0
Point Reyes National Seashore (CA)
Rangers Extirpate 17,000 Marijuana Plants
Over the three-day period from September 18th to September 20th, rangers and Marin County deputies, working in conjunction with an NPS special agent, the California National Guard, and the Marin Municipal Water District, conducted further marijuana investigation and eradication operations in the park's Bolinas Ridge area. Three plantations were entered and approximately 17,000 female plants were removed. Harvesting had begun in several of the sites, and some processed marijuana was also discovered and seized. So far this year, rangers and officers have discovered and removed over 43,000 female plants and 35,000 male plants at a dozen different locations. Some significant leads have also been developed and pursued regarding the growers. The areas under cultivation suffered extensive resource damage from the growing operations. Growers are killing wildlife, diverting streams that contain threatened species of fish, using harmful pesticides and other poisons, and cutting down trees and other vegetation to allow greater sunlight into the marijuana plantations. Weapons and ammunition have been found in many of the sites, including .357 ammo and bullets for an AK-47. A comprehensive resource assessment is being conducted, which will be forwarded to the US Attorney's Office for use when suspects are identified and prosecuted. [Submitted by Colin Smith, Chief Ranger]
0
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Contractor ATV Accident With Four Injuries
Four Motorola employees who were installing the park's new digital radio system were riding a Polaris Ranger ATV up the Sterling Gap trail on the morning of September 14th when it slid off the trail onto the soft, muddy shoulder. Three of them were seated on a bench seat in the front and the fourth was riding in the bed (the machine is designed to safely carry just two people on the bench seat). All four remained on the ATV while the driver attempted to back the machine onto the trail. The ATV went about ten feet, then slid further over the edge and rolled over an embankment. The person in the bed was ejected almost immediately near the top of the slope; the remaining three people were ejected at different points as the ATV repeatedly rolled over down the next 100 feet down the slope. It then continued rolling down the embankment, finally coming to rest about 360 feet down the slope from the trail. All four were injured to varying degrees and the ATV was extensively damaged. None of the riders was wearing a helmet or seatbelt at the time of the accident. The park's radio technician was at the repeater site, about a mile from the scene of the accident, and advised dispatch after receiving a radio call from the contractors reporting what had happened to them. Rangers, members of a nearby park trail crew, and Haywood County and Fines Creek rescue squad volunteers responded. The driver and front right passenger were in the worst shape, with possible head, neck and internal injuries. They were treated, assisted up the slope with the aid of a 3:1 mechanical advantage haul system, placed in litters on ATV's, and taken to an ambulance waiting at the trailhead. They were then taken to a landing zone about five miles away, transferred to a helicopter, and flown to Asheville Regional Hospital. Both were admitted, treated and released the next day. The other two contractors were treated and released. The injuries consisted of sprains, contusions, abrasions and bruising of varying types and degrees. [Submitted by Rick Brown, Acting Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
0
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights
National Fire Activity — Preparedness Level 2
The preparedness level has gone down one step. Preparedness Level 3 drops to Preparedness Level 2 when all large fires are contained. Initial attack resources are again available. Geographic area crew availability is at or above the 50% level. No red flag conditions are forecast for the next 24 hours and large fire areas are expected to receive wetting showers with associated higher humidity and lower temperatures.
|
Date |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Sun |
Mon |
|
Day |
9/25 |
9/26 |
9/27 |
9/28 |
10/1 |
10/2 |
|
Initial Attack Fires |
54 |
74 |
39 |
30 |
50 |
74 |
|
New Large Fires |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Large Fires Contained |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Uncontained Large Fires |
11 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
National Resource Commitments
|
Date |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Sun |
Mon |
|
Day |
9/25 |
9/26 |
9/27 |
9/28 |
10/1 |
10/2 |
|
Area Command Teams |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Type 1 Teams |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
|
Type 2 Teams |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
FUM Teams |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Crews |
179 |
197 |
258 |
246 |
128 |
85 |
|
Engines |
413 |
476 |
508 |
493 |
241 |
205 |
|
Helicopters |
78 |
84 |
82 |
76 |
64 |
46 |
|
Air Tankers |
17 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
18 |
|
Overhead |
2,233 |
2,290 |
2,054 |
1,968 |
1,627 |
1,305 |
Weather Discussion
Rain and mountain snow for much of California this week. A low pressure system will move slowly across California the next few days with significant rain and mountain snow for northern and central California with lesser amounts for southern California. Warmer and drier weather will be on tap for Friday and the weekend. Dry weather is expected to persist across much of the Southeast this week.
NPS Fires
For a brief supplemental narrative on each fire, click on the bar with the arrow. Internal NPS readers can link directly to full reports on each fire by clicking on the notepad icon; public readers of the Morning Report can obtain similar information by going to http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
| Park | State | Fire | Type | Acres | Percent Contain |
Est. Full Contain |
| Grand Canyon National Park | AZ | Grapevine Rx | Prescribed Fire Treatment | 850 acres | 10/02/06 | |
 |
||||||
| Grand Canyon National Park | AZ | RX300 | Prescribed Fire Treatment | 250 acres for first burning period; remainder to be ignited ... See below for more... | 0ctober 2, 2006 | |
|
||||||
| San Juan Island National Historical Park | WA | Young Hill Unit III | Prescribed Fire Treatment | 33 | 100 | 9/29/2006 |
|
||||||
Further Information
Full NIFC Incident Management Situation Report (PDF file): http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf
National Fire News: http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
NPS Fire and Aviation Management: http://www.nps.gov/fire/index.cfm
NPS Fire News: http://data2.itc.nps.gov/fire/public/pub_firenews.cfm
OPERATIONAL NOTES
0
Uniform Program
Uniform Program Update
The FY07 ordering period for uniforms began on October 1st. New items have been added to the program over the last few months. These items include insulated coveralls, unisex waterproof gloves, new backcountry hikers, black low profile ear muffs called "Gorgonz," dress coat buttons, a new black balaclava, and replacement shoe strings for dress shoes. All of these items can now be ordered.
We are currently conducting a 60-day wear test on a possible replacement for the frontcounty hiker. In the next few months, we will also start wear testing a new outerwear system based on the Northface. In addition, we are looking for a high end hiking boot and a walker shoe to be placed in our program. If you have any further suggestions or comments for uniform items, please feel free to notify your park or regional coordinator. The uniform committee meets annually to discuss your comments and suggestions.
The uniform ordering website is: http://www.uniformsolutions.com/LMA/
[Submitted by Ramie Lynch, Uniform Program Manager]PARKS AND PEOPLE
0
National Trails System - Santa Fe
John Conoboy Receives Trails Preservation Award
The Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association (KCAHTA) recently presented its award of merit to John Conoboy, chief of interpretation and resource management for the National Trails System - Santa Fe.
The award was in recognition of John's "many years of outstanding service as a public official and a supportive partner in historic trails preservation, trail marking and research for the historic trails in the Kansas City area."
KCAHTA is a non-profit group dedicated to the identification, preservation, interpretation, and promotion of the historic trails in the greater Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri areas. KCAHTA has been responsible for the preservation of several trail sites and has mapped trail routes, produced brochures, and worked on many projects for trail site development and interpretation with the National Park Service, Santa Fe Trail Association, Oregon-California Trails Association, 3-Trails West, Inc. and others.
Conoboy has been the principle NPS liaison with trail supporters in Kansas City for the past 16 years.
[Submitted by Andrea Sharon]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.