NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 6, 2002



                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, June 6, 2002

INCIDENTS

02-198 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Follow-up on Climbing Fatalities

Additional details have been received on the deaths of the three climbers
on Mount Rainier last week. The three were in a party of four climbers -
two men and two women - who set out to ascend the peak on Saturday, May
25th. They spent their first night at St. Elmo's Pass and their second
night at Thumb Rock, as planned. Once on the Liberty Ridge route, they
encountered deep snow and difficult weather conditions that slowed their
progress. Despite storms that raged through the night, they spent their
third night in relative comfort in their tents, sheltered beneath the upper
edge of a snow-filled crevasse 1,000 feet below Liberty Cap. On Tuesday,
May 27th, they started out at 6:30 a.m., reaching the Liberty Cap summit at
approximately 3 p.m. Severe winds, freezing rain, and whiteout conditions
contributed to their exhaustion; the survivor said that a quarter inch of
ice coating virtually everything, making zippers impossible to open and
shaping their hoods like helmets on their heads. Their tents were destroyed
by high winds, so they built snow caves into the icy 30 to 35 degree slope
to wait out the night. Sometime during the night, C.B., 26,
of Germany, fell approximately 400 feet to his death. Both snow caves
collapsed, exposing the party to the continued fierce storm. As they tried
to wrap themselves in sleeping bags and the remains of the tents, the
second man fell, landing near the body of his friend. Having lost the outer
shell of his climbing boot, he was unable to climb back up the 50 degree
slope, but he managed to make his way down the Winthrop Glacier. He
encountered a climbing party near St. Elmo's Pass at 7,800 feet, where he
made the cell phone call that led to the rescue effort. An Army Chinook
helicopter transported a team of five climbing rangers to the Liberty Cap
area on Wednesday afternoon, where they confirmed two fatalities, a woman
and a man, on the surface of the glacier about 400 feet below the remains
of the snow caves. They also spotted what appeared to be a third body about
15 feet into a crevasse about 400 vertical feet below the first two, but
they were unable to reach it due to winds gusting up to 60 mph and rapidly
deteriorating weather conditions.  The body of Keeta Owens, a 22-year-old
student at Oregon State University originally from Alaska, was recovered
that afternoon. A team of 12 climbing rangers was flown to the summit on
Thursday, confirming the third fatality. The rangers safely retrieved the
bodies of C.B. and G.K., 26, also of Germany. C.B. was
a masters degree candidate at OSU. The survivor, A.K., 29, is a
doctoral candidate from a German university who is conducting research at
an OSU lab. G.K. was visiting from Germany. National and regional
media interest was high; several German TV and radio stations also called.
Steve Klump was incident commander. [Maria Gillett, CI&E, MORA, 6/4]

02-209 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Climbing Rescue

Just before dusk on June 2nd, Yosemite Valley rangers received a report of
a significant rock fall and subsequent shouts for help coming from the
Direct North Buttress route on Middle Cathedral. Using a spotting scope and
a PA system, rangers were able to determine that 33-year-old J.K. of
Durango, Colorado had been caught in the rock fall and that he was
suffering from neck pain and a possible shoulder dislocation and fractured
elbow. Due to the loose rock in the area and the difficult position of the
climbing party at the base of a long chimney, it was decided that it would
be safest to wait until morning to begin the rescue effort. J.K.'s
climbing partner held his arm in traction throughout the night as they
bivvied on a sloping ledge without overnight gear about 1700 feet above the
Valley floor. The following morning, rangers John Dill, Dave Horne, Greg
Lawler and Ed Visnovske and fire helitack personnel Dan Gleason and Shawn
Walters rappelled from the park helicopter to a spire about 300 feet above
the injured climber. Horne was then lowered to J.K. Working in a tight
area with an abundance of loose rocks, the rescue team raised Horne and
J.K. to the top of the spire. From there, Horne and J.K. were
short-hauled under the park helicopter to El Capitan Meadow near the base
of the wall.  J.K. was taken by park ambulance to the Yosemite Medical
Clinic, then flown by air ambulance to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto.
After the victim was evacuated, the remaining rescuers and J.K.'s partner
were all short-hauled to the meadow. In the aftermath of the recent
climbing incidents on Mt. Rainier and Mt. Hood, media interest was
extremely high. The park's Media Relations Office conducted over 30 press
interviews, and the Sacramento ABC affiliate station's helicopter filmed
the short haul. The news footage was shown on ABC stations and on Good
Morning America as "The Picture of the Day." J.K. and his partner, Casey
Shaw, have about 37 years of climbing experience between them. According to
Shaw, J.K.'s climbing helmet saved his life. [Todd Bruno, IC/PR, YOSE,
6/4]

02-210 - City of Rocks NR (ID) - Climbing Fatality

On May 27th, a visitor advised ranger Brad Shilling that a climbing
accident had occurred at Parking Lot Rock. The unconscious victim, K.E.,
31, had fallen on the Delay of Game route and had sustained head
injuries. Rescue units and a Life Flight helicopter responded. In the
interim, Dr. John Tsciherhart, a surgeon in K.E.'s climbing party, had
applied a makeshift C-collar constructed from towels and duct tape.
Rescuers replaced it with a cervical collar and placed K.E. on a spine
board, then transferred her to the helicopter. K.E. died the next day at
Bannock Regional Medical Center. Investigators determined that she was the
lead climber on the ascent when she'd fallen about 15 feet and sustained
massive head injuries. [Wallace Keck, Superintendent, CIRO, 6/4]

02-211 - George Washington Memorial Parkway (VA) - Rescue

Great Falls rangers Sarah Koenen and Brent O'Neill were at an overlook
above the Potomac River just after noon on Saturday, June 1st, when they
saw a boat with two people on board stopped in a potentially hazardous
location above the Maryland portion of the falls. The rangers notified
supervisory park ranger Jesse Reynolds and USPP officer DiToto, who also
responded. The two people began paddling upstream, but were quickly swept
over the falls. Their boat, a sit-on-top style of kayak, immediately
flipped, throwing them into the water. They were then swept through the
drops in Great Falls. The rangers used emergency hand and whistle signals
to alert kayakers in the river below the overlook. Before emergency rescue
units or USPP aviation could be contacted, two of the kayakers retrieved
the man and woman from the fast-flowing current. Only the woman's hand was
visible in the current; the man's head had gone under the surface several
times. The couple said that they would have died if they hadn't been
helped. Almost unbelievably, the couple did not sustain any injuries,
despite being swept over numerous drops and through large waves. [Jesse
Reynolds, GWMP, 6/4]

02-212 - Shenandoah NP (VA) - Rescue

J.C., 37, of Van Nuys, California, was hiking with relatives on the
Jones Run trail on the afternoon of May 26th when he slipped while
attempting to view Jones Run Falls from above, attempted unsuccessfully to
grab a small tree, and fell about 30 feet onto his left side. District
ranger Rick Childs assessed J.C. and requested a litter team and park
medics. Grottoes Rescue Squad, Grottoes FD and Elkton Emergency Squad
personnel assisted park staff in the treatment and evacuation of J.C. the
better part of two miles up the trail to a waiting medevac helicopter. He
was flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center for treatment of a
left hip socket fracture, left facial orbital fracture, and contusions.
[Ginny Rousseau, CR, SHEN, 5/28]

02-213 - National Capital Parks (DC) - Drug Interdiction: Operation Gold
Coast

At 6 a.m. on may 30th, Park Police and DC Metro officers executed eight
search warrants for drug dealing in Dupont Circle Park. The investigation,
entitled "Operation Gold Coast," began late last year and targeted drug
dealers in the park, the largest open-air drug market in the region. During
the investigation, 85 undercover drug purchases were made from 44 different
drug dealers, resulting in 34 dealers being indicted and charged with
distribution of crack cocaine. Officers from the Central District Crime
Prevention Unit, the Central District Patrol Unit, the Narcotics Vice Unit
and the Criminal Investigations Branch assisted in the arrest of 17 of
those indicted and the seizure of $5,400 in crack cocaine, $350 in
marijuana, $5,000 in cash, four vehicles worth $46,000, and two BB pistols
possibly linking suspects to area armed robberies. Another seven people
were also arrested for probable cause drug offenses. Prior to the close
out, six of the indicted subjects were incarcerated on unrelated charges.
The operation, spearheaded by lead investigator Kurt Hansen, helped return
Dupont Circle Park to its rightful users. [Scott Fear, USPP, 6/4]

[Additional reports pending...]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Preparedness Level 3

Initial attack was moderate in the Rockies and southern California
yesterday and light elsewhere. Three new large fires were reported; three
more were contained.

Priorities for large fires in the Rockies are being established by the
Rocky Mountain multi-agency coordinating group. An area command team
(Chesley) is assigned to manage the large fires in southeastern Colorado.

Among the more significant fires on the NICC Incident Management Situation
Report were the following. For a map showing their locations, click on
http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/firemap.html .

New Mexico

Middle Ponil Complex, New Mexico State (60,000 acres, 25% contained, 284
FF/OH ) - Van Bruggen's Type 2 team is managing the fire. The complex of
three fires is burning in ponderosa pine ten miles west of Cimmaron.
Substantial progress was made on constructing lines on the southern flank
yesterday.

Borrego Fire, Santa Fe NF (12,990 acres, 95% contained, 466FF/OH) -
Garcia's Type 2 team is assigned. Crews are constructing lines and mopping
up.

Colorado

Iron Mountain Fire, BLM's Royal Gorge Office (4,439 acres, 95% contained,
270 FF/OH ) - A Type 1 team (Martin) is managing the fire, which is 12
miles north of Westcliffe, Colorado. Crews are improving lines and
hotspotting. Threats to structures have been greatly diminished.

Trinidad Complex, Colorado State (25,326 acres, 57% contained, 272 FF/OH )
- A Type 1 team (Wood) is managing the complex. The fires are in New
Mexico, eight miles west of Trinidad, Colorado, and are burning in grass,
pinyon pine, juniper and ponderosa pine. The fires were relatively inactive
due to favorable weather conditions.

Arizona

Bullock Fire, Coronado NF (30,563 acres, 95% contained, 466 FF/OH) -
Humphrey's Type 1 team is managing the fire, but will turn the fire over to
Jokis' Type 2 team this evening. The fire is burning in grass, oak and
chaparral about 15 miles northeast of Tucson. Crews are patrolling and
mopping up.

California

Wolf Fire, Los Padres NF (10,644 acres, 15% contained, 1,670 FF/OH) - A
Type 1 team (Gelobter) is managing the fire, which is burning in pinyon
pine and juniper about nine miles north of Ojai, California. The fire was
characterized by running and spotting as it moved to the north and east
into the Sespe Wilderness Area. Crews and dozers are constructing lines
along the northwester and southern flanks. The Matilija and Dick Smith
Wilderness Areas are threatened and Highway 33 remains closed.

Arrowhead Fire, San Bernadino NF (2,688 acres, 95% contained, 382 FF/OH) -
A Type 2 team (Conrad) has been assigned to the fire, which is just a mile
north of San Bernadino.

Copper Fire, Los Angeles County (3,000 acres, 10% contained, 217 FF/OH) - A
Type 2 team (Dietrich) will take over command this morning. The fire
started within the city limits of Saugus and is burning in heavy brush. One
residence and seven outbuildings have been lost.

Utah

Nizhoni Fire, Manti-LaSal NF (2,354 acres, 50% contained, 353 FF/OH) -
Burdick's Type 2 team is managing the fire, which is ten miles west of
Blanding, Utah. Significant progress was made on the northeastern flank.

Georgia

Blackjack Bay Complex, Okefenokee NWR (122,143 acres, 6% contained, 230
FF/OH) - A fire use management team (Adams) is operating under a unified
command with Georgia and Florida forestry. Crews are monitoring the fire
and improving lines.

Alaska

Vinasale Fire, Alaska Division of Forestry (100,000 acres, 0% contained,
287 FF/OH) - Ketcher's Type 2 team is managing the fire, which is burning
in black spruce, taiga and hardwoods 15 miles south of McGrath. The fire
was active on its eastern flank on Wednesday. Crews are mopping up on the
northwest flank.

West Fork Chena Fire, Alaska Division of Forestry (22,092 acres, 70%
contained, 143 FF/OH) - A Type 2 team (Jandt) is assigned. The fire is
burning in black spruce about 50 miles east of Fairbanks. There was little
activity yesterday.

MP 78 Elliott Highway, Alaska BLM (95,626 acres, 25% contained, 341 FF/OH)
- The fire is burning seven miles southwest of Livengood in black spruce,
hardwoods, brush and litter. Johnson's Type 2 team is assigned.  Favorable
weather conditions are helping suppression efforts.

National Fire Danger

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Texas, and Utah.

National Resource Commitments

                  Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun   Mon   Tue   Wed
Date              5/29  5/30  5/31  6/1   6/2   6/3   6/4   6/5

Crews             142   149   151   177   226   287   464   439
Engines           83    139   402   348   505   348   427   410
Helicopters       31    40    69    73    93    82    95    88
Air Tankers       1     2     2     4     2     2     0     0
Overhead          631   611   742   585   1,002 1,332 1,567 1,864
Type 1 IMT        2     2     1     1     2     4     4     4
Type 2 IMT        2     3     6     8     10    9     12    9
Fire Use IMT            1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1

National Fire Warnings and Watches

NICC has not issued any fire watches or warnings for today.

Park Fire Situation

Hawaii Volcanoes NP - Difficult volcanic terrain is hampering efforts to
contain the Kupukupu Fire (3,660 acres, 10% contained, 183 FF/OH).
Firefighters are being assisted by two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the
Army's 25th Light Infantry Division based at Schofield Barracks on Oahu.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme - Grand Canyon NP, Mesa Verde NP
Very High - N/A
High - Mojave NP

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 6/5; NICC Incident Management Situation
Report, 6/6]

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation
and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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