NOTICES

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Editor's Desk
Second Release of Friday Edition

This is the second release of the Friday edition of the Morning Report. The first edition incorrectly reported that flags were to be lowered to half staff on Monday (see below). The correct day and date for lowering flags to half staff is Sunday, July 27th.

White House
Flags To Be Lowered To Half Staff Sunday

The White House issued the following yesterday:

"I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 27, 2003, as National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and give thanks to our distinguished Korean War veterans. I also ask Federal departments and agencies and interested groups, organizations, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff on July 27, 2003, in memory of the Americans who died as a result of their service in the Korean War."

INCIDENTS

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Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD)
Conviction in Death of Officer Hakim Farthing

On August 10, 2002, Park Police officer Hakim Farthing was killed in the line of duty while manning a traffic closure on the parkway. Farthing had been tasked with shutting down three lanes of traffic at the New York Avenue off-ramp to protect officers and criminal investigators working an earlier fatal accident scene south of his location. Although he had placed a pattern of traffic cones and flares, a drunk driver drove through the barricade around 3:30 a.m., striking and killing Farthing. On June 24th, a federal district judge sentenced J.W. to 60 months in a federal penitentiary. J.W. was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Prior to sentencing, Farthing's family addressed the court, telling the judge how the loss of their son, brother and nephew had impacted their lives. In addition to serving five years in prison, J.W. will serve three years of supervised probation, where she will submit to alcohol/drug testing and counseling. Park Police detective Robert Scherr was the lead investigator on this case.
[Submitted by Commander, Planning and Development Unit]

Canyonlands National Park (UT)
Commercial Boating Accident

On the afternoon of Friday, July 11th, NAVTEC Expeditions was involved in a whitewater motor boating accident at Big Drop Three on the Colorado River. The boat, which was running support for a special populations trip, became pinned on a rock in Big Drop Three. The operator and a passenger were unable to free the boat, so they entered the river and were picked up, uninjured, by another support boat. The pinned boat was a hazard to downstream navigation. A multi-agency recovery team, consisting of eight people supported by three motorized vessels, worked for six days to successfully recover the vessel, which is christened The Mary S and is an 18-foot rigid hull inflatable boat valued at $25,000. The Colorado River was flowing at approximately 5,480 cubic feet per second when the accident occurred. Big Drop Three is a Class IV+ rapid. Ranger Steve Young was operations section chief for the recovery operation. For additional photos of Big Drop Three in low water go to: http://www.nps.gov/cany/river/lowwater/index.htm.
[Submitted by Steve Swanke, Incident Commander]

Glacier National Park
Search for Missing Man Continues

The investigation into the disappearance of 40-year-old L.T.K. of Dorr, Michigan, continues. Rangers are working with other law enforcement agencies and L.T.K.'s family and friends in an effort to develop leads in the case. L.T.K.'s abandoned 1998 dark blue GMC truck was discovered at the Rocky Point trailhead on the west shore of Lake McDonald last month. A park entrance receipt dated May 29th was found inside the vehicle, but there is no indication as to L.T.K.'s activities between May 29th and mid-June, when his truck was spotted. Land and water searches have failed to turn up any sign of L.T.K.. The most recent search took place on July 20th. Park employees combed through thick vegetation in the Fish Creek area where L.T.K.'s truck was found, but did not find any clues to his whereabouts. Rangers plan to periodically enlarge the search area, but at this point have no new leads upon which to focus. FBI agents are providing expertise in preserving evidence and searching for clues in L.T.K.'s truck. Allegan County (Michigan) sheriff's deputies are developing background information about the missing man. Staff from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office and search and rescue volunteers from Missoula and Libby have conducted land and water searches for L.T.K..
[Submitted by Public Affairs]

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (KY,TN)
Arson Fire

Ranger Randy Justice received a phone call at his residence from Scott County dispatch on the morning of July 19th, advising him that the observation platform at the Honey Creek overlook was on fire. When Justice arrived at the overlook, he found that a local volunteer fire department had already arrived and gotten the fire under control. A five-foot section of railing and some of the floorboards of the wooden structure were burned. Justice found another corner of the platform where wood had been placed on top of the railing and set on fire but only caused some scorching. The investigation is continuing.
[Submitted by F. Graham, Chief Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Friday, July 25, 2003

Preparedness Level 5

Initial attack yesterday was heavy in the Northwest and Southwest yesterday, moderate in the Great Basin, Rockies, and California, and light elsewhere. A total of 426 new fires were reported, seven of which became large fires. Nine large fires were contained.

Fire Danger

Day	7/20	7/21	7/22	7/23	7/24	7/25
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	VX	VX	VX
Montana	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Nevada	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
New Mexico	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Oklahoma	VX	VX	VX	--	VX	VX
Oregon	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Texas	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Utah	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Washington	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Wyoming	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX

VH — Very high
EX — Extreme
VX — Very high to extreme

Fire Weather Watches and Warnings

RED FLAG WARNINGS have been issued today for lightning, warm temperatures, low humidity, dry fuels and windy conditions over portions of northeast Wyoming and the Black Hills, and for dry lightning in northeast, south central and southeast Montana.

National Resource Commitments

Day	7/19	7/20	7/21	7/22	7/23	7/24	7/25
Crews	394	449	502	536	535	475	540
Engines	801	814	1,034	1,085	881	925	1,023
Helicopters	142	155	176	164	176	160	166
Air Tankers	3	3	2	3	4	2	3
Overhead	3,050	3,212	2,952	3,159	3,528	3,951	3,436

National Team Commitments

New team commitments or changes in teams are indicated in bold face.

State	Type Team	Team IC	Fire/Location	Acres	Percent Contain	Est Full Contain
ID	ACT	Ribar	Salmon-Challis NF Fires	---	---	---
MT	ACT	Mann	Flathead NF/Glacier NP Fires	---	---	---
MT	T1	Stam	Robert Fire Flathead NF/Glacier NP	3,200	0%	UNK
MT	T1	Raley	Trapper Creek Complex Glacier NP	13,700	0%	9/5
WA	T1 ST	Anderson/ Furlong/ Ghormley	Fawn Peak Complex Okanogan-Wenatchee NF	58,734	35%	UNK
MT	T1	Bennett	Wedge Canyon Fire Flathead NF	6,300	5%	UNK
MT	T1	Frye	Black Frog Complex (includes Blackwall and Frog Pond Fires) Bitterroot NF	8,000	10%	UNK
ID	T1	Martin	Cramer Fire Salmon-Challis NF	5,341	30%	UNK
ID	T1	Sexton	Hot Creek Fire Boise NF	16,000	5%	UNK
CA	ST1	Singer	Hauser Fire Los Angeles County	900	0%	7/25
WY	T2	Blume	Ditch Creek Fire Bighorn NF	370	10%	UNK
SD	ST2	Jones/ Schneider	Red Point Fire Black Hills NF	2,000	40%	7/30
CA	T2	Dietrich	Basin Fire Sequoia NF	800	10%	7/28
CA	T2	Wendt	Smoke Complex N. Cal. District, BLM	6,400	80%	7/30
CO	T2	Saleen	Maverick Fire West Slope Center, BLM	1,161	60%	7/26
CO	T2	Saleen	JB Fire West Slope Center, BLM	1,007	100%	CND
MT	T2	Swope	Big Creek Fire Bitterroot NF	1,251	35%	UNK
ID	T2	Muir	Crystal Creek Fire Salmon-Challis NF	1,055	NR	UNK
CA	T2	Hefner	Chilcoot Complex Tahoe NF	5,693	100%	CND
AZ	T2	Rios	Blue River Complex Apache-Sitgreaves NF	18,537	70%	UNK
CO	T2	Perkins	Bolt Fire Southern Ute Reservation	2,160	85%	7/26
MT	T2	Chrisman	Hidden Lake Fire Beaverhead/Deerlodge NF	3,000	5%	UNK
ID	T2	Benes	Slims Fire Nez Perce NF	1,400	10%	UNK
MT	T2	Gray	Missouri Breaks Complex Miles City FO, BLM	130,927	70%	7/26
WY	T2	Kearney	Big Spring Fire Casper FO, BLM	2,291	45%	7/28
WY	T2	Domanski	Deep Lake Fire Shoshone NF	6,530	35%	UNK
CO	T2	Sczepanik	Balcony House Complex Mesa Verde NP	2,750	30%	7/25
NM	T2	Philbin	Molina Complex Santa Fe NF	7,240	95%	7/25
NM	T2	Bateman	Spruce Complex Gila NF	9,243	18%	UNK
OR	T2 ST	Gardner Labhart	Clark Fire Willamette NF	4,964	40%	7/30
OR	ST	Hoff	18 Fire Deschutes NF	2,500	30%	UNK
WA	ST	Jennings	McGinnis Flats Fire Colville Agency	2,217	60%	7/26
WA	ST	Holloway/Reed	Watts Road State Land	1,064	100%	CND
UT	FUM	Fay/ Hickerson	Timber Top Complex Zion NP	130	N/A	N/A
NM	FUM	Cones	Dry Lake Complex Gila NF	93,750	N/A	N/A
NM	FUM	Cones	Turnbo Fire Gila NF	17,480	NR	UNK

Fire and Aviation Management
NPS Fire Summary - Friday, July 25, 2003

Glacier National Park

An area command team (Rex Mann) has been ordered to coordinate management of the Type 1 teams assigned to the Robert, Trapper Creek Complex and Wedge Canyon Fires. There have been mandatory evacuations of the Lake McDonald Valley and Many Glacier developed areas.

Roberts Fire (4,000+ acres) — The fire was called in by the Huckleberry lookout on Forest Service land just west of the park. The park conducted reconnaissance on it within 15 minutes of the initial call; they described it as active and about three acres in size. Three air tankers responded along with numerous engines and two helicopters, but they were unable to contain it. The fire jumped the North Fork River within about an hour and established itself in the southwest corner of the Apgar Range. By 10 a.m. yesterday, it had burned over 4,000 acres. Stam's Type 1 team was called in and will take over the fire this morning.

Trapper Fire (15,000 acres, up from 3,660 acres yesterday) — The fire made a major run up toward Granite Park Chalet yesterday. Going to the Sun Road has been closed from Logan Pass to Avalanche Campground. The 41 people who took shelter in the chalet have all been accounted for and have been evacuated by hiking out on the Highline Trail to Logan Pass. The fire burned up over Swiftcurrent Pass and established itself at the head of Many Glacier Valley. A spot weather forecast called for winds from 15 to 25 mph blowing down valley yesterday. Raley's Type 1 team has been called in to manage the fire, taking over from Cook's fire use management team.

Wolf Gun Fire (1,400 acres, up from 500 acres yesterday) — The fire was active yesterday during a frontal passage, but is still being managed under confinement strategy using natural barriers and adjacent previous burns.

Paul Bunyan Fire (350 acres, same as yesterday) — The fire is being managed under confinement strategy and remains inactive due to limited fuel.

Wedge Canyon Fire (4,500 acres, same as yesterday) — Bennett's Type 1 team is taking over the fire. It's expected to burn into the park today.

Mesa Verde National Park

Balcony House Complex — The fire is now 30% contained. Firefighters quickly put out several new fires that were started by lightning Wednesday afternoon on lower Chapin Mesa and on Whites Mesa. Yesterday, hand crews continued to systematically search for any smoldering material within 200 feet of fire lines. Patrols also conducted grid searches of cliff edges, where no lines can be built, and called helicopters for water drops on any smokes that are spotted. Full containment is expected by tonight.

Yellowstone National Park

Boundary Fire (2 acres, same as yesterday) — The crew assigned to the fire continued patrolling for spot fires and mopping up. The fire was declared controlled yesterday.

Amethyst Fire (315 acres, same as yesterday) — Crews continue mop-up, working on hot spots and completing a line around the hottest areas on the fire's southwest flank. The fire is 70% contained. All lines held yesterday despite strong afternoon winds.

Zion National Park

Timber Top Complex (130 acres, up about 30 acres from yesterday) — Water drops will be used to suppress spots that move into the lower drainage. Fire behavior was moderate in the bowl, but very active in brushy fuels on the mesa top.

Great Sand Dunes National Monument and Preserve

Cleveland Gulch Fire (4 acres, same as yesterday) — Rain fell on the fire on Wednesday. Crews spotted three smokes during the rain, but little spread is expected.

Dinosaur National Monument

Peterson Fire (150 acres, same as yesterday) — The fires is 100% contained.

Glacier National Park
Sections of Park Temporarily Evacuated Due to Fires

Glacier National Park officials announced yesterday evening that the temporary evacuation of the Lake McDonald Valley and the Many Glacier Valley were completed on Thursday.

Emergency personnel remain stationed at park headquarters in West Glacier. National Park Service (NPS) managers are coordinating with the Type I Incident Command Team for the Robert fire as well as continuing their liaison with the Incident Management Team overseeing the Wedge Canyon fire which is burning west of the park's remote northwest corner.

Park Superintendent Mick Holm stresses, "Glacier National Park remains open. The Going-to-the-Sun Road remains open between St. Mary and Logan Pass and visitor services are open and available at East Glacier, Goat Haunt, Rising Sun and Two Medicine."

"Fire behavior is allowing emergency personnel to continue working at park headquarters. Visitor, residents, concessioner, NPS and fire personnel safety remains our top priority, so for now we are telling our non-emergency NPS personnel not to come to work on Friday," Holm added.. A Type I Incident Team has been ordered to take over management of the Trapper Creek Complex and is expected to arrive soon.

Current fire information is available at http://www.nps.gov/glac/resources/fires.htm 
and by calling 406-888-5806 and 888-5807.

For a media report on the evacuation of the park, see the following:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/story.asp?ID=45207

Big Bend National Park (TX)
Tamarisk Piles (Prescribed Fire Treatment)

Piles of tamarisk trees (exotic species to the park) that were mechanically and chemically treated earlier are now being burnt to remove the debris piles. (full report)
The project is halted at 25% completion and 100% contained. The operations were stopped due to national PL5 and the need to respond to resource requests.
Status
None
Acreage: Approximately 2 acres of scattered debris piles.
Resources Committed: Burn Boss and 1 holding squad. Contingency resources include a full crew.
Estimated containment date: 8/15/2003[Submitted by John Morlock, john_morlock@nps.gov, 432-477-2397]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

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Director/Deputy Directors
Staff Support for 2003 Wildland Fire Season

Director Mainella issued the following memorandum on Thursday.

Memorandum

To:          Regional Directors and Superintendents

From:     Director

Subject: Staff Support for 2003 Wildland Fire Season

The 2003 fire season is escalating. This year, many parts of the country are experiencing moisture deficits, some already worse than last year at this same time. It is evident that a chain of weather events has now set in place conditions for another potentially severe fire season that could place significant demands on our resource capability. On Sunday, July 20, 2003, the National Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group declared a National Preparedness Level 4, based on the prevalence of large-scale project type fires in several geographic areas creating intense competition for wildland fire suppression and support resources. On Wednesday July 23, 2003, the National Preparedness Level went to 5.

Successful and safe responses to the rigorous demands of an above-average fire season require a concerted effort by National Park Service employees at all levels of the organization and all disciplines. If the current trend in conditions continues, requests will be made for above average numbers of employees from parks, for assistance both within and outside home units. Initial preparations and long-term planning can — and should — be done now. I am asking regional directors and park superintendents to ensure that our employees and equipment are ready for another potentially difficult fire season.

The following sections clarify areas where most questions occur related to support of wildland fire activities. Please review these sections and disseminate to appropriate staff members.

Park Operations -- As preparedness levels change and the call for assistance broadens, base park operations and visitor services may have to change due to the need to shift staff and equipment to fire suppression efforts. Plan for this before it becomes a crisis. Each superintendent should consider how park operations may be changed at each preparedness level. Following are some considerations:

• Some services may be reduced, such as visitor center hours.
• Some facilities must operate regardless of the preparedness level, such as wastewater treatment plants.
• Adequate staff must be present in the park to provide essential and critical services.

Resource Availability -- National preparedness levels established by the MAC Group are dictated by burning conditions, fire activity and resource availability, and guide continual preparations for worsening situations. Resource availability is the area of greatest concern.

Preparedness Levels 1 — 5 are described in the National Interagency Mobilization Guide (NMG) available on the web at http://www.nifc.gov/news/mobguide/index.html.

Descriptions of these various preparedness levels, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the most severe, are found in NMG Chapter 20, section 26, pages 61-67, and may be helpful to you in your long-range planning.) All offices are to assess their need for qualified fire personnel and make available those not essential to initial attack or critical park operations. Permanent employees should be assigned to overhead assignments, wherever possible, while seasonal employees should generally fill commitments for crew assignments. Those personnel that have received additional training since their last assignment should be identified for a qualifying trainee assignment into that newly acquired skill. Regions are to expedite all mobilization efforts in concert with their cooperators.

National Fire Plan Objectives and Wildland Fire Suppression — This year, we are actively engaged in fuel treatment activities as part of the National Fire Plan (NFP). The NFP represents one of the highest priority programs for the Department of the Interior. It is critically important that we continue these activities to the greatest extent possible;

all fire personnel funded through the H and W PWEs will remain dedicated to fuel treatment activities during National Preparedness Levels 1, 2, and 3. Fire Use Modules will also remain dedicated to fuel treatment activities during Preparedness Levels 1, 2 and 3 and will be available for wildland fire assignments (fire use or suppression) only if priority fuel treatments have been completed, or fuel treatment work is suspended.

At National Preparedness Levels 4 and 5, all qualified personnel will be made available for firefighting or support assignments. Because of the demands for firefighting personnel, some fuel treatment activities such as prescribed fire and burn unit preparation may be postponed. However, mechanical projects under contract should be continued, and critical oversight personnel should continue to be assigned to these projects. If there are questions about specific situations and circumstances, please contact your Regional Fire Management Officer.

Information Dissemination -- As services are reduced to address national firefighting priorities, we will increase the information program to assure that park visitors are aware of and understand the need for reductions in hours of operation or suspension of programs.

Backfill — Program managers are reminded that they have authority to shift regular hours to fire accounts (Base 8) or they have backfilling authority for positions assigned to emergency wildland fire operations. See Shifting Regular Hours to Fire Accounts (Base 8), page 4, Chapter 19, RM-18 and Backfilling, page 5, Chapter 19, RM-18. RM-18 is on the web at www.nps.gov/fire/fire/policy/rm18.

I expect all parks and offices to contribute fully to the effort, as we remain committed to providing an appropriate level of support to NPS and interagency wildland fire suppression activities. Any questions related to this information can be directed to your Regional Fire Management Officer or Sue Vap, National Fire Management Officer, at the Fire Management Program Center in Boise, at 208/387-5225 or Edy Williams-Rhodes, Chief, Fire and Aviation, at 202-513-7133.

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.