INCIDENTS

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Zion National Park (UT)
Rescue from Angels Landing Trail

A visitor sustained head and arm injuries and suffered from intermittent unconsciousness after a ten-foot fall while hiking the Angels Landing trail on the afternoon of August 17th. Ranger Erich Robb and parkmedic Cindy Purcell hiked to the scene, evaluated the woman's condition, then requested a helicopter short-haul evacuation. The Grand Canyon NP helicopter responded, arriving about two hours after the incident was initially reported. The woman was flown from the trail to Zion Lodge, then taken by ambulance to the hospital in St. George. She was found to be suffering from an epidural hematoma and was transferred to the trauma center in Las Vegas. Ray O'Neil was IC. This was the third time this year that Grand Canyon's helicopter was used to short-haul a patient from the Angels Landing trail.
[Submitted by Chuck Passek]

Yosemite National Park (CA)
Rescue of Injured Climber at Glacier Point

Valley rangers received a report of an injured climber on the afternoon of August 14th. They found K.R., 44, of Rocklin, California, at the base of the Glacier Point Apron, suffering from serious injuries incurred during a fall from a climbing route called "The Gob." K.R. had been scrambling unroped and was descending when she slipped and slid about 50 feet down steep granite slabs. Rangers employed advanced life support measures to stabilize her; she was then evacuated over scree by the Valley SAR team. K.R. was flown to a trauma center in Modesto, where she was treated for significant internal injuries. She was reported in critical but stable condition the day after the incident.
[Submitted by Steve Yu, IC]

Biscayne National Park (FL)
Arrest for Theft of Boat

While on patrol in the Boca Chita Lighthouse channel on August 10th, rangers Brian Fields (Biscayne) and Michelle Gilbert (Everglades) saw a 33-foot Donzi maneuver over native seagrass, a significant environmental issue at Biscayne. Fields stopped the boat and identified the two non-English speaking occupants as J.R. and F.C.. J.R., a foreign national, was operating the boat. The rangers determined that the Donzi had been stolen from Jacksonville. The boat was found to contain eight fuel drums with an in-line pump, both commonly used in drug and alien smuggling operations. A National Security Agency jacket was also found on board. A joint investigation was conducted by the NPS, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Customs and Miami-Dade Metro PD. J.R. was arrested for the stolen vessel and F.C. was detained for further investigation.
[Submitted by Brian Fields, Park Ranger]

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Suicide

On the afternoon of August 11th, park dispatch received a report of a man with a head laceration near the backcountry office. Ranger Dave Berry contacted a park employee at the scene who reported that the injured man had actually suffered an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, was still breathing, and had the handgun beside him on a picnic table near the parking lot. Berry called for assistance and approached the man with his weapon drawn. He determined that the man was unconscious, made the scene safe and began airway management. Additional units, including three paramedic rangers, arrived and began advanced life support efforts. The man was transported by helicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he was declared dead on August 13th. Significant investigation was required to determine his identity as S.P. of Phoenix. A vehicle abandoned near the scene the night before and a tattoo on S.P.'s neck were the final clues to his identity. Rangers who impounded the vehicle found an empty holster and a bag of bullets on the front seat. S.P. had been contacted by maintenance employees early in the morning of August 11th when he retrieved an unknown object from a bathroom trash can and ran away.
[Submitted by Karyl Yeston, Supervisory Park Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Summary - Sunday, August 24, 2003

Preparedness Level 5

NIFC reported heavy initial attack in southern California and moderate initial attack in the eastern Great Basin on Saturday. There were 208 new fires. The Army's Task Force Steel Dragon has been committed to the Fish Creek Fire in the Lolo National Forest.

Fire Danger

Day	8/19	8/20	8/21	8/22	8/23	8/24
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
Kansas	--	--	--	--	--	VX
Minnesota	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Montana	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Nevada	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
New Mexico	VX	--	--	--	VX	--
North Dakota	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Oklahoma	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Oregon	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
South Dakota	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Texas	VX	--	--	--	VX	VX
Utah	VX	VX	--	--	--	--
Washington	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Wyoming	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX

VX = Very high to extreme danger

National Resource Commitments

Day	8/18	8/19	8/20	8/21	8/22	8/23	8/24
Crews	507	503	541	569	550	588	570
Engines	954	1,005	1,065	1,134	1,226	1,139	1,112
Helicopters	171	169	157	174	174	161	199
Air Tankers	0	2	0	1	2	0	2
Overhead	4,738	4,799	4,643	4,869	5,170	5,607	6,006

National Team Commitments

Teams are listed alphabetically by type. 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
MT	ACT	Greenhoe	Lolo-Bitterroot NF Fires	---	---	---
MT	ACT	Mann	Flathead NF/Glacier NP Fires	---	---	---
MT	ACT	Ribar	Montana Fires	---	---	---
MT	ACT	Rounsaville	Montana Fires	---	---	---
OR	T1	Anderson	B&B Complex Deschutes NF	25,800	10	UNK
MT	T1	Bennett	Mineral/Primm Fire State Lands	16,000	30	UNK
MT	T1	Ferguson	Robert Fire Flathead NF/Glacier NP	44,372	60	9/20
MT	T1	Ferguson	Middle Fork Complex Glacier NP	642	0	9/15
MT	T1	Ferguson	Beta Lake — Doris Fires Flathead NF	300	0	9/15
MT	T1 T2	Ferguson Paul	Trapper Creek Complex Glacier NP	25,590	65	9/5
ID	T1	Frye	Beaver Lake Complex Clearwater NF	22,397	38	UNK
MT	T1	Gelobter	Black Mountain 2 State Lands	7,023	75	8/28
MT	T1	Humphrey	Cathedral Peak Fire Custer NF	1,496	2	UNK
ID	T1	Oltrogge	Rough Draw Complex Gallatin NF	2,874	35	UNK
ID	T1	Sexton	Sapp Fire Nez Perce NF	9,648	0	UNK
ID	T1	Sexton	Slims Complex Nez Perce NF	14,747	65	8/25
MT	T1	Studebaker	Lincoln Complex Helena NF	33,252	12	UNNK
MT	T1	Vail	Crazy Horse Fire Flathead NF	10,150	30	UNK
ID	T2	Beauchamp	Milepost 59 Fire State Lands	8,142	100	CND
MT	T2	Benes	Fish Creek Fire Lolo NF	26,800	0	UNK
MT	T2	Berndt	Strawberry Complex Lolo NF	1,021	100	CND
MT	T2	Dietrich	Cherry Creek Complex Lolo NF	4,088	76	UNK
WY	T2	Gardner	East Complex Yellowstone NP	20,500	30	UNK
MT	T2	Hendricks	Burnt Ridge/Sheep Camp Complex Lewis and Clark NF	1,714	46	UNK
WY	T2	Hill	Boulder Basin 2 Shoshone NF	14,500	20	9/15
MT	T2	Hoff	Boles Meadow Fire State Lands	4,050	90	8/24
WA	T2	Johnson	Wlcox Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF	500	70	8/25
MT	T2	Kearney	Winslow Fire State Lands	10,125	35	UNK
OR	T2	Morcum	Lightning Complex Wallowa-Whitman NF	11,000	50	8/30
ID	T2	Muir	Withington Fire Salmon-Challis NF	10,500	100	CND
WY	T2	Mullenix	Four Rim Fire Rocks Springs FO, BLM	700	80	UNK
MT	T2	Paul	Wedge Canyon Fire Flathead NF	41,600	60	9/15
MT	T2	Philbin	Gold 1 Fire Bitterroot NF	8,006	30	UNK
ID	T2	Rios	Fiddle Fire Nez Perce NF	713	0	UNK
ID	T2	Saleen	South Fork Fire Boise NF	6,950	100	CND
MT	T2	Sandman	Cooney Ridge Complex State Lands	21,480	35	9/15
MT	T2	Sczepanik	Windmill Complex Crow Agency	30,000	100	CND
ID	T2	Suwyn	North Fork Lick Fire Payette NF	8,219	25	UNK
MT	T2	Weldon	High Fire Flathead NF	120	0	UNK
WY	T2	Wendt	Blackwater Fire Shoshone NF	300	40	9/15
WY	T2	Wendt	Norris Fire Shoshone NF	3,600	0	9/1
WA	ST	Jennings/Perry	Togo Mountain Fire Colville NF	5,137	35	8/26
ID	FUM	Bonefeld	Frank Church Fire Payette NF	3,361	N/A	N/A
ID	FUM	Clark	Middle Fork Complex Salmon-Challis NF	27,425	NR	UNK
ID	FUM	Cones	Cayuse Lake Complex Clearwater NF	9,321	N/A	N/A
ID	FUM	Cones	Clear/Nez Complex Clearwater NF	9,834	N/A	N/A
MT	FUM	Weldon	Little Salmon Creek Complex Flathead NF	30,906	N/A	N/A

PARK FIRE SITUATION

The following narratives on park fires were prepared by the NPS Fire Management Program Center and are current as of late Saturday. Acreages, containment figures and resource commitments are from NIFC's Sunday morning situation report.

Yellowstone NP

East Complex

The fire has burned 20,500 acres and is 30% contained. No date has been established for full containment.

Cool and cloudy weather and light rainfall on Friday helped reduce the immediate threat to the park's East Entrance Road. Conditions have also aided firefighters. Crews are making good progress in their efforts to build fire lines to contain the eastern flanks of both the East and Grizzly Fires. The East Fire continues to burn high on the north side of the Crow Creek drainage in the vicinity of Silvertip Peak. The fire is pushing up against an old burn that is helping slow expansion. Water drops and retardant have helped crews with direct line construction. Crews are building fire lines along the Signal Hills south of the Grizzly Fire. The fire continues to creep downhill on the northeast side of Grizzly Peak.

The East Entrance Road was to be partially reopened to public travel on Sunday - from 6 to 9 a.m. in the morning and 6 to 9 p.m. in the evening. Stopping will be prohibited along the 16 miles of road between Fishing Bridge and Sylvan Pass because of still-smoldering fuels, falling snags and fire-weakened trees. Backcountry trails closed due to fire activity include the Turbid Lake, Jones Pass, Ninemile, Avalanche Peak, Pelican Valley to Mist Pass, Pitchstone Plateau, Bighorn and Union Falls trails. Visitors using the backcountry are encouraged to call 307-344-2160 for specific trail closure information and other possible restrictions.

Resource commitments as of Sunday (Wednesday's figures in parentheses):

• Firefighters/overhead — 720 (681)
• Crews — 20 (20)
• Engines — 11 (12)
• Helicopters — 5 (5)

Tyson Fire

The fire has burned 150 acres and was close to full containment on Friday. It's located on fairly steep slopes in the Beaverdam Creek drainage east of the Southeast Arm of Yellowstone Lake. Park crews have been suppressing the fire using minimum impact management tactics.

Union Fire

This 800-acre fire is located between the Bechler area and Pitchstone Plateau in a very remote location. Much of the acreage inside the perimeter remains unburned. The fire is being managed by confinement strategy due to its remoteness and lack of good safety zones.

Glacier NP

An area command team (Mann) is coordinating the teams assigned to the Beta Lake-Doris Ridge, Wedge Canyon, Middle Fork Complex, Crazy Horse, High, Robert, Trapper Creek Complex and Little Salmon Creek Complex Fires.

On Friday, the park's fire management personnel assumed responsibility for initial attack on all new starts throughout the park. Several new fires have been reported. No problems with management of these fires are foreseen.

The entire 50-mile length of Going-to-the-Sun Road is now open.

Robert Fire

The fire has burned 44,372 acres and is 60% contained. Full containment is expected by September 20th.

The fire was reported to be creeping, making upslope runs and occasionally torching. Spot fires on Stanton Mountain above the upper McDonald Creek drainage became active on Saturday, with multiple flare-ups, torching and spotting due to increased winds. Except in this drainage, all control lines appeared to be holding. Crews withdrew to safe areas when the spot fires above upper McDonald Creek became active; gusty winds and nearby storm cells also forced a temporary suspension of air operations. Firefighters also worked on the Middle Fork Complex and Beta Lake-Doris Ridge Complex fires.

Resource commitments as of Sunday (Wednesday's figure in parentheses):

• IMT — Ferguson's Type 1 team
• Firefighters/overhead — 578 (730)
• Crews — 9 (30)
• Engines — 26 (16)
• Helicopters — 4 (4)

Trapper Creek Complex

The fire has burned 25,590 acres and is 65% contained. Full containment is expected by September 5th.

The Trapper Creek Fire is being monitored by ground and air when weather permits. Occasional tree torching and short line runs were observed on Saturday. No active suppression operations are underway due to extremely dry fuels, inaccessible terrain, and the remote location of the fire. The Wolf Gun Fire continues to grow. It is being monitored entirely from the air. Creeping and short surface runs with occasional torching were observed.

Resource commitments as of yesterday (Wednesday's figure in parentheses):

• IMT's — Ferguson's Type 1 team (Trapper Creek, Trout Fires) and Paul's Type 2 team (Wolf Gun and Paul Bunyan Fires)
• Firefighters/overhead — 21 (25)
• Crews — 1 (1)
• Engines — 0 (2)
• Helicopters — 0 (0)

Wedge Canyon Fire

The fire has burned 41,600 acres and is 60% contained. Full containment is expected by September 15th.

A little rain fell on the fire on Friday. Activity and spread were minimal. The fire was slowly backing downslope due to the increased humidity. Many divisions of the fire are in patrol and mop-up status. Saturday's focus was on the Trail Creek and North Fork Road areas; firefighters secured and patrolled fire lines and continued protection of structures.

Resource commitments as of Sunday (Wednesday's figure in parentheses):

• IMT — Paul's Type 2 team
• Firefighters/overhead — 388 (547)
• Crews — 4 (8)
• Engines — 15 (18)
• Helicopters — 4 (3)

Other Park Fires

Fire operations elsewhere in the system include:

• Grand Teton NP — Two WFU fires are reported — one of a half-acre, the other of ten acres. They will be managed along with two fires on the Bridger-Teton NF as the Moss Ridge Complex. Cook's fire use management team is managing these fires.
• Mount Rainier NP — Three fires within the park are being managed as a complex by the Central Washington Area IMT 5. The Panther Fire (12 acres) is burning in the southeast section of the park near Ohanapecosh; the Redstone Fire (12 acres) is burning in the backcountry near Lake James on Redstone Peak in steep and rugged terrain; the Chenius Fire (less than an acre), located near Carbon River in the northwest part of the park, has been contained and is being monitored. Park facilities remain open.
• North Cascades NP — Seven fires are burning in remote areas of the park within natural barriers. The biggest is the 164-acre Tricouni Fire.
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP — The Williams Fire (550 acres) remains active, so several trail closures remain in effect — Marvin Pass to Kanawyer Gap, Kanawyer Gap to Comanche Meadow, Comanche Meadow to Rowell Meadow, and the Bell Canyon trail along Sugarloaf Creek near the Comanche trail junction. An area closure around the fire has also been instituted to protect cross-country travelers. Other trails remain closed due to the Giant and Dennison Fires - the Wolverton Cutoff trail from Alta trail to High Sierra trail; Alta trail between Congress Loop and Wolverton Cutoff; Trail of the Sequoias from Congress Loop and Log Meadow; Huckleberry Meadow trail between Alta trail and Squatter's Cabin.
• Wrangell-St. Elias NP — The Black Hills Fire (41,600 acres) is in the park and Tetlin Refuge and is being managed for wildland fire use. Active behavior, including several runs, have been reported over recent days.

North Cascades National Park (WA)
North Cascades National Park Service Complex (Wildland Fire,Wildland Fire Use)

Fire personnel continue to monitor seven, lightning-caused fires in the park. The largest fire is Tricouni, 164 acres in size. These fires are burning in remote, fire use areas with natural barriers to fire spread, and are being allowed to play their natural role in the ecosystem. An eighth fire, Colonial, which is 0.25 acre in size, is being suppressed due to its location near visitor services. (full report)
Status
No closures associated with the fire.
Acreage: North Unit fires: Big Beaver (10 acres), Skymo Ridge (.25 acres) South Unit fires: Tricouni (164 acres), Klawatti (11 acres), Little Devil (.5 acre), Marble Creek (.1 acre), Hidden Lake Peak (.5 acre)
Resources Committed: Aircraft: 3 helicopters; Personnel: NPS=22, USFS=2, WA Dept. of Natural Resources=2
Estimated containment date: unknown[Submitted by Annie Larsen, annie_larsen@nps.gov, 360-873-4590 x7193]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

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Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Court Rules for NPS in B-29 Ownership Case

On August 18, 2003, U.S. District Court Judge Kent J. Dawson ruled the Historic Aircraft Recovery Corporation failed to meet its burden of proof in their motion for ownership the B-29 aircraft that crashed into the Overton Arm of Lake Mead in 1948. Additionally, the court ruled against a temporary restraining order preventing the National Park Service (NPS) from studying or doing any work on the B-29 and/or the crash site.

The decision clearly states the B-29 was never abandoned by the federal government. The NPS participated in the rescue of the B-29 crew, and has, over the years, claimed ownership of the wreck for the federal government. Additionally, the actions of the National Park Service have not shown any intention to relinquish legal rights to the B-29. The court cited the NPS has demonstrated its interest in the B-29 as an important historical artifact by issuing diving restrictions to protect the aircraft and the site and participating in the determination of eligibility of the aircraft and site for the National Register of Historic Places. The NPS has defended its interest on behalf of the American people, in this, and a previous lawsuit.

The court also stated the government has generally-known the location of the crash site since 1948. Additionally, the court agreed with the government's argument that the wreck is located on a plateau about 160 feet above the bed of the Virgin River on federally-owned land. This is an important point because it maintains the ownership of the aircraft by the federal government for the American people. The court did not agree with the plaintiff that the crash is in the location of the original Virgin River channel. This would have changed the jurisdiction of the site to the state of Nevada.

On August 6, 2002, the National Park Service was informed that a group of local divers had located an Army Air Force B-29 bomber, which had crashed in the Overton Arm of Lake Mead more than 55 years ago. All crewmembers survived the crash, and their stories in conjunction with Army Air Force crash reports were instrumental in locating the aircraft. The aircraft was located at a depth that requires technical skill and specialized equipment to access.

The B-29 Superfortress was one of the first high-altitude heavy bombers and was reported to have carried equipment specifically designed for what was once a top-secret mission of atmospheric research. Because there are few examples of the B-29 left in existence this aircraft is a very significant cultural resource.

The National Park Service has worked with its Submerged Resource Center to do a full condition assessment and site documentation. Established in 1980, the Center formed the first underwater archaeology team in the federal government. They have conducted surveys in over 120 units throughout the National Park System using minimum impact techniques to collect data without harming the underwater resources. The team was at Lake Mead in June 2003 to conduct additional inventory work and analysis, including corrosion studies, on the B-29 bomber and site. The NPS Submerged Resources Team has been recently featured on the Discovery and History channels for their work on the USS Arizona.

Superintendent William K. Dickinson said, "The NPS is planning to meet with members of the local dive community in the very near future to work collaboratively on a management plan that will allow the public to experience the site while protecting it for future generations as part of a comprehensive site stewardship plan."

Scientific studies and analysis at the site will be an on-going process. The B-29 and the site upon which it rests are managed by the National Park Service under the National Historic Preservation Act. Federal law prohibits any disturbance of this protected resource.

In January 2003, Lake Mead National Recreation Area Superintendent William K. Dickinson announced that the requirement to obtain a scuba diving permit for a portion of the Lower Overton Arm of Lake Mead has been extended through January 21, 2004. The restriction is necessary to protect the B-29, a sensitive archaeological resource. Permits for scuba diving will be considered on a case by case basis and can be requested through the Chief Ranger's Office at 702.293.8908.
[Submitted by Roxanne Dey]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

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White Sands National Monument (NM)
Acting Chief Ranger Detail

Dates: 08/25/2003 - 08/28/2003

White Sands National Monument is seeking an Acting Chief Ranger for a 90-120 day detail beginning as soon as possible.  White Sands is dedicated to preserving the world's largest gypsum dune field, and is located in the beautiful Tularosa Basin near Alamogordo, NM. Travel and per diem will be paid.  If interested, please contact Cliff Spencer by August 29^th.  The park will be advertising for the Chief Ranger position and an LE Ranger in the near future.

 
[Submitted by Cliff Spencer, cliff_spencer@nps.gov, 505-679-2599 x220]

Denali National Park & Preserve (AK)
Two GS-2151-05 Dispatchers

The park will be recruiting for two permanent dispatcher positions in the Communications Center within the Ranger Division. The Communication Center, located at park headquarters, handles all-risk incidents and public safety dispatching and provides telecommunications services for all divisions within the park. The Communications Center operates 365 days a year. Denali National Park and Preserve is a large (6.2 million acre) destination park containing three visitor centers, 95 miles of road, and six campgrounds serving in excess of 300,000 visitors a year. Housing may be available.
[Submitted by Ann Marie Chytra]

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.