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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, June 25, 2012 INCIDENTS Mount Rainier NP NPS Mourns Death Of Ranger Nick Hall Ranger Nick Hall, 33, fell approximately 2,500 feet down the Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier on Thursday, June 21st, during a rescue attempt in which four climbers fell into a crevasse on the glacier. Hall did not respond to attempts to contact him and was not moving after the fall. Climbing rangers assisting in the rescue of the four climbers were able to reach Hall, several hours after he fell, and upon arrival found that he was deceased. Rescue efforts for the four climbers continued throughout daylight hours on Thursday and into the next day. All four climbers were successfully rescued and transported to a hospital. Injuries sustained by some members of the climbing party remain serious. The park has experienced several days of inclement weather that has slowed efforts to recover Hall's remains. Heavy cloud cover and several feet of new snow have made attempts to reach Hall's location extremely difficult. Additional amounts of snow were forecast for Sunday as well; however, the park was expecting a small weather window that could possibly be utilized to reach Hall's body. Access to Sunrise Road continues to be restricted, as it provides the safest access for an aerial recovery of Hall's remains. On Saturday, the park transitioned management of the incident to the National Park Service Intermountain Region's incident management team. The team arrived midday on Saturday and continued implementation of ICS. A critical incident stress management team is providing support to park employees in the wake of this tragic loss of a coworker and friend. Mount Rainier rangers, local search and rescue team members, a Chinook helicopter with crew from Joint Base Lewis McChord, and an MD500 helicopter from Northwest Helicopters out of Olympia, Washington, continue to assist in the attempted recovery of Hall's remains and to assure the safety of other climbers on Mt. Rainer. Nick Hall was a four-year veteran of Mount Rainier's climbing program and a native of Patten, Maine. He was unmarried and has no children. “Last night we lost Mount Rainier climbing ranger Nick Hall, who died on the mountain while he carried out a climbing ranger's greatest responsibility - saving lives,” said Director Jarvis in an all-employee message on Friday. “That fact will give us comfort in the future, but not now. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nick's family and our National Park Service family at Mount Rainier National Park. They bear too great a burden today. We will do everything in our power to support them as they have been thrown into the depths of loss yet again. “Climbing rangers like Nick hold a special place in my heart. I went up the mountain with them during my years at Mount Rainier. They are athletic, amazing, heroic figures. They stand on mountaintops in a state of pure joy and are ready to help others discover that same experience. “Nick, who was 34 years old, grew up in Maine and loved the outdoors. He had been with the climbing program at Mount Rainier for four years. He knew the joy of the mountain and the satisfaction of selfless service. Please keep Nick and his family, friends and co-workers in your thoughts today and in the days ahead. “I have ordered flags at National Park Service facilities to be flown at half staff and authorized mourning bands to be worn on NPS badges until further notice.” Secretary Salazar also issued a statement. “It was with a heavy heart that I learned of the tragic loss of Mount Rainier Park Ranger Nick Hall, who heroically gave his life to save others during a dangerous rescue on the mountain,” he said. “Nick embodied the brave and selfless nature of the men and women of the National Park Service who dedicate their lives to protecting and helping the millions of visitors to our cherished national parks across America. On behalf of the entire Interior family, I offer our heartfelt support and prayers to Nick's family, friends and coworkers.” The family has asked that donations in honor of Nick Hall, in lieu of flowers, be made through the following accounts: Nick Hall Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 431, Patten, ME 04765. Please make checks payable to Nick Hall Memorial Fund. Donations to this fund will support search and rescue in Maine and assist the Hall Family with travel expenses. MORA Search and Rescue Fund, 55210 238th Ave E, Ashford, WA 98304. Please make checks payable to DOI-NPS and note that the donation is in honor of Nick Hall. Cards and condolences may also be sent to the above addresses. Inquiries regarding memorial services should be sent to Jacqueline Ashwell ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Jacqueline_Ashwell@nps.gov" Jacqueline_Ashwell@nps.gov ). She is keeping a list for distribution of that information once arrangements have actually been made. [Rick Jones, Information Officer] Organ Pipe Cactus NM Rangers Suppress Structural, Wildland Fires Rangers have responded to five wildfires within the park this month - one started by an arsonist and others suspicious. The park's engine and wildland firefighters have responded to and suppressed four of them: The Ranch House Fire destroyed the historic Pozo Well Ranch House before the crew arrived. A separate fire in the near vicinity was quickly suppressed by the crew. Forest Service and National Park Service fire investigators have determined that this fire was arson, as the presence of accelerants in the fire were identified. The chemical analysis was conducted by the Department of Defense through a cooperative agreement between the Southeast Arizona Group and the US Army. No suspects have been identified. A week later Border Patrol agents reported another
wildfire, again near Pozo Well. This fire was ultimately mapped at 2.8
acres. The five ranger crew had to work significantly harder to contain
and control it due to terrain challenges. The agent who provided
security for the firefighters arrested an undocumented alien who walked
up to the fire well after suppression activities had started.
Investigators determined that this UDA was not responsible for the
fire. One week later, Border Patrol agents reported a rapidly spreading fire near the international border east of the Lukeville Port of Entry. The agents had one person in custody, a suspected smuggler wearing carpet shoes. The fire consumed just over one acre. The investigation and evidence did not warrant charges being filed in this. A week later, ranger Nathan Burgess discovered a fire south of the Ajo Mountain Loop Road. During the size up, rangers were approached by an undocumented alien in severe medical distress. The man said he started the fire after being lost in the desert without food or water for three days. The man was evacuated by life flight. Rangers are not pursuing criminal charges against him. Rangers, resource management staff, and maintenance personnel - joined by Fish and Wildlife Service officers, Pima County Sheriff's Department deputies and a National Guard helicopter - returned to and contained this fire. The size of these fires and the number of starts is above average for the park. [Matt Vandzura, Chief Ranger] Glen Canyon NRA Body Of Missing Swimmer Recovered The body of 26-year-old C.R. was recovered from Lake Powell on June 20th by the park's underwater recovery unit. C.R. was located at a depth of over 260 feet using a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_operated_vehicle" remote operated vehicle equipped with sonar and video. The 26-day search covered approximately two square miles in Warm Creek Bay and was supported by the Utah Highway Patrol dive team, Kane County Sheriff's Office deputies, Ralston and Associates personnel, and HYPERLINK "http://www.greatbasink-9sar.org/home" Great Basin K9 Search and Rescue search dog teams. C.R. was reported missing on Friday, May 25th, after he and a friend decided to go for a swim while their houseboat drifted. The high winds pushed the boat away from the swimmers and one of them began to call for help. C.R. attempted to swim to the aid of his friend. The remaining three people on the boat were able to save the first swimmer, but C.R. slipped beneath the waves and could not be located. A joint investigation of the incident by Kane County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Service continues. [Denise M. Shultz, Public Affairs Officer] Cape Hatteras NS Woman Drowns Off Oregon Inlet Beach On June 20th, S.J., 46, went swimming off Oregon Inlet Beach with her husband and two friends. All four became caught in a current that took them straight out to sea. S.J. was unable to stay afloat and keep her head out of the water. Her husband pulled her to shore, where CPR was begun on her. She was taken to Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head, where she was pronounced dead. The couple with the J.s made it safely to shore. [Bill Reynolds, Park 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/): Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings, newly introduced bills, and the status of legislation of interest to the National Park Service. This report covers activities during the week ending on June 22nd. World War II Valor in the Pacific NM - Candace “Candy” Francis, 67, passed away on June 10th from complications associated with brain cancer. Park History Program - On June 30th, one of the legends of the National Park Service, Harry Butowsky, will retire after 35 years of service. * * * * The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced with the support of the Office of the Assistant Director for Information Resources and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov). --- ### --- |