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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Wednesday, March 29, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Cape Cod NS Shipwreck on Coast Guard Beach Park rangers and Eastham police and firefighters responded to a Coast Guard report of a fishing boat in distress just before 5 a.m. on Monday, March 27th. Upon arrival, the rangers found the 45-foot fishing vessel Josephine capsized on Coast Guard Beach and being pounded by a ten-foot breaking surf. A search was begun and within minutes an Eastham police officer found a man walking out of the 38-degree water, covered in diesel oil and very hypothermic. He told rangers that there was a second man and a small pug dog on the boat. The dog was found alive and wandering on the beach a short time later. Rangers established a unified command to search for the second man with Eastham and Coast Guard personnel. Rangers searched the beach on foot and with ATV's, police and fire units provided additional search vehicles, and Coast Guard rescue boats and helicopters covered both land and water. Around 8 a.m., rangers discovered a broken window in the former lifesaving station at Coast Guard Beach and soon found the second man inside the station, wrapped in a shower curtain for warmth. He said that he'd broken into the building to obtain shelter, taken a hot shower, then fallen asleep. Both crew members were transported to Cape Cod Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. The cold and scared pug dog was taken to a local vet. The crew members told rangers that they were en route from Maine to the town of Chatham on Cape Cod when they ran aground. The boat evidently struck a sandbar, after which they lost power and it capsized. Park maintenance employees utilized heavy equipment to remove numerous pieces of debris strewn across several hundred yards of beach. They were assisted by rangers and the park's wildland firefighters. The boat's owner will be billed for the costs of the cleanup. Coast Guard pollution control officers determined that no offshore diesel oil fuel cleanup could be conducted due to extremely hazardous seas and the rapid dispersal of the approximately 50 gallons of fuel that was spilled. Coast Guard personnel and rangers will work together on the investigation. [Stephen Prokop, Chief Ranger] Haleakala NP Visitor Center Closed by Major Storm Rain and wind knocked out power to the park on the afternoon of Sunday, March 26th. Driving storm winds with gusts of 70 mph, hail, and sleet forced the closure of Haleakala Visitor Center and restrooms located at the rim of Haleakalä on Monday morning. Visitors were encouraged to turn around or just go to the Headquarters Visitor Center at the 7,000 foot level. Although the road to the summit was open with no ice, the wind chill was estimated at two degrees below zero with winds five mph shy of being classified as hurricane force. Additional storms were predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday. At the time of the report, the park was planning to reopen the Haleakala Visitor Center on Tuesday morning, but it was considered possible that ice would force a continuation of the closure. Heaters at the visitor center and pumps for the restroom facilities were inoperable on Sunday and Monday, which was the major reason for the closure of the facilities. [Dominic Cardea, Chief of Interpretation] JOBS Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs GS-025-11 Supervisory Park Ranger (Protection) Are you looking for promotion or a lateral reassignment to one of the best jobs in the National Park Service? The park is seeking candidates for a GS-025-11 subdistrict ranger position at Grant Grove in King's Canyon NP. Grant Grove offers a ranger a spectacular mountain location replete with huge trees, caves, bears and a spectacular wilderness experience. Rangers at Grant Grove are routinely involved in searches, technical rescues, helicopter operations, helicopter short haul, and special law enforcement operations directed against marijuana growers and poachers. This is an active year-round operation. The person in this position serves as the resource protection and visitor management supervisor and is responsible for the supervision of the permanent and seasonal law enforcement staff for both backcountry and frontcountry operations. She/he is also responsible for the management of all subdistrict emergency services programs, including emergency medical services, search, rescue, law enforcement, and structural fire suppression. Diversity candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Grant Grove is located at 6,700 feet and is the gateway to Kings Canyon National Park. Occupancy is required and good housing is available and affordable. There is significant snowfall possible from November into April and winter temperatures routinely range from 10 to 45 degrees. here is a small elementary school available in the immediate area. Fresno is a one hour drive and has an airport, cultural events, a large regional hospital, and all amenities available in a major city. The area offers outstanding recreational opportunities that include hiking, backpacking, skiing, mountain biking, climbing, whitewater, and fishing. The coast is less than three hours away and major cultural centers such as San Francisco and Los Angeles are a four hour drive. If you are interested in this position, please go to HYPERLINK "http://www.usajobs.opm.gov" www.usajobs.opm.gov for more information or contact Kings Canyon district ranger Dave Walton at 559-565-4330 or by email at HYPERLINK "mailto: dave_walton@nps.gov" dave_walton@nps.gov. This vacancy is open from March 24th to April 13th. [Dave Walton, Kings Canyon District Ranger] * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |