|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, July 23, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Kenai Fjords NP Commercial Filming Violation Involving Discovery Channel On July 16th, park resource management specialist Mike Tetreau, currently an intermittent employee working with a private firm conducting follow-up studies related to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill along the park coastline, found an apparent commercial filming production in Taroka Arm, a seldom-visited area along the park's southern coast. In addition to the campsite "set" itself, a nearby support crew camp was located near a sensitive archaeological site. Ranger Sean Brennan, currently on detail as a criminal investigator assignment with the NPS Investigative Services Branch, flew to the site by chartered float plane the following day with Tetreau and contacted L.S., also known as the "Survivorman", who has a show by the same name currently running on the Discovery Channel. L.S., with a crew of four at the nearby camp, was apparently filming an upcoming episode of the show in the park, with a driftwood shelter constructed on the beach and multiple cameras surrounding it. L.S. was cited for commercial filming without a permit, and given the opportunity to obtain a permit. L.S. paid the required application, location and monitoring fees, totaling approximately $2,800, which will allow the park to recover most of the cost of the investigation. [Jim Ireland, Chief of Interpretation & Visitor Services/Chief Ranger] Glen Canyon NRA Firefighters Assist In Suppression Of Gas Station Blaze Park dispatch received a request for assistance at a structural fire in a gas station in Page on the afternoon of July 18th. Eight NPS firefighters responded with the park's Wahweap-based engine. When they arrived, they found heavy black smoke emanating from the back of the store. Page Fire Department was on scene and had begun its attack at the back of the store with positive pressure ventilation at the front door. Park fire captain Chris Cook established a unified command with Page FD. Rangers Jeff Rhame and Kean Mihata entered the front of the building and worked their way into the back, where they extinguished remaining flames. Other assisting firefighters were Laurie Axelsen, Shawn McNally, Scott Larson, Jared St. Clair and Heath Beard. The fire was completely extinguished by late afternoon. The cause is under investigation. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger] Glen Canyon NRA Explosives Found By Visitors Safely Detonated While firefighters were dealing with a gas station blaze on the afternoon of July 18th, a park visitor reported finding a possible explosive device in Rock Creek Bay. Ranger Chad Hunter responded and confirmed the presence of 30 oil perforating charges, six blasting caps and approximately 50 feet of detonation cord connected to a power source. Hunter established a perimeter until officers from Kane County Sheriff's Office and an explosive ordnance disposal team from St. George arrived the following morning. The devices were determined to be unstable and were detonated on site with three controlled explosions. The investigation is on-going. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger] Natchez Trace Parkway Driver Killed When Pickup Strikes Tree On the morning of July 20th, park dispatch received a report of a single vehicle motor vehicle accident near milepost 125 on the parkway. The driver, W.E., 82, of Shannon, Mississippi, was killed when his 2007 Chevrolet truck left the roadway and struck a tree. There was no evidence of skid marks or braking prior to the accident. Rangers Joe Mangino and Patrick Gagnon responded. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on either the InsideNPS web site (if you are within the National Park Service) or at the InsideNPS public ‘news digest' site (if you are outside of the NPS). The web sites appear below: Jefferson NEM - News story: About 180 people were trapped inside the 630-foot Gateway Arch for about two hours on Saturday night after an apparent power outage. Grand Canyon NP - Two new deputy superintendents and a new science center director have joined the park's staff over the past few weeks - Palma Wilson as deputy superintendent for operations, Barclay Trimble as deputy superintendent of business services, and Martha Hahn as the science center director. To see the above articles, go to InsideNPS ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/) or NPS Digest ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/). For NPS incident reporting standards, go to HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363 * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-426-2430). --- ### --- |