|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, June 27, 2011 INCIDENTS Bandelier NM Park Evacuated Due To Wildland Fire A wildland fire that began in the Santa Fe National Forest about a dozen miles south of Los Alamos early yesterday afternoon has spread so rapidly that it has forced a number of evacuations and closures, including Bandelier National Monument. The Las Conchas Fire had burned over 3,500 acres by yesterday evening and had spread into Frijoles Canyon within the park. Bandelier was accordingly evacuated. Residents living within Cochiti Mesa and Las Concahs were also evacuated, along with campers in nearby Forest Service campgrounds. Voluntary evacuations are in effect for White Rock and Los Alamos. See reports on the HYPERLINK "http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2385/" Las Conchas Fire for additional details. [Michelle Fidler, Fire Information Specialist] Amistad NRA Two Struggling Swimmers Rescued From Lake Rangers received a report of two swimmers in trouble in the Governor's Landing area on the evening of June 20th. Ranger Andrew Sanford, who was nearby, drove directly to the beach, while ranger Erik Wiita responded by boat. Sanford found the two women struggling in the water approximately 200 feet from shore. He donned a lifejacket, readied a rescue rope bag, and swam to the women. He calmed them down, then threw them the rope and drew them closer to him. Seeing that the younger woman was unable to keep herself afloat, Sanford held onto her, keeping her head above water for the several minutes it took for Wiita to get there by boat. The two rangers were able to pull the women aboard and deliver them safely to shore, where they were evaluated by paramedics from the Val Verde Regional Medical Center. The two women - a mom and her teenage daughter - had been floating on inflatable tubes when the wind pushed them away from shore. Becoming fearful, they deflated their tubes, thinking the wind would push them less. While attempting to swim back to shore, they became fatigued and began calling to bystanders for help. They refused transport to the hospital. [Regina Klein Dissler, Chief Ranger] Blue Ridge Parkway Rangers, Deputies Intervene In Suicide Attempt On June 13th, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office contacted park dispatch with a report of a suicidal person operating a red Subaru on the parkway. Rangers and deputies attempted to locate the vehicle and eventually contacted the driver near Craggy Gardens. He'd placed a burning rag into the vehicle's gas tank and set it afire. A Buncombe County deputy on scene tried to reach him, but was unable to do so because the man had locked himself inside. He eventually got out of the vehicle, though, telling rangers and deputies that he just wanted to die. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle and brought to a mental health facility in Asheville. The parkway was closed temporarily while firefighters put out the blaze. [Tim Francis, Pisgah District Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/): Park Facility Management - This issue of Sustainability News highlights many climate change related projects, activities, and events taking place throughout the Service. A link is provided. Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the NPS. Included in this week's summary are reports on three hearings held last week and the introduction of several new bills of interest to the NPS. Intermountain Region - Long-time National Park Service employee Donna Breslin passed away peacefully on June 22nd after a long fight with cancer. Photo. Legislative and Congressional Affairs - Craig Sheldon will retire on July 1st following more than 31 years with the Department of the Interior - almost 30 of them with the National Park Service. Photo. * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of Communications and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov). --- ### --- |