Joshua Tree National Park (CA)
Search Underway For Missing Hiker
Park rangers and volunteer searchers are combing an area of rugged hills and canyons near Yucca Valley for a missing hiker. E.R., 64, of Culver City, California, has been missing since last Friday evening, when he failed to return from a hike near the park's Black Rock Campground. E.R. was reported missing to park rangers on Sunday afternoon. Under the guidance of IC Dan Messaros, rangers and members of Joshua Tree Search & Rescue are concentrating ground search activities in the wilderness area south of the campground, where E.R. was believed to have gone hiking. Six teams of ground searchers are looking throughout the area's many hiking and equestrian trails. The ground search effort is being aided by a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office helicopter. E.R. parked at the campground and told other campers that he intended to go out for a solo day hike on Friday afternoon. When he failed to return on either Friday or Saturday, his absence was reported to rangers. Based on information provided by E.R.'s family, it is believed that he is an experienced hiker and is in good physical condition. The terrain in the search area is characterized by steep, rocky ridges cut by canyons and dry streambeds. The general elevation is 4,000 to 5,500 feet. There are few natural water sources. Some shade can be found beneath scattered trees and rocks. Recent weather at Black Rock Canyon has been sunny and hot, with daytime temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s. E.R. is a Caucasian male, 5'7" in height, weighing 145 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing eyeglasses, a tan shirt, tan pants, and a tan wide-brim hat with a tail for sun protection. He was carrying a black camelback-style backpack. Anyone traveling in the area who might have seen him or someone matching his description should call the Federal Interagency Communications Center at 909-383-5668.
[Submitted by Joe Zarki, Public Affairs Officer]Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Body Of Missing Teenage Hiker Found
A Las Vegas Metro Police search and rescue team found the body of S.M. yesterday morning in Boy Scout Canyon. At approximately 9 a.m., searchers located footprints that matched the shoes S.M. was wearing. The team tracked the prints, which lead them to his body at the bottom of a ravine. The area was described as having 200-foot cliff faces. The cause of death will be determined by the Clark County Coroner's Office. The search lasted three days, during which searchers logged over 2000 man hours and covered an area of about 30 square miles. Yesterday's operation included searchers from Lake Mead and Grand Canyon, Las Vegas Metro Police, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Mohave County Sheriff's Office, Hoover Dam Police, and the U.S. Air Force 58th and 66th Rescue Squadrons. [Submitted by Andrew S. Muñoz, Public Affairs Officer]
Keweenaw National Historical Park (MI)
Historic Smelter Buildings Destroyed In Fire
Two historic buildings burned on the night of Saturday, September 25th, at the historic Quincy Smelting Works site. The 30-acre site, home to a (now) 26-building 19th century copper smelting complex, is in the Quincy Mining Company National Historic Landmark District (1989). The cooper/carpenter shop (1898) and lumber shed (1917) were contributing structures to the NHL, which is within the park. The fire was called in by an alert citizen from across the Portage Shipping Canal in Houghton around 11 p.m. and drew a response from five area volunteer fire departments as well as the City of Hancock. While the two buildings are a total loss, firefighters were able to cool the adjacent smoldering Cooper Stock building before the fire spread and caused further damage. No cause has yet been determined, but the state fire marshal is expected to inspect the scene soon. For more information and a photo, click on the link below. [Submitted by Tom Baker, Management Assistant] More Information...
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (DC,MD,WV)
Two Arrested For Car Clouts
For the past couple of months, C&O Canal NHP, Harpers Ferry NHP, Antietam NB, and the surrounding areas have experienced numerous thefts from unattended motor vehicles. Special operations and surveillances have been conducted to apprehend the thieves. On September 12th, ranger Leigh Zahm saw a break-in while conducting surveillance on the Dargan parking lot. A man and a woman shattered a vehicle's window with a rock and stole a purse from it. Zahm managed to videotape the event, but the thieves were not apprehended at that time. Later that day, they were seen in another parking lot in the park by ranger Darius Jones. Zahm positively identified the suspects — J.G. and T.W. — and they were arrested. The pair have been connected to several of the auto break-ins and also to a forced entry and theft case at the Cushwa Basin Visitor Center. Special agent Tim Alley is assisting with the investigation. [Submitted by Brad Clawson, Chief Ranger]
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (MT,WY)
One Drowns, One Saved In Marina Incident
On September 25th, rangers Scott Hall, Brooke Henthorne, and Alex Sehman responded to a report of a drowning at the Ok-A-Beh Marina. Upon arrival, they were advised that there were two victims, one who had been rescued from the Day Board Nine Campground after being underwater for approximately 30 minutes and a 70-year old man who was experiencing chest pains. Investigation revealed that E.W., 56, was at the Day Board Nine campground when he saw his boat drifting into the lake. E.W. swam to the boat, became tired, grabbed a nearby buoy, and then sank beneath it. Boaters in the area responded E.W.'s family's calls for help and found him in approximately 10 feet of water. He was taken aboard a bystander's boat and transported to the Ok-A-Beh Marina. While en route to the marina, a 70-year-old man in E.W.'s party began experiencing chest pains. Henthorne met the cardiac patient near the marina and assumed patient care until the Bighorn County ambulance arrived and transported him to Hardin, Montana. Hall and Sehman secured the marina as a crime scene and investigation until other assistance arrived. A joint investigation by the National Park Service, Bighorn County Sheriff's Office, and Bureau of Indian Affairs determined that the drowning was an accident. Scott Hall is the lead investigator. [Submitted by Kevin Tillman, Chief Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Fire and Aviation Management
NPS Structural Fire Program Seeks Employee Stories
As we prepare for National Fire Prevention Week (October 3rd through October 9th), it is important to reflect on the impact that an unwanted structural fire can have on our jobs and in our personal lives.
During Fire Prevention Week, InsideNPS will be featuring a series of stories from the National Park Service's structural fire program that will discuss the impact of these fires on the NPS. The goal of Fire Prevention Week within the NPS is to educate employees about the threat of structure fire and what employees can do assist in this Servicewide effort.
The safety of employees and the public is the number one goal of the structural fire program, and next week the National Park Service will kick off a long-term campaign aimed at reducing the number of structural fires through a comprehensive and sustained fire prevention and education program. You are being asked to help meet this goal.
Over the past three years alone, the NPS lost a number of significant structures, including housing quarters, a market, and numerous irreplaceable items housed in a historic theatre.
Have you, your colleagues or your family been impacted by a structural fire in the workplace or at home? Would you like to share your story? If so, tell us your lessons learned in 500 words or less. Tell us what happened, when it happened, why it happened (if known), and if it changed your thoughts or perceptions on structural fire and what you can do to prevent such a fire.
Submit your story to Kathy Komatz at kathy_komatz@nps.gov by December 31st. With your permission, these stories will be used to assist all of us in reducing the risk of future fires and potentially saving the lives of our coworkers, friends, families, and visitors.
[Submitted by Roberta D'Amico and Hal Spencer]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Petrified Forest National Park (AZ)
GS-12 Administrative Officer (Detail)
The park is seeking candidates for a detail as a GS-12 administrative officer. The target audience is current administrative professionals at the GS-11 or 12 levels; the permanent position is graded at the GS-12 level.
The detail will last 60 to 120 days and begin approximately October 24th. Petrified Forest will pay travel, per diem and any premium pay. The home park will cover base salary. Government housing is available, but not required.
The permanent position is currently being advertised in USAJOBS.
This is strictly a detail; the incumbent will be paid at their current pay level. The application period closes on October 8th.
The selectee will be responsible for the essential business and human resources management functions of the park and for staff advisory services to the superintendent and management team of the park relating to the business concerns and human resources of the park. In addition, she/he will be responsible for the coordination of planning and for developing, designing and documenting projects to insure they are responsive to park needs, as documented in the general management plan and other guidance documents. He/she will supervise a GS-9 budget analyst and a GS-11 IT specialist and up to two temporary employees.
Interested individuals should discuss the opportunity with their first-line supervisor and obtain concurrence from their superintendent or manager prior to applying. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Mary Ann Richards at (928) 524-6228, extension 255.
Once supervisory approval is obtained, interested individuals should submit a one-page resume detailing work history, educational background, and any special qualifications they might possess. Resumes should be submitted by electronic mail to acting superintendent Mitzi Frank (mitzi_frank@nps.gov) no later than close of business on October 8th.
NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id;=8728&lv;=2&pgid;=3504
All reports should now be submitted via this automated system.