NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Glen Canyon NRA
Park Fire Brigade Responds To Vehicle And Boat Fires
Between July 21st and July 30th, the NPS structural fire brigade at Wahweap responded to four incidents - a boat fire, a vehicle fire, and two near fires:
On the evening of July 21st, a houseboat in Wahweap Marina caught fire while the family on board was cooking dinner. The fire spread quickly and involved the kitchen area of the boat. Concession employees were able to do some initial suppression on the fire and get the houseboat untied from the marina. The park brigade responded with a fire boat and pulled the houseboat away from the marina to avoid collateral damage to other vessels. Initial attack was conducted and the fire was contained to primarily the interior of the houseboat. A large 300 gallon gas tank and two propane tanks were on the roof of the houseboat. Firefighters cooled the gas tank immediately to reduce the risk of explosion. The ignition source was probably electrical in the kitchen area and ignited either propane fumes from the tanks directly above, or possibly from an overflow on the 300 gallon gas tank which vented gasoline during the high temperatures that day. The boat suffered extensive damage to its interior but was not destroyed. Captain Jared St. Clair was the IC.
On the evening of July 26th, a fire started in a camper parked in one of the parking lots near the NPS fire station at Wahweap. The fire burned quickly and soon spread to two vehicles, one on either side of the camper. During the response from the NPS structural fire brigade, the propane tanks in the camper exploded, as did several other small camping propane cylinders. Fire captain Jared St. Clair was first on scene, followed by captains Shawn McNally, Eric Scott, Chris Cook and firefighter Scott Larson. Initial attack was made using two attack lines with foam and water. A fourth vehicle, a new Chevrolet 4x4, was damaged from the heat but was saved. The other brigade members involved in the suppression and mop-up activities were Grant Stolhand, Chad Hunter, Craig Janicki, Ben Davis, and Jeff Wilson. The Page Fire Department also responded with an engine. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the preliminary findings are that the fire may have been started by leaking propane in the camper. There were no injuries, but three vehicles were completely gutted by fire. The investigation is being jointly conducted by NPS rangers and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. Jared St. Clair was the IC
On July 29th, the Wahweap fire brigade responded to a report of a 32-foot vessel with fuel in the bilge. The NPS fire boat responded and the vessel was escorted to the Stateline launch ramp, where the fuel was pumped out of the bilge without incident. Vessels with fuel in the bilge often catch fire quickly if the persons on board do not recognize the problem immediately and shut off their engines and all electrical power.
On the morning of July 30, the Wahweap fire brigade responded to a report of a trailer fire in the Wahweap trailer village. The fire had apparently been extinguished by the concession employee occupants with a garden hose when the NPS engine arrived on scene. The fire was on the bottom exterior of the trailer and had apparently been started by a cigarette butt thrown on the ground amongst some dead grass and debris. There were many other cigarette butts on the ground in this same location.
[Eric Scott, Acting District Ranger]
Zion NP
Update On Rescue Of Injured Park Volunteer
On Wednesday, July 30th, K.B., 23, a backcountry volunteer in Zion (not an SCA as was originally reported), was canyoneering with a friend on her day off in Pine Creek Canyon, a popular route that she had completed in the past. As she attempted the route's final 100 foot rappel, K.B. fell the entire distance of the rappel. K.B.'s canyoneering companion immediately contacted park dispatch using K.B.'s park radio, which had been left at the top of the rappel. Responding paramedic rangers Lisa Hendy and Brandon Torres from the Grand Canyon rappelled from a window in the Zion Tunnel to reach K.B., where they found her being cared for by another canyoneering group who had not seen but had heard the fall. K.B. was able to talk to her rescuers, but was severely injured and could not recall exactly what had happened. The paramedic rangers provided advanced life support treatment while additional rescuers rappelled into the canyon. K.B. was packaged, placed in a litter, and carried about a quarter mile to an area in the canyon where an Air Force Blackhawk helicopter could safely lift her and Air Force medics into the hovering craft. She was then transported via helicopter directly to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. K.B. remains in intensive care in critical condition with multiple severe traumatic injuries, but is showing signs of improvement. In addition to Zion and Grand Canyon personnel, rescuers and responders included personnel from Yellowstone, Glacier Bay, Guadalupe Mountains, and the US Secret Service who were all attending a US Secret Service Dignitary Protection training class that was being hosted by the park. An investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]
Jean Lafitte NP&P
Update On Mississippi River Oil Spill
Park staff continues regular monitoring of the batture (the area between the levee and the river bank), but no additional oil has been seen and no cleanup crews have yet to be assigned to park lands. The damaged barge has not yet been salvaged; an additional 2,500 gallons were released when it shifted on July 30th. [Dave Anderson, NPS Spill Response]
OTHER NEWS
Other stories can be read on InsideNPS at one or the other of these two sites:
NPS readers - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS readers - HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/
Please note that both publications carry a combined NIFC/NPS fire report. That is generally posted around 8 a.m. Eastern.
Among the stories in today's edition are the following:
Wolf Trap - On Tuesday, July 29th, family members, friends and colleagues gathered at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts for a service of remembrance and celebration of the life of George B. Hartzog, Jr., seventh director of the National Park Service, who died on June 27th.
Learning and Development - Director Bomar has transmitted the Service's Learning and Development Report to the field. A link is provided to the full document.
Alaska Region - Diane Jung will retire from the NPS on September 2nd after more than 33 years of service. She has accepted the position of fundraising coordinator with Montana Conservation Voters and will leave for Billings sometime in late September or early October.
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
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 support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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