INCIDENTS

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East Coast Areas
Incident Teams Mobilize Resources for Post-Isabel Recovery

Tuesday was a day for organization, assessment and orientation of incoming personnel who will be working on incident recovery operations. JD Swed's Type 1 team has relocated to Williamsburg. Operations there will be divided into two branches — one will deal with the problems at Colonial NHP (see below), the other with recovery at Petersburg NB, Richmond NBP and Fredericksburg/Spotsylania NMP. Branch directors completed visits to all these sites on Monday and Tuesday. Rick Brown's Type 2 team will be handling Cape Lookout NS and Cape Hatteras NS and is organizing for operations there. A primary challenge for his team will be accessing the parks due to the severe transportation infrastructure problems at both sites.

Details on both operations will appear on Thursday or Friday, once incident action plans and 209's are prepared and available, but some preliminary numbers on personnel commitment are available, courtesy of Shenandoah EICC. Sixty overhead and one Type 2 crew (a total of 80 people) have been committed to date to Outer Bank operations; another 100 overhead and two Type 1 crews (a total of 140 people) have been committed to the Colonial-based operation.

Only two park reports are available today:

Colonial NHP

Historic Jamestowne and the Yorktown Battlefield remain closed as damage assessments continue at both sites. The Colonial Parkway from Route 199/Kings Point west to Route 159 at Jamestown reopened at noon on Monday, and plans called for the reopening of the segment from Route 199/Cheatham Annex east to Yorktown later that day. The cleanup task facing the park and the supporting Type 1 team has been described by the superintendent as "overwhelming." Here's a brief overview:

• Historic Jamestowne — The heaviest damage to the park occurred here, where a combination of storm surge and high tide caused extensive flooding and water damage across Jamestown Island. Electrical power is out at the visitor center and is expected to remain out for some time. Storm water breached the basement of the visitor center, causing extensive damage to the building's utilities and a portion of the park's curatorial collection. The Jamestown glasshouse also suffered from extensive flooding from storm surge. Hundreds of trees are down along the island's loop drive, though non eof the wooden bridges along the route washed away. Preliminary indications are that erosion along the Jamestown shoreline was relatively minor, due in part to the series of breakwaters and control measures that have been constructed over the past several months.
• Yorktown Battlefield — Damage to the battlefield is extensive. The visitor center and park headquarters remain without power and will not reopen until electricity is restored. The tour roads have hundreds of downed trees on them and are closed. Historic houses — including the Nelson House and Moore House — survived with little damage, although high winds and downed trees have affected landscaping. Storm surge in the York River caused extensive damage to the park's beach picnic area; erosion along the riverbanks is severe in many places. Water breached the cellar of the Archer Cottage on Water Street, and strong waves destroyed most of the fence around the structure.
• Colonial Parkway — Though damage along the parkway is extensive, it's limited primarily to downed trees and debris washed onshore from the James and York rivers. No major structural damage is reported to the parkway's surface or to any of the bridges along the 23-mile roadway. It took three days of work for crews to get the first segments of the road opened on Monday.

George Washington Birthplace NM/Thomas Stone NHS

Thomas Stone NHS has reopened for normal visitation, but much work remains to be done at the birthplace., where sustained winds of 80 mph and a recorded gust of 105 mph did considerable damage:

• Over 300 trees were downed or damaged, including many trees in a historic 19th century eastern red cedar grove.
• The shoreline along the Potomac River was severely eroded, causing as yet undetermined archeological damage.
• Structural damage was inflicted to the birth site foundation, colonial workshop, spinning shop, historic spring house, and one of the housing units.
• The visitor center suffered extensive roof and deck damage.
• Electrical and phone service remain out.

Additional reports will appear daily during recovery operations, which will likely go on for some time. Current information and essential documents from the incident management teams will be available at the IMT web page: http://www.nps.gov/fire/allrisk/ . Please check if for additional details.

Reports compiled from submissions by Kris Fister, IO, Type 1 IMT; John Storke, Facility Management Specialist, GEWA; and Mike Litterst, PIO, COLO.

Everglades National Park (FL)
Illegal Dump Investigation Leads To Arrests, Drug Seizure

On Friday, September 12th, rangers, DEA agents, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agents executed a search warrant obtained by rangers on an upscale residence in the South Miami area. The residence was the target of a lengthy investigation lead by rangers Michelle Gilbert and David Pharo, which evolved from an illegal dump found in the East Everglades Subdistrict on July 4th. The illegal dump consisted of home improvement construction debris and items that could be associated with the establishment of a marijuana hydroponics growing operation. The execution of the search warrant resulted in the arrest of three persons and seizure of 224 live marijuana plants, approximately 70 pounds of processed marijuana, an F-150 extended cab pick-up truck, tools, and over 130 other items relating to the dumping case. The seized marijuana had an estimated street value of $250,000. The three people arrested have been charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, maintaining a building for the purpose of manufacturing marijuana, and conspiracy. Charges related to the illegal dump are pending. Forfeiture of the residence, as well as the tools and truck, are being pursued, with combined values exceeding $400,000. A multi-agency investigation is ongoing with the support of the United States Attorneys Office. More arrests and seizures may be forthcoming. DEA and FDLE agents said that the residence was one of the more sophisticated grow houses they had seen in the Miami area and that the case would not have been made without the intense investigative work and exhaustive hours put in by Gilbert and Pharo.
[Submitted by Bonnie Foist, Acting Chief Ranger]

Bryce Canyon National Park (UT)
English Visitor Dies In Fall

On the afternoon of September 16th, rangers investigated a report of a mn who had fallen and sustained a head injury on the Navajo Loop trail. They found a French critical care physician performing CPR on G.D., 59, of the United Kingdom. G.D. had sustained a massive head injury after falling down a 20-foot slope with a 17-foot vertical drop. The French doctor was nearby and responded within a minute. G.D. was unresponsive to all stimuli, had fixed pupils, and stopped breathing on his own after 20 minutes. CPR was then begun. More than 16 park staff were involved in the subsequent rescue effort. G.D. was brought to a waiting Garfield County ambulance crew; contact was made with a hospital in Panguitch, and permission received to cease resuscitation efforts. G.D. was part of a tour group visiting the park. [Greg Jackson, Acting Chief Ranger]
[Submitted by Greg Jackson, Acting Chief Ranger]

Padre Island National Seashore (TX)
Interdiction Operation Results in Arrests, Seizures

Over a four-day period earlier this month, rangers conducted a special operation focusing on the smuggling of drugs and undocumented immigrants through the park. On Saturday, September 6th, a ranger stopped a smuggler in an SUV near the 39-mile marker who was transporting five Brazilians and three El Salvadorians. All were arrested and turned over to the Border Patrol. During the night of September 7th, a shark boat was detected in the Gulf of Mexico heading towards the park. The vessel landed on nearby South Padre Island and was observed offloading an unknown quantity of marijuana bales to waiting 4x4 vehicles. As the vessel headed back towards Mexican waters, law enforcement officers were able to intercept and direct the boat back to the Texas shoreline. The vessel grounded on the beach, where everyone on board fled down the surf line or into the dune fields. Partner agencies were able to arrest 10 Mexican nationals and one U.S. citizen and seize the vessel and two vehicles with 685 pounds of marijuana. Two other vehicles involved in the incident were able to elude authorities. Partnering agencies included rangers from San Antonio Missions NHP, Amistad NRA, and personnel from two bureaus of the Department of Homeland Security.
[Submitted by Randy Larson, Chief Ranger]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Ginseng Poaching Arrest

While driving on Newfound Gap Road in the Sugarlands area of the park last week, ranger Heath Soehn noticed a man, later identified as M.C., 42, of Franklin, North Carolina, exit from the woods with his 16-year-old son and begin walking up the road. Based on his experience, Soehn judged that the two were not typical hikers, so he turned his vehicle around and drove back to talk to them. As he approached, the two quickly crossed the road and hurried down an embankment toward the Little River. Soehn followed and found them at the river, standing near a large boulder. Both appeared evasive and when questioned refused to discuss what they were doing in the area. The senior M.C., however, volunteered that they had not been doing anything illegal and did not have any drugs or firearms with them. Soehn looked around the immediate area and found a muddy backpack hidden behind the large boulder. Inside the backpack, he found 50 ginseng roots. Ranger Michael Nash arrived to assist Soehn, and began questioning the elder M.C., who eventually admitted ownership of the backpack and the 50 ginseng roots. He also admitted that they had dug up and collected several other ginseng roots and hid them along the trail when they ran down the embankment to evade Soehn. M.C. took Nash back up the trail and showed him where he had dumped another 150 roots. M.C. also admitted that he had been carrying a handgun with him; he took Nash back to the large boulder and showed him a two-shot, .38 caliber derringer hidden in a crevice on the opposite side of the rock from the backpack. M.C. was charged under 36 CFR for violations of preservation of natural features and possession of a firearm. The ginseng roots have been turned over to the Science and Natural Resource Division for preparation for replanting.
[Submitted by Rick Brown, District Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Summary - Tuesday, September 23, 2003

Preparedness Level 3

Initial attack was light nationwide on Monday. Two of the 117 newly-reported fires became large fires; another three were contained.

Fire Danger

Day	9/16	9/17	9/18	9/21	9/22	9/23
Arizona	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
California	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Colorado	--	VX	VX	VX	--	VX
Hawaii	VX	VX	VX	--	VX	VX
Idaho	--	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Montana	VX	VX	VX	--	VX	VX
Nevada	VX	--	VX	VX	VX	VX
Oregon	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Utah	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Wyoming	VX	VX	--	VX	VX	VX

VX = Very high to extreme danger

National Resource Commitments

Day	9/15	9/16	9/17	9/18	9/21	9/22	9/23
Crews	241	244	216	196	182	168	153
Engines	315	380	318	261	206	248	226
Helicopters	96	96	83	70	64	55	60
Air Tankers	1	1	0	3	1	1	1
Overhead	2,740	2,728	2,153	2,174	2,719	2,736	2,676

National Team Commitments

Teams are listed alphabetically by type. New team commitments or changes in teams (as of this report) are indicated in bold face.

State	Type Team	Team IC	Fire/Location	Acres	Percent Contain	Est Full Contain
VA	T1	Ferguson	Hurricane Isabel	--	--	--
NC	T2	Collins/ Col. Holt/ Hendricks	Hurricane Isabel	--	--	--
NC	T2	Custer	Hurricane Isabel	--	--	--
CA	T2	Dietrich	Grindstone Complex Mendocino NF	8,019	93	9/24
WA	T2	Furlong	Needle Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF	17,600	39	UNK
OR	T2	Hoff	B&B Complex Deschutes NF	90,769	95	UNK
NC	T2	Wathen/ Pearson	Hurricane Isabel	--	--	--
CA	ST	Hawkins	Canoe/Honeydew Fire Humboldt-Del Norte RU	12,715	52	9/28

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.