Acadia National Park (ME)
Stronger Earthquake Follows First Tremor
Local residents and visitors to Acadia National Park felt the now-familiar rumble of an earthquake again on Monday, October 2nd, as a 3.8-magnitude tremor shook Mount Desert Island at 8:07 p.m. This stronger earthquake followed a week of small aftershocks that have occurred since the initial 3.4-magnitude tremor struck on Friday, September 22nd. While the epicenter of the first earthquake was located in the park near the Precipice Trail parking area, this one was located a short distance away in the Atlantic Ocean, just off Great Head. Although still considered minor, this earthquake (initially reported as a magnitude 4.2 and downgraded to 3.9, then 3.8) was felt across Maine and more than 300 miles away in New Hampshire. For those nearest the earthquake, a loud boom announced the arrival of the earthquake, which was followed by shaking that lasted from 10 to 30 seconds. No park buildings were damaged, but the newest tremor was strong enough to cause rock falls in several areas of the park. The Park Loop Road was closed on Tuesday morning to allow park staff to remove several large boulders from the road. The Precipice Trail and East Face Trail on Champlain Mountain sustained substantial damage from rock slides and have been closed. An initial assessment suggests that neither of these trails will be reopened until next spring. Boulders have fallen on several additional trails, but at this time all other trails remain open. For details about the latest earthquake, including epicenter maps and intensity statistics, visit the related U.S. Geological Survey website by clicking on "More Information" below. [Submitted by Ginny Reams, Writer-Editor] More Information...
Gauley River National Recreation Area (WV)
Rafter Drowns In River Rapid
On the morning of September 11th, ranger Randy Fisher was flagged down by a kayaker at the Upper Gauley parking area and was advised that there was a rescue in progress somewhere near the Tailwaters put-in. Fisher and West Virginia conservation officers attempted to determine where the rescue was taking place along the nearly inaccessible river. During the search, rafters on scene were able to locate the victim — B.W., 30, of Vienna, West Virginia — and get him to the river bank. B.W. was carried to an ambulance, where resuscitation efforts led to the restoration of his breathing. He was then taken to the Charleston Area Medical Center. An investigation revealed what had happened: One of B.W.'s fellow rafters had fallen into the river at an entrance rapid. While those in the boat were attempting to retrieve him, it was swept into a large undercut rock, causing it to flip and spill everyone into the river. All the rafters but B.W. were flushed out from under the rock. He was caught there and held underwater for several minutes. B.W. remained unresponsive and in critical condition in the hospital until he succumbed to his injuries on September 29th. B.W. was a chemical engineer for DuPont and a part-time raft guide. The incident occurred during one of the scheduled high water releases from the Summersville Dam for the Gauley whitewater season. A joint investigation by the National Park Service and West Virginia DNR continues. [Submitted by Gary Hartley, Chief Ranger]
Ocmulgee National Monument (GA)
Special Event: Ocmulgee Indian Celebration
The fifteenth annual Ocmulgee Indian Celebration was held in the park from Friday, September 15th, to Sunday, September 17th. About 15,000 people attended the event. Around 2,400 fourth graders attended the "school day" portion of the event on Friday. More than 250 Native Americans participated in this year's celebration. The park was assisted by rangers and maintenance workers from Andersonville, Big South Fork, Chattahoochee, Cumberland Gap, Gulf Islands, Jimmy Carter, Kennesaw Mountain, Martin Luther King, Timucuan and Southeast Regional Office. Also providing support were local deputies, Ocmulgee National Monument Association staff, and volunteers. Altogether, 110 volunteers contributed 900 hours to the event. Two medical cases occurred; both were transported to the hospital. The event was managed under ICS, with chief ranger Guy LaChine serving as IC. [Submitted by Jim David, Superintendent]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights
National Fire Activity — Preparedness Level 2
|
Date |
Wed |
Thu |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
|
Day |
9/27 |
9/28 |
10/1 |
10/2 |
10/3 |
10/4 |
|
Initial Attack Fires |
39 |
30 |
50 |
74 |
75 |
86 |
|
New Large Fires |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Large Fires Contained |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Uncontained Large Fires |
11 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
National Resource Commitments
|
Date |
Wed |
Thu |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
|
Day |
9/27 |
9/28 |
10/1 |
10/2 |
10/3 |
10/4 |
|
Area Command Teams |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Type 1 Teams |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
Type 2 Teams |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
FUM Teams |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Crews |
258 |
246 |
128 |
85 |
41 |
60 |
|
Engines |
508 |
493 |
241 |
205 |
118 |
111 |
|
Helicopters |
82 |
76 |
64 |
46 |
26 |
45 |
|
Air Tankers |
18 |
18 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
2,054 |
1,968 |
1,627 |
1,305 |
592 |
1,071 |
Weather Discussion
Rain and mountain snow for much of California today. A storm system will continue to move across California today with significant rain and high elevation snow mainly for northern and central portions of the state. A trend to warmer and drier conditions will begin on Friday and continue into early next week. Offshore winds will develop, mainly across northern California, on Sunday and Monday and then taper off into mid next week. Predominantly dry weather will persist across much of Florida and the southeastern states.
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 |
| Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | CA | Roaring Fire | Wildland Fire Use | 1,525 acres | N/A | N/A |
 |
||||||
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
Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
New Postings To 'Lessons Learned' Web Site
Two new Learning Curve newsletters (Issues 9 and 10) are posted on the center's web site. These issues highlight lessons learned and effective practices from western state fire managers. Go to http://www.wildfirelessons.net/LearningCurve.aspx .
A new wildland fire use 'toolbox' is also available. It was created as part of the Comb Complex WFU information collection team effort in2005. It's at http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/WFU_Toolbox_Final.pdf
If you're curious to find out how you and your unit, crew or incident management team are doing in organizational learning, take the finalized organizational learning survey, developed by Harvard Business School, at http://www.wildfirelessons.net/Surveys.aspx. The center would like to get responses between now and November 1st.
Mark your calendars for the secondd Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference in Destin, Florida, which will be held from March 26th to March 30th. The conference focus is on the fire environment and will include the latest innovations in wildland fire science through case studies, successes and failures, and learning opportunities. For more information, go to http://emmps.wsu.edu/fire.behavior/secondary/CONGRESS.html .
[Submitted by Paula Nasiatka, Center Manager]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found by clicking here. 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 Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.