INCIDENTS

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Yosemite National Park (CA)
Search and Climbing Accidents

On Tuesday, July 15th, rangers responded to a number of single-day SAR incidents in the Tuolumne Subdistrict. At 11:30 a.m., rangers took a report of a missing concession employee. C.R., a 19-year old employee of the Tuolumne Grill, had planned to hike down to Yosemite Valley from Tuolumne Meadows via the Snow Creek Trail, but she never arrived. When C.R. failed to show up for work at 11 a.m., rangers were advised. At noon, search teams from the Tuolumne Meadows Subdistrict and Valley District began searching the Tenaya Canyon and Snow Creek areas on foot and by park helicopter. No clues had been found by 3 p.m., so the search effort was scaled up. At about 3:20 p.m., a climber fall on the Hermaphrodite Flake route on Stately Pleasure Dome was reported. Twenty-five-year-old G.G. of England had rappelled off the end of his rope while descending the route, then slid more than 200 feet down steep slabs to a ledge. Tuolumne rangers and YOSAR team members responded with the ambulance and technical rescue equipment. At approximately 3:35 p.m., while on the way to the above accident, the Tuolumne ambulance was flagged down by other climbers who reported that a man had fallen 90 feet while leading the Dike Route on Pywiack Dome. Additional Mather District and Valley District personnel responded to assist with this accident. Another park ambulance and the June Lake Paramedics from outside the park were also dispatched. At about 4 p.m., the park helicopter located C.R., the missing hiker, off the trail near Tenaya Canyon and picked her up. By 5:30 p.m., Tuolumne rangers and YOSAR members had lowered the injured climber at Stately Pleasure Dome 200 feet to the ground. Both fall victims were stabilized and then transported to medical treatment by separate ambulances.
[Submitted by George Paiva, Incident Commander]

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (CA)
Car Burglary Suspects; Warrant Arrest

While on patrol on July 18th, ranger Craig Cavanna came upon two men standing near parked vehicles at a location where there had been several previous car clouts. Cavanna contacted them. One man gave Cavanna false identification, but was subsequently identified and arrested on an active warrant for a prior theft conviction. Ranger Mike Martin arrived on scene and began interviewing the second man while Cavanna transported his companion to jail. While en route, the man told Cavanna that his partner had given Martin false identification. Cavanna radioed Martin the man's real name; at about the same time, the man fled into nearby woods. Park dispatch notified Martin that the man he was chasing was on parole for theft, writing bad checks and obstructing a police officer, and that he'd recently been charged with cruelty to children. A search was begun that included county deputies and police dogs, an airplane, and chief ranger Steve Prokop in the park's patrol boat. It was called off an hour later. Several hours later, ranger Dave Falzetti saw the man walking on the shoulder of Highway 299 about five miles from the park boundary. Cavanna and Prokop responded to assist CHP in the search for the man, but he again escaped into the woods.
[Submitted by Steve Prokop, Chief Ranger]

Cape Cod National Seashore (MA)
Bike Accident with Serious Injury

On July 22nd, Provincetown PD contacted the park and told rangers that they'd received a 911 call reporting a bicycle accident on the Provincelands bike trail just north of the Herring Cove Beach parking area. Rangers located an unconscious, 51-year-old woman along the trail. Although about a dozen people were at the scene, none had been with her, and the accident was evidently unwitnessed. Provincetown EMS arrived shortly after rangers and began ALS, treating signs of a significant head trauma. Although called, Med-Flight out of Boston was unable to respond due to high winds and unstable weather conditions over Cape Cod Bay. The victim was therefore transported by ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis. Due to the head injury, the woman is in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Initial investigation indicated she was not wearing a helmet. Her husband arrived on scene just after the ambulance's departure; he had been riding with her, but they had become separated. Ranger Chris Hartsgrove and SA Bill Hooper are leading the investigation.
[Submitted by Bob Grant, Acting Chief Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Preparedness Level 5

Initial attack was moderate in the eastern Great Basin and Southwest yesterday. Overall, 203 new fires were reported, eight of which became large fires. Another four were contained.

Fire Danger

Day	7/24	7/25	7/26	7/27	7/28	7/29
Alaska	VX	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	VX
Oregon	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
South Dakota	--	--	VX	VX	--	--
Texas	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Utah	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Washington	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

No watches or warnings have been posted for today.

National Resource Commitments

Day	7/23	7/24	7/25	7/26	7/27	7/28	7/29
Crews	535	475	540	536	538	494	462
Engines	881	925	1,023	983	1,007	865	736
Helicopters	176	160	166	162	166	170	164
Air Tankers	4	2	3	5	4	6	7
Overhead	3,528	3,951	3,436	3,437	3,337	3,829	3,814

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	10,175	0%	UNK
MT	T1	Raley	Trapper Creek Complex Glacier NP	16,500	35%	9/5
MT	T1	Bennett	Wedge Canyon Fire Flathead NF	19,667	5%	8/18
MT	T1	Frye	Black Frog Complex Bitterroot NF	8,000	27%	UNK
ID	T1	Mortier	Slims Fire Nez Perce NF	2,650	20%	UNK
ID	T1	Martin	Cramer Fire Salmon-Challis NF	5,614	80%	7/31
ID	T1	Sexton	Hot Creek Fire Boise NF	20,042	20%	UNK
WA	T1 ST	Anderson/ Furlong/ Ghormley	Fawn Peak Complex Okanogan-Wenatchee NF	69,962	35%	UNK
CA	ST1	Henson/ Walker	Canyon Fire Riverside Unit	4,300	100%	CND
OR	T2	Hoff	Kelsay Complex Umpqua NF	400	0%	UNK
MT	T2	Chrisman	Hidden Lake Fire Beaverhead/Deerlodge NF	3,500	60%	UNK
MT	T2	Sandman	Ross Creek Fire Kootenai NF	180	50%	8/2
ID	T2	Kechter	Hunt Creek Fire State Lands	350	25%	8/1
UT	T2	Suwyn	Joe Hatch Fire Moab FO, BLM	250	30%	UNK
CA	T2	Wendt	Ackley Fire Modoc NF	9,600	60%	7/30
WY	T2	Blume	Ditch Creek Fire Bighorn NF	370	60%	7/31
SD	ST2	Jones	Red Point Fire Black Hills NF	17,000	60%	7/30
CA	T2	Dietrich McCormick	Basin Fire Sequoia NF	1,200	100%	CND
ID	T2	To T3 team	Crystal Creek Fire Salmon-Challis NF	1,319	755	UNK
OR	T2	Morcom	Clark Fire Willamette NF	4,964	70%	8/2
WA	ST	Jennings	McGinnis Flats Fire Colville Agency	2,245	85%	7/30
NM	FUM	Cones	Dry Lake Complex Gila NF	94,580	N/A	N/A
NM	FUM	To T3 team	Turnbo Fire Gila NF	18,505	NR	UNK

Fire and Aviation Management
NPS Fire Summary - Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Glacier National Park

An area command team (Rex Mann) is coordinating the Type 1 teams assigned to the Robert, Trapper Creek Complex and Wedge Canyon Fires.

Robert Fire (9,300+ acres; 0% containment) — The McDonald Valley, which includes private residences along the lake, Lake McDonald Lodge, Apgar Village and park headquarters remain evacuated. Some moisture fell on thefire on Saturday. Over 300 people attended a public meeting at Glacier School on Sunday; another meeting was scheduled for yesterday in Columbia Falls. Stam's Type 1 team is assigned. Resource commitments as of today: 841 firefighters and overhead (including 21 crews), 72 engines and five helicopters.

Trapper Creek Complex (16,500 acres; 35% containment) — This complex includes the previously reported Wolf Gun, Paul Bunyan and Trapper Creek Fires. Raley's Type I team is assigned. Resource commitments as of today: 134 firefighters and overhead (including three crews), four engines and four helicopters. Details on the fires:

• Trapper Creek Fire (14,600 acres; 25% contained) — Fairly quiet yesterday, with only a few hot areas. Many Glacier facilities opened at noon yesterday. Going to the Sun Highway is open from the East Entrance to Logan Pass.
• Wolf Gun Fire (1,600 acres; 35% contained) — The fire was active on Monday, with short uphill runs, but stayed within the confinement area. The fire has not crossed Anaconda Creek to the south.
• Paul Bunyan Fire (350 acres; 100% contained) — The fire has been contained.

Wedge Canyon Fire (19,667 acres; 5% contained) — About a thousand acres of this fire are within the park. The fire, located in the far northwest corner of the park, is presently burning in the Kintla drainage and will likely burn to Kintla Lake. Structure protection has been installed at the Kishenehn and Kintla Ranger Stations. Six homes and 23 outbuildings outside of the park have been lost. As a precautionary measure, the North Fork Subdistrict has been evacuated and closed due to limited resources and other fires in the park. Bennett's Type 1 team is assigned. Resource commitments as of today: 948 firefighters and overhead (including 21 crews), 51 engines and four helicopters.

Mesa Verde National Park

Balcony House Complex (2,750 acres; 100% contained) — The fire has been fully contained through use of natural barriers and a burned area. It is being managed by a Type 3 team.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Coffeepot Fire (15 acres; 100% contained) — The fire was fully contained on Sunday. Two crews are mopping up and patrolling the area.

Zion National Park

Timber Top Complex (296 acres) — Most fire activity is in the bowl below the rim. Two small areas on the mesa top are producing smoke.

Zion National Park (UT)
Timber Top Fire Use Complex (Wildland Fire,Wildland Fire Use)

Two lightning-ignited wildland fires (Timber Top Mountain and Nagunt Mesa) are burning in mixed brush,fir and ponderosa pine on isolated mesa tops (Research Natural Areas)in the northern section of the park. Due to their location, they are being managed as FIRE USE FIRES. There are no resource values presently at risk. Both fires are being monitored from the ground and air by park personnel. (full report)
The fire activity has been reduced due to .16 inches of rain along with lower humidities on Friday, July 25. Most of the tops of the mesas have burned off and the main fire activity is located in an isolated bowl below Timber Top. Ground and air monitoring will continue.
Status
The LaVerkin Creek Trail is closed until further notice.
Acreage: 297-acres total
Resources Committed: 10-15 personnel and air support for recon.
Estimated containment date: July 31, 2003[Submitted by David Eaker, david_eaker@nps.gov, 435-772-7811]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

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Fire and Aviation Management
Message on 2003 Fire Season

I think it is timely for us to stop and think about where we are with the remainder of this summer's fire season. With August just around the corner, we have at least two more months of another challenging season. Fire danger indices are running very high to extreme in several states and at or near all time highs in some parts of the country. The current activity we are seeing is consistent with these conditions.

On an interagency basis, we are now at the highest possible Preparedness Level (PL5), in expectation of continued weather conditions, resource shortages and response needs. There are multiple Type and I and Type 2 Incident Managment Teams committed as well as two Area Command Teams on large fire support. There will continue to be emphasis and information sharing on these large fires and the intensity of activity that surrounds them.

In addition to recognizing the importance of incident support to large fires, I must acknowledge the critical work of the localized, intial attack personnel who do a tremendous job of initial response to new fires. Your continued success in sizing up and appropriately responding to new starts is key to minimizing the impacts of this fire season. Your job is recognized as some of the hazardous work we do, particularly when small fires do exceed our capabilities and you must manage the transition to an expanded organization.

Lastly, I must mention the tragic loss of two firefighters last week on the Cramer Fire, Salmon-Challis National Forest. While they were not NPS employees, they are fellow firefighters who will be missed, and to whom our sincere condolences go out to their families and friends. As you continue your work, please keep the reality of what can happen in mind and let's finish out our season with all our firefighters coming home safely.

In closing, "Thank you for your Professionalism and Focus on Safety" as you continue your duties this summer.
[Submitted by Edy Williams-Rhodes, Chief, Division of Fire and Aviation]

Volunteerism Office
BCHA Signs MOU with National Park Service

Back Country Horsemen of America, an organization founded 30 years ago to perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America's back country and to assist government agencies in their maintenance and management of back country resources, recently signed a new MOU with the NPS. The organization also has MOU's in place with the Forest Service and BLM.

As part of the agreement, BCHA provides support to the agency, packing in equipment and supplies needed for backcountry projects. It's easy to sign up members as VIP's to work on your park projects and definitely worth checking out.

BCHA at present has chapters located in 18 states, primarily west of the Mississippi, though the organization is expanding and now also has chapters in North and South Carolina. 

If you are interested in learning more about the Back Country Horsemen of America and how they might help with your projects, contact Lee Dickinson. the Service's special park uses program manager, or Joy Pietschmann, Servicewide volunteer coordinator, at 202-513-7141.
[Submitted by Lee Dickinson]

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.