction landed in the
lighted visitor center parking lot, picked Kleinke up, and flew him to
Grand Junction, where he was treated for a heart attack. Kleinke was
released by his physicians two days later with no apparent lasting
damage to his heart muscle, the latter due both to his recognition of
the signs of a heart attack and to the rapid response of the emergency
medical system.
[Submitted by Peter C. Fitzmaurice, Chief
Ranger]
Kenai Fjords National Park (AK)
Aircraft Crashes On Beach
A modified Piper PA-18 crashed during a beach landing about a mile
east of Aialik Glacier on the afternoon of July 12th. Pilot J.B. and
passenger P.G. were uninjured. J.B. said that the plane's
left landing gear struck a small stream channel while landing on the
rocky beach, causing the plane to flip. J.B. activated an ELT and
attempted to flag down passing tour boats with bright clothing. He was
quickly spotted by a nearby sightseeing aircraft, which in turn arranged
to have J.B., P.G. and all their gear lifted out by a float-equipped
charter aircraft. The plane was partially disassembled and removed by a
commercial landing craft the following day. J.B. and P.G., both of
Anchorage, were landing for a day of sport fishing when the accident
occurred.
[Submitted by Jim Ireland, Chief Ranger]
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Girl Bitten By Copperhead Snake
A 13-year-old girl was bitten by a 20-inch-long copperhead snake at
the Sugarlands riding stables on the morning of July 13th. The girl was
helping her sister, who is an employee at the riding stables. She was in
a shed where a large pile of plastic floor grates had been stacked and
was picking through the grates when she was bitten on the right ring
finger. Another employee used a suction device on the bite in an attempt
to extract the venom; she was then transported by private vehicle to a
local hospital in Sevierville by her sister. By the time she reached the
hospital, her arm was severely swollen. She was flown by medical
helicopter to Children's Hospital in Knoxville, where she was last
reported to be in critical but stable condition. Surgery may be
required.
[Submitted by Rick Brown, District Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report
The NIFC Situation Report for Friday had not been posted as of 0845 EDT. A summary will be transmitted later this morning.
Fire and Aviation Management
NPS Fire Summary
Mesa Verde NP (CO) — The Moccasin Fire (originally a part of the Balcony House Complex) is now 2,100 acres. The Type 2 incident management team is in place. Yesterday there was a microburst over the fire, which is when the acreage increased. The fire is moving in the direction of the areas burned by the Bircher and Pony Fires of 2000. Fire growth should slow when it hits the old burns. The park is saying that they will be closed for approximately seven days.
Yellowstone NP (WY/MT/ID) — The park has had several fires this week:
- Amethyst Fire — A Yellowstone Type 3 IC (Tim Klukas, the park's prescribed fire specialist) was assigned yesterday. The 20-person Gallatin NF crew was deployed to the Amethyst. The fire kicked several small spots across Specimen Ridge, but crews — with bucket support — were able to catch and extinguish all of these spot fires. The fire was active all-day and spread mainly to the south and west down towards Deep Creek. With the additional helicopter support, it was possible to produce an updated fire map. The IC now estimates the fire size at approximately 200 acres. The objective is to keep the fire south of Specimen Ridge. This fire has caused part of the Specimen Ridge trail to be closed to hikers.
- Bison Fire — The fire was initial attacked with five smokejumpers on Wednesday. They were able to control the fire in the early afternoon at about a half-acre. The Bison Fire was declared out today.
- Fan Fire — Holding actions on the Fan Fire (originally a wildland fire use blaze) were completed Wednesday with line constructed to prevent the fire from spreading to the northeast into unburned fuels. An infrared flight yesterday found a spot fire outside the holding line that was constructed on July 16th. The decision was made to convert the Fan Fire from a fire use to a suppression fire. A two-person helitack IA crew was sent to put out the spot fire. The Fan Fire is three acres; it will be checked routinely before it is declared out.
A fire that started on the Bridger/Teton NF was reported by the Mt. Sheridan lookout near the Colter and Wolverine Creek juncture. The park has consulted with the Bridger-Teton NF and agreed to suppress this fire. It has the potential to burn into Yellowstone southwest of Harebell Cabin.
Glacier NP (MT) — The park reports several fires:
- Edwards Peak Fire — The fire has burned a tenth of an acres and will be managed with modified suppression.
- Wolf Gun Fire — The tw0-acre fire will probably be managed under modified suppression due to issues of firefighter safety, terrain, cost, resource damage, low risk, etc.
- Howe Creek Fire — Controlled at a tenth of an acre.
- Fire Trail Fire and Howe Ridge Fire — Firefighters expect to have these controlled today. Each is a tenthof an acre. They also have a holdover fire in the Goat Rocks area, which is less than an acre.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs (CA) —Due to high fire danger, fire restrictions are being put into place inside the parks. As of July 18th, there are to be no wood or barbecue fires, except in designated campsites, below 6,000 feet. Propane and gas stoves, however, will be allowed.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
United States Park Police
GS-0343-11 Program Analyst (FOIA)
The Park Police are actively recruiting for a GS-0343-11 program analyst (FOIA) to deal with frequent requests for information (Freedom of Information Act) from members of the public regarding arrest reports and permitted activities, such as demonstrations and special events. He/she will work closely with the solicitor's office and handle congressional inquiries, subpoenas, discovery material and other projects. The position is located in the Planning and Development Unit, US Park Police (Headquarters), 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC 20242. The headquarters building, located in beautiful East Potomac Park adjacent to the Potomac River near Haines Point, has free parking and easy access from Interstate 395. This position carries promotion potential to the GS-12 level. The person selected will be part of a highly motivated team dedicated to supporting the mission of the US Park Police and the National Park Service. For more information, please take a look at the vacancy announcement (NPS-USPP-03-13) at www.usajobs.opm.gov or contact the US Park Police at 202-619-7056 and ask for Katrina Mays.
[Submitted by Captain Kevin Hay, Commander, Planning and Development Unit]
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.