World War II Memorial Dedication A Great Success
On Saturday, May 29th, the dedication of the World War II Memorial
took place on the National Mall. The event drew over 100,000 visitors
and many high-profile dignitaries, including President Bush and former
Presidents Bush and Clinton. The Park Police were in charge of the
security plan, which took months to develop and involved numerous
agencies. Personnel from about 38 outside law enforcement agencies,
including rangers from nearby parks, were asked to assist with security
and to help provide a safe environment. The department has since
received accolades for a job well done from both the media and those who
attended. There were no arrests, and no criminal activities were
recorded that pertained to the event. The health of veterans during the
event was a major concern, and proper planning proved to be invaluable.
Park Police and NPS and DC EMS teams treated over 100 people for minor
health problems. Thirty of them were taken to local hospitals, but none
had life-threatening ailments.
[Submitted by Sgt. Scott Fear, US Park
Police]
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (OH)
Heavy Rains Cause Significant Flooding
On Friday, May 21st, heavy rains and strong winds battered the park
and surrounding communities in northeast Ohio. There was major flooding
in the park and some roads were impassable for several days. A large
number of trees were uprooted and sections of the popular Ohio &
Erie Canal Towpath Trail were undercut, removed, or covered with
mud. There was damage to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad,
requiring that the tracks be cleared of debris before the train can
operate. Efforts were being made to reopen most of Towpath Trail for the
Memorial Day weekend.
[Submitted by Chris Ryan, Chief Ranger]
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Technical Rescue of Injured Climber
The park received a 911 call at 7:45 a.m. on May 22nd, advising that a 31-year-old woman had fallen while climbing and was stranded on a 100-foot cliff above the lake in Warm Springs Canyon within Bullfrog Subdistrict. The caller reported that the woman was complaining of ankle pain, but that she evidently hadn't suffered any life-threatening injuries. Six rangers responded — Tim Sveum (IC), Greg Kouns (ops), and Jason Bauwens, Laurie Axelsen, Andrew Fitzgerald and Shuni Roth. A county deputy joined them. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter was used to transport them and their gear to the top of the 300-foot cliff. The SAR team set up a bolted anchor system to lower rescuers and a litter down to the woman, who complained of back, ankle and wrist pain. She was lowered to a park boat, taken to a landing zone, and airlifted to a hospital.
[Submitted by Tim Sveum, Park Ranger]
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Two Drownings
Rangers dealt with two drownings in the park on the weekend before
last. The first was at 83 Dollar Cove on Saturday, May 22nd, and came in
as a report of a possible drowning with CPR in progress. A 22-year-old
man who'd been jet skiing all day had just come to shore. He removed his
life jacket and was last seen standing in six feet of water. After a
short time, witnesses reported that he was found floating face down in
the lake. He was immediately pulled from the water and rescue efforts
were begun. Rangers took him to Princess Cove by boat, where advanced
life measures were administered but proved fruitless. Then, on Sunday, a
report came in of a swimmer in need of assistance at Grebe Cove. Rangers
arriving at the scene learned that V.P., 46, had
disappeared after attempting to swim back to his houseboat. The
houseboat had been stopped so that V.P. could slide into the lake,
but had been moved by high winds. Although it was evident that V.P.
was having difficulty returning to the boat, efforts to reach him by
boat and provide him with a life jacket were unsuccessful. The water
depth at the point last seen is about 180 feet. Efforts are underway to
recover the body.
[Submitted by Marc Burt, Canyon District Ranger;
Dirk Murphy, Mohave District Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report Highlights — Thursday, June 3, 2004
Preparedness Level 1
Only 79 fires were reported yesterday. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming.
Warnings and Watches
No watches or warnings have been posted for today.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
|
Date |
5/28 |
5/29 |
5/30 |
5/31 |
6/1 |
6/2 |
6/3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crews |
43 |
38 |
36 |
35 |
36 |
36 |
35 |
|
Engines |
86 |
102 |
85 |
53 |
57 |
85 |
71 |
|
Helicopters |
22 |
22 |
21 |
15 |
12 |
13 |
16 |
|
Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
570 |
526 |
534 |
499 |
473 |
364 |
332 |
National/State Team Commitments
Newly listed fires (on this report) appear below in boldface. Fires are sorted by type of team; teams are listed in alphabetical order within each type by the IC's last name. Asterisks indicate state teams.
|
State |
Type |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres |
Acres |
Percent |
Est Full |
|
| |||||||
|
NM |
T2 |
Bateman |
Peppin Fire |
33,500 |
38,000 |
30 |
UNK |
|
FL |
T2 * |
Jones |
Road 1 Fire |
3,000 |
3,000 |
60 |
UNK |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Kvale |
KP Fire |
15,181 |
15,700 |
90 |
UNK |
Further Information
This report is meant to present just highlights of the current fire situation. Two other NIFC sites provide much greater detail:
Full NIFC Situation Report (PDF file) — http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf
National Fire News — http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
Information on the NPS Fire Management Program Center (FMPC) and on park fires can be found at:
FMPC — http://www.nps.gov/fire
Park fires — http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
Noatak National Preserve (AK)
Uvgoon Creek (ref # 0127) (Wildland Fire)
This lightning caused wildland fire ignited after a statewide, Memorial Day weekend lightning bust that totaled 7,876 strikes. (full report)
Acreage: 150 acres
Estimated containment date: October 1, 2004[Submitted by Dan Warthin, Dan_Warthin@nps.gov, 907-683-9548]
Lassen Volcanic National Park (CA)
Manzanita Lake Prescribed Fire (Prescribed Fire Treatment)
This prescribed fire plan has been written to faciliate initial treatment of the Manzanita Lake project. The total acreage for the project is 675 acres and is mostly Fuel Model 9.
The burn was initiated at 11:00 hrs. on June 2nd and will take 2-3 days to complete. Crews from the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service are working together to complete this burn. (full report)
Status: Several trails will be closed near the prescribed burn area.
Acreage: 675 acres over two days
Resources Committed: NPS, BLM, BIA, USFS
Estimated containment date: June 4, 2004[Submitted by Scott Isaacson, scott_isaacson@nps.gov, 530 595-4444 x 5162]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
Quarterly "Lessons Learned" Newsletter Posted
The latest edition of Scratchline, the quarterly lessons learned newsletter, is now on line at: http://www.wildfirelessons.net/Scratchline.htm See Issue 8, Winter 2004.
This issue features lessons learned from the Southern California Firestorm 2003, Strategy and Tactics (Adapting Strategic Thinking, Structure Triage, Structure Protection Branches and Groups, Strike Team Organization, Bump and Run versus Anchor and Hold, and Residual Fire.)
Also featured are Lessons Learned by Crew Bosses collected through interviews with ten Type 2 crew bosses during the summer and fall of 2003. Lessons learned from achieved successes (A Well-Prepared Crew, A People Job, Taking Initiative and Providing Leadership in a Deteriorating Situation, and Turning a Crew Around), overcoming a challenge (Creating a Cohesive Team, Maintaining Control, Crew Safety and Welfare, Developing Crew Cohesion, and An Important Developmental Position), training curriculum recommendations (Qualification and Certification), and unresolved issues with recommendations (Training and Certifying Contract Crews).
A new feature on the Lessons Learned Center web site in the Center Library is the Forms and Templates page at: http://www.wildfirelessons.net/Libr_Forms.html. Forms and templates regarding accidents, snags, driving, certificates, fire behavior, ICS, best practices, safety, and checklists that people find useful in the field and classroom are now posted on this page. Please forward additional forms and templates you use on incidents to the Lessons Learned Center.
[Submitted by Paula Nasiatka, Center Manager]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Midwest Region
Passing of Judy Marian Wendt
Judy Wendt, a 20-year employee of Voyageurs National Park, died unexpectedly at home on Sunday, May 30. Judy was born in Littlefork, MN on December 6, 1952. She graduated from Littlefork High School in 1971 and from Rainy River Community College in International Falls, MN in 1973. Judy was first employed at Voyageurs NP in 1984 as a temporary Information Receptionist. She was hired into a permanent position in 1985 as clerk in the Administration Division. Following a detail in purchasing, she was appointed Purchasing Agent for the park. In 1995 she was promoted to Contract Specialist--a job she embraced with relish, determination, and humor. Judy held a red card and performed in several different logistics roles on NPS fire assignments, including Supply Unit Leader and Logistics Section Chief (Type II).
Judy's great passion in life was her family; her husband of 33 years, Larry Wendt, and their sons Daniel, Kenneth, and Benjamin and their families, especially her five grandchildren. Judy enjoyed gardening, fishing,sewing, and spending time at the family cabin on Red Lake. Park staff and friends throughout the service will remember Judy for her total dedication to bringing park projects to fruition and her feistiness, energy, and love of a good laugh. She will be deeply missed.
Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, June 4, Littlefork Baptist Church. The family prefers memorials to Koochiching County Hospice or the American Cancer Society. Green-Larsen Mortuary, Inc. of International Falls is handling arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com or sent in care of Voyageurs National Park, 3131 Highway 53, International Falls, MN 56649, attention: Audrey Chute.
[Submitted by Audrey Chute, Audrey_Chute@nps.gov , 218-283-9821]
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.