- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, July 25, 1997
- Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, July 25, 1997
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
96-601 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Follow-up on Car Clouting/Theft Arrests
On October 8, 1996, ranger Dirk Murphy contacted M.L., 35, and
Christopher White, 29, in the Wahweap picnic area regarding an expired
vehicle registration. Investigation revealed that the delivery truck they
were driving had been stolen from its owner in San Francisco in September
while the owner had been making night deliveries. Items found in the truck's
cargo area tied White and M.L. to five car clouts that had occurred in
Grand Canyon earlier in October. Late this spring, the district court judge
in Phoenix sentenced M.L. to two years and White to 11 months in prison
for stealing the vehicle. White was also sentenced for his possession of a
counterfeit San Francisco postal key. The investigation was conducted by
criminal investigators Jim Houseman and Joe Sumner. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR,
GLCA, 7/21]
97-21 - Valley Forge NHP (Pennsylvania) - Follow-up on HazMat Incident
On the morning of January 9th, a park contractor digging a trench to bury an
underground cable in the parking area near the park amphitheater struck what
appeared to be a pocket of asbestos. Approximately 30 tons of the material
was excavated from a 100-foot-long trench. Two companies that had used
asbestos in their manufacturing processes had operated in what was then
Valley Forge State Park between the early 1900s and late 1960s, and research
showed that they'd dumped their waste material at a number of locations in
the park. Because of record rainfall last year, an inspection was begun to
find any additional exposed asbestos locations in the park. By mid-March, 30
such spots had been found, resulting in the closure of approximately 15 acres
of park land. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency began supporting
the park by providing air sampling outside closure areas. By May, some 50
spots of exposed asbestos had been located, resulting in the closure of a
total of about 30 acres. On May 14th, a meeting was held at the park with
EPA and the Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection and Natural
Resources. During the meeting, it was determined that the park and state
agencies had no immediate resources to bring to bear on what was thought to
be a public health threat. On May 19th, an EPA on-scene coordinator (OSC)
and a representative of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) toured the site along with the park safety specialist. ATSDR
determined that the material would constitute an immediate health risk if it
was allowed to dry out. Two days later, the EPA OSC put an emergency
response action into effect at the site. Some 4,000 linear feet of
additional fencing was erected and a watering operation was initiated in
areas where exposed asbestos was located adjacent to public areas. The park
safety specialist was designated by EPA as the federal OSC representative at
the site. The park continued to provide bulk sampling analysis, site
interpretation and support activities. Aerial photos of the site taken in
1948 and 1950 indicated that the areas of contamination may cover some 80
acres. By June 28th, 20,000 square feet of exposed asbestos containing
material had been covered with soil and seeded, and 20,0000 square feet of
soil had been stabilized using a polyurethane soil stabilizer. Additional
sample results determined that there was an additional 40,000 square feet of
exposed asbestos containing material that had not been treated. Additional
funds were needed to complete the emergency response action. Rather than
have the EPA acquire additional superfund money, the NPS elected to take over
administration of the site and continue the emergency response action. With
park funding and the assistance of park staff, a sprinkler system was put in
place by the EPA to keep the untreated areas wet. On July 1st,
administration of the site was turned over to the NPS. An NPS emergency
response contractor is currently on site. The goals of the continuing
emergency response operation are to erect additional fencing to keep visitors
away from exposed asbestos, water down exposed asbestos, continue air
sampling, and cover additional areas of exposed asbestos with soil and seed
the areas. Air sampling has not yet shown any airborne release of asbestos
fibers that would endanger the health of park visitors, employees or
surrounding neighbors. A site inspection will be initiated shortly to
determine the extent of the problem and what long term measures will be
needed to correct it. [Earl Cram, Safety Specialist, VAFO, 7/14]
97-250 - Gulf Islands NS (MS/FL) - Follow-up on Suspicious Fire
A second structural fire occurred at the Santa Rosa day use facility in the
Florida District during the early hours of July 13th. The first fire - also
suspicious - occurred at the facility late on the evening of June 4th. Park
personnel and five fire departments responded to this blaze and found the
8,000-square-foot facility fully involved. The facility was badly damaged
during Hurricane Opal and a government contractor was in the process of
demolishing it for salvage. The fires are being investigated by ATF, the
Florida fire marshall's office, and the park. The total loss due to
contractual obligations is estimated to be in excess of $100,000. [CRO,
GUIS, 7/14]
97-281 - Blue Ridge Parkway (VA/NC) - Follow-up on Assault
On June 26th, K.B. of Waynesboro, Virginia, was arrested on a felony
assault warrant which charged him with attempting to run down a group of
approximately a dozen people with a motor vehicle at Rockfish Valley overlook
earlier in June. The incident occurred after K.B. reportedly beat-up his
girl friend. One person was struck and received minor injuries; four parked
vehicles were struck and damaged. K.B. was held without bond pending a
preliminary hearing because he was on state bond for two felony charges of
distribution of cocaine at the time of the arrest. District ranger Bruce
Bytnar is leading the investigation. [CRO, BLRI, 7/10]
97-284 - Zion NP (UT) - Follow-up on Serious Employee Injury
Maintenance employee D.O., seriously injured in a non-duty motorcycle
accident on June 22nd, underwent 13 hours of reconstructive surgery on July
22nd. The surgery went very well, and D.O. now has complete body control.
Full recovery is expected, and he may be released as early as July 30th.
Friends may write him at the Veterans Hospital, 500 Foothill Boulevard, Salt
Lake City, UT 84148, or call him at 1-800-613-4012, station 1630. [Dispatch,
ZION, 7/24]
97-352 - Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Boy Killed by Mountain Lion
Ten-year-old M.M. was killed by an 88-pound female mountain lion
while hiking on the park's North Inlet trail on July 17th. M.M. and his
family were returning from a day hike at the time. The attack was
unwitnessed because the boy was several minutes ahead of his family on the
trail. When the boy's parents saw the lion dragging him off the trail, they
screamed and frightened it away. M.M.'s mother, a registered nurse, began
CPR, and was assisted by responding rangers and visitors who were in the
area. CPR was discontinued two hours later, and the boy was pronounced dead.
Three hours after the attack, the lion returned to the site and approached
ranger Chris Philippi. Philippi fired his service-issued 9mm pistol three
times at a distance of less than 15 yards, striking the animal twice. The
injured lion left the area, but was treed by a lion hunter and his three dogs
about 45 minutes later (the hunter was under contract with the Colorado
Division of Wildlife). The lion was shot and killed by rangers, and its
carcass was sent to Colorado State University for a necropsy. The is the
park's first recorded mountain lion fatality. Last year, a park employee was
attacked by a mountain lion near Shadow Mountain Lake and sustained minor
injuries. A visitor was treed by a lion in the Big Meadows area in 1995.
[Sharon Brubaker, ROMO, 7/23]
97-353 - Saguaro NP (AZ) - Homicide
Ranger Andy Brinkley discovered an apparent homicide victim in a pullout two
miles from the visitor center in the Tucson Mountain district just before
midnight on July 18th. The unidentified female, who was between 14 and 16
years old, had been shot twice with a .380 caliber weapon. The county
sheriff's office is leading the investigation. [Daniel Wirth, SA, SOAR,
7/21]
97-354 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Plane Crash with Three Fatalities
On the afternoon of July 16th, a 1979 Cessna 182 which had been rented by
E.K., a 46-year-old Swiss national, crashed as E.K. attempted to land
it up hill on a dirt strip at the Panamint Springs Resort. E.K. was
apparently having problems landing; when he attempted to pull up and come
around again, the plane stalled and crashed on park property next to the
resort. E.K. and his two sons - M., 17, and S., two - were killed.
The plane burst into flames on impact, thus making any attempts at a rescue
impossible. Shortly after the crash, E.K.'s wife and daughter arrived by car
at the resort to meet them. The county sheriff and NTSB are investigating.
[Chris Ward, CR, DEVA, 7/25]
97-355 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Slide; Road Closure
A massive rock slide closed all lanes of I-40 at the Tennessee/North Carolina
border early on the morning of Tuesday, July 1st. The slide has not yet been
entirely cleared, and the length of the closure remains indefinite. It
appears at present that it will not be cleared until after Labor Day - and
possibly not until the winter. Car traffic is being diverted to SR 25/70
through Newport, Tennessee; although the Newfound Gap Road through the park
is not listed as an official detour alternative, it is being used as such and
traffic has been extremely heavy on that highway since the slide occurred.
Rangers have been brought in from outlying districts to provide public
service and attempt to divert commercial trucks from entering the park
(trucks are supposed to follow two other routes). Over the past two weeks,
the rangers have dealt with three vehicle fires, a major accident involving
two cars and an 18-wheeler in a park tunnel which backed up traffic for 18
miles, many fender-benders, and numerous breakdowns due to overheating, brake
failure and similar problems. Although the situation is under control, the
next 30 days are the heaviest traffic days of the year - even without the
traffic diversion. [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 7/24]
97-356 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Armed Robbery; Vehicle Theft; Assault
At 6:45 a.m. on July 16th, a park visitor was approached at gunpoint by a man
with a handgun in the Montezuma Pass parking lot. Two other men, armed,
respectively, with a knife and screwdriver, then ran out of the bushes and
attempted to tie the visitor up. There was a struggle, and she was pushed
down a steep embankment. Her car was stolen and driven into Mexico about a
mile west of the park boundary. The victim suffered cuts and bruises in the
attack. The Cochise county sheriff's office is investigating; the FBI has
been notified. [Scott Sticha, CORO, 7/16]
97-357 - Guilford Courthouse NMP (NC) - Assault
A woman jogging on the park tour road at 8:45 p.m. on July 22nd saw a man
sitting on the side of the road. She turned and ran down a park trail, and
the man pursued her. He threw her to the ground and pulled down her jogging
shorts. She kicked and screamed and attempted to pull her shorts back up.
The man eventually gave up, then ran back to the tour road. The woman ran
home and called the park to report the incident. An investigation is
currently underway. [Steve Ware, PR, GUCO, 7/24]
97-358 - Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (MO) - Rape
Horse mounted patrol ranger Rebecca Swaney saw two people engaged in sexual
activity on park grounds just after 2 a.m. on July 21st. Upon further
investigation, she determined that W.W. had physically assaulted a
39-year-old woman by striking her in the face when she refused to have sex
with him, then threatened her with further harm if she did not submit. W.W.
then raped the woman. He was taken into custody at the scene. The victim
was treated and released and also received victim counseling. A criminal
complaint has been filed. Hearings are pending. [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF,
7/22]
97-359 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Bear Incident
On July 22nd, a 150-pound black bear who was exploring a dumpster in Cades
Cove was inadvertently picked up and dumped into a garbage truck, then
transported to the Sevier county solid waste facility and deposited into a
composter. The bear climbed up brackets along the composter wall and stayed
in the highest corner of the building until a wildlife officer arrived,
tranquilized the bear, and returned him to the park for release. The animal
was not harmed. An employee of the facility said that they'd previously
collected skunks, possums and raccoons, but that this was their first bear.
[Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 7/24]
97-360 - Fire Island NS (NY) - Sewage Dumping
On July 10th, rangers, New York Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC) officers, and members of a Coast Guard pollution investigation team
conducted a joint investigation into a complaint of raw sewage being dumped
into Great South Bay from Michael's Restaurant in Cherry Grove. They found
what appeared to be raw sewage being pumped from a cesspool adjacent to the
restaurant under an adjoining dock to a point behind a bulkhead. The
operator, M.R., contended that he hadn't been pumping anything, but
said that he'd been having sewage problems. Further investigation revealed
that M.R. had in fact pumped sewage into the bulkhead, and that the bulkhead
emptied into the bay via a four-inch hole cut into the bulkhead staving
whenever the tide went down. Water samples were taken from the bay as
evidence by the park's resource management specialist. The pollutants
consisted of what appeared to be food residue from the dishwashing station
and human waste. Numerous violations were issued by rangers and DEC
officers; Coast Guard charges are pending. This is the first time that,
following considerable planning, the three agencies have worked together in a
combined investigation. [Jay Lippert, DR, FIIS, 7/15]
97-361 - Petersburg NB (VA) - Theft
A Sharps breechloading pistol which was on display in the park's museum is
missing and presumably was stolen on or about July 17th. The weapon is
described as follows: Four-shot breech-loading pepperbox pistol, .30 caliber,
sliver plated, plated brass frame, gutta-percha grips, slightly rusted,
partial serial number: 40197? Made circa 1859-1874. A photograph of the
weapon, which is in good condition and has been valued at about $400, is
available. The NCIC number is 971525. Any information regarding this weapon
should be forwarded to Tim Blumenschine via cc:Mail at PETE Ranger
Activities, or via phone at 804-732-3966. [Ike Kelley, CR, PETE, 7/23]
97-362 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Car Clout Arrests
Four separate auto burglaries were conducted in the parking lots in the state
line area on June 15th and 22nd. Stolen were electric winches, bumpers, tool
boxes, CDs, and fog lights with a cumulative value of $8,500. On June 30th,
the investigation led rangers and a criminal investigator to three different
residences and one business where stolen items were recovered. On July 15th,
three men - A.B., 21, D.S., 21, and K.B., 18,
all residents of Page, Arizona - were arrested and appeared in county
district court. They will be prosecuted for felony theft and auto burglary.
[Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/22]
97-363 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Car Clout Arrest
On the afternoon of July 19th, an off-duty police officer spotted two people
committing an auto burglary in the South Rim visitor center parking lot. The
officer reported this to the visitor center staff, then returned to watch the
suspects. Rangers arrived within two minutes and arrested E.S., 32,
of Phoenix. The second suspect fled on foot and has not been found.
Investigation revealed that the pair had broken into two cars in the parking
lot and stolen credit cards. E.S., who has a lengthy felony criminal
history and was on probation for burglary at the time of his arrest, was
charged with burglary, theft and possession of stolen property. Rangers and
criminal investigators are continuing efforts to identify the second suspect.
[David Brennan, SDR, South Rim, GRCA, 7/25]
97-364 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Search and Rescue
At 8 p.m. on the evening of July 8th, a couple from Huntington, West
Virginia, began a rafting trip on the upper section of the Gauley River.
They borrowed a raft from a friend who told them that the trip from the
tailwaters to Panther Creek would take only an hour or so and that the trip
would be peaceful because the river was flowing at a low rate of 350 cubic
feet per second (cfs) - both important considerations because the woman was
seven months pregnant. The distance, however, is actually about ten miles,
and the low flow meant that the trip would take more than five hours and that
it would be extremely hazardous because of exposed undercut rocks when the
river is at this level. Friends advised the park when the couple failed to
arrive at Panther Creek by 10 a.m. the following morning. Rangers began an
immediate hasty search on foot along the river bank; a search of the river
began at noon. The couple was found about two miles downstream from the
tailwaters at 2 p.m. They had spent a restless night on the river bank under
their raft. Although frightened and hungry, they were otherwise uninjured.
Investigation revealed that they had not been wearing their lifejackets, and
that they'd initially intended to take their seven-year-old son on the trip.
According to the woman, they had decided to get off the river when they had
almost flipped the raft in Insignificant Rapid, a class IV rapid. She said
that she'd been so frightened during the trip that for some time she thought
she was going into labor. [Rick Brown, Protection Unit Leader, NERI, 7/12]
97-365 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
A vehicle drove into the Merced River just below Pohono Bridge in Yosemite
Valley around 10:30 p.m. on July 5th. Responding rangers and park fire,
rescue and EMS personnel found the car in a class III whitewater. The driver
had been able to extricate himself as the car floated in the river. He
suffered only minor injuries and was washed up on shore. Investigation
revealed that the vehicle had been traveling east on Northside Drive at a
speed of about 65 mph (the speed limit is 35 mph) when the driver failed to
negotiate a corner. The vehicle skidded for 120 feet, then sailed off a 35-
foot embankment into whitewater. It then floated under the bridge and
traveled another 150 feet until it was pinned against a boulder. Incident
commander Keith Lober reported that the accident should have been
unsurvivable. [Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor, YOSE, 7/14]
97-366 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
On the afternoon of July 5th, a 29-year-old climber took a 100-foot pendulum
fall and broke a leg on the "Thank God Ledge" traverse of the "Regular Route"
on the northwest face of Half Dome. Other climbers on the face were able to
raise the climber to the top of the cliff, where he was picked up and flown
by park helicopter to the Yosemite Clinic, then taken by Air Med helicopter
to a hospital in Modesto. Failure of the lead climber to place adequate
protection on the traverse transformed what should have been a minor fall
into a near fatal accident. [Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor, YOSE, 7/14]
97-367 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
Early on the morning of June 16th, an 18-year-old climber fell 30 feet to the
ground from the first pitch of the "Paradise Lost" route on Middle Cathedral
Rock and suffered a severe head injury. Investigation showed that he had
ripped out all of his protection points during the fall. An NPS rescue team
led by ranger/paramedic Keith Lober began advanced life support and evacuated
the victim down a 300-foot scree slope. He was taken to Doctors Hospital in
Modesto, where he was diagnosed as suffering from a basalar skull fracture.
[Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor, YOSE, 7/14]
97-368 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
A solo climber descending the nose route of El Capitan around noon on July
3rd became immobilized on the wall when his ropes became entangled. A park
rescue team climbed the first five pitches and freed the ropes. The climber
was then able to descend on his own without incident. [Brian Smith, Shift
Supervisor, YOSE, 7/14]
97-369 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
A lead climber on the "Shield Route" on El Capitan fell around 9 p.m. on May
29th and suffered internal injuries. A park rescue team was flown to the top
of El Capitan the next morning and brought the injured climber to the top in
a five-hour, thousand-foot raising. He was taken to Doctors Hospital in
Modesto, where he was diagnosed as suffering from displaced rib fractures.
[Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor, YOSE, 7/14]
97-370 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
Japanese climbers reported finding a bloody, broken climbing helmet at the
base of El Capitan on the morning of July 12th. Investigation quickly
revealed that there was an injured and immobile climber 2,200 feet up the
"Cosmos Route." The man, who was a friend of the Japanese climbers, had
fallen an unknown distance, was severely dehydrated, and had been rationing
his food for several days. The park helicopter and Navy helicopters from
Lemoore NAS were not available, so an ANG Pavehawk helicopter and C-130
aerial tanker were sent from Moffett Field near San Francisco. A rescue team
was flown to the summit of El Capitan. Ranger/ paramedic Keith Lober was
lowered to the victim; Lober stabilized him, then was raised 700 feet to the
summit with the patient in a litter. Darkness forced the team and the
injured climber to spend the night on top of El Capitan. The patient was
flown to the park clinic the next day, where he was treated for severe
dehydration and a minor head injury. [Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor, YOSE,
7/21]
97-371 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
On July 14th, a 33-year-old Croatian climber fell about 50 feet to the ground
while leading at the Cookie Cliff in the Merced River canyon. He was not
wearing a helmet and was resting by hanging from a camming device when it
failed. The only other piece of equipment he had placed also failed, and he
fell to the ground, sustaining injuries to his neck and head. He was taken
by ambulance to the El Portal school grounds, where he was transferred to a
medical helicopter and flown to a hospital in Modesto. He was still in a
coma and on life support as of July 19th. [Dan Horner, CI, YOSE, 7/21]
97-372 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
An eight-year-old boy was bitten on the finger by a rattlesnake near Clark's
Point on the John Muir trail near Nevada Falls on July 20th. The incident
was reported by cell phone. Ranger/paramedic Keith Lober heli-rapelled from
the park's helicopter and reached the boy within an hour of the bite.
Initial exam showed that he had been seriously envenomated. The boy was
quickly packaged in a litter, then short-hauled several miles under the
helicopter to the Ahwahnee Meadow. He was flown by air ambulance about 200
miles to Oakland Children's Hospital, where he remains in pediatric intensive
care. [Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor, YOSE, 7/21]
97-373 - Shenandoah NP (VA) - Rescue
W.K., 44, of Avon Lake, Ohio, dislocated his right hip at Jones Run
Falls on the afternoon of July 8th. W.K. was in considerable pain and unable
to move, so his friend hiked a couple of miles to the trailhead and summoned
help. A rescue team reached W.K. around 5 p.m. and evacuated him on a
backboard and wheeled litter. He was taken to a medical center for
treatment. [Rick Childs, IC, SHEN, 7/9]
97-374 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue; Assault on Rescuers
Rangers and rescue personnel responded to a report of a male who had
collapsed a mile and a half up the Yosemite Falls trail on the evening of May
30th. The 35-year-old man was found conscious but unable to stand, walk or
care for himself. He displayed signs of dehydration and profound drug and
alcohol withdrawal. During the evacuation, he repeatedly became agitated and
struck two SAR team members in the face with his fist. He was restrained,
additional rangers were called to the scene, and the evacuation continued.
He was eventually taken to a hospital in Modesto. After he was released, he
was arrested by rangers and charged with assault, being under the influence
of an illegal stimulant drug, and disorderly conduct. The magistrate
sentenced him to 60 days in custody. [Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor, YOSE,
7/14]
97-375 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Falling Fatality
A Chinese national who had been swimming in the pool above Nevada Falls was
swept over the falls and fell 592 feet to his death on the evening of July
5th. Signs are posted throughout the area warning of the danger of being
swept over the falls. Efforts to find the body have so far been fruitless;
they will continue on a limited basis as the river level drops. The victim
was at least the fifth person to go over Nevada Falls over the past 15 years.
[Brian Smith, Shift Supervisor, YOSE, 7/14]
97-376 - Golden Gate NRA (CA) - Falling Fatality
On the morning of July 4th, D.H., 19, of Danville, Pennsylvania,
entered the Muir Beach overlook with a companion before the area opened,
climbed over protective barriers along the trail to the overlook, and began
descending a steep slope above a 500-foot-high cliff with the intention of
climbing down the cliff. D.H.'s companion descended about 75 feet, then
returned to the parking area to wait for D.H. D.H. was last seen at
the top of the vertical cliff at about 8 a.m. When he failed to return by
early afternoon, his companion reported his disappearance to park staff. A
search was begun with inflatable rescue boats and ground searchers, but no
sign of D.H. was found. The search was continued the following day, with
climbers checking the cliff area and a state police helicopter checking the
shoreline. This effort was equally fruitless. Daily searches of the coast
were conducted until July 8th, when D.H.'s body was found in the water,
wedged into a small sea cave at the base of the overlook. The area had been
checked on previous days at higher tides; the body was apparently visible
only during lower tides. [Jon Anglin, PR, GOGA, 7/9]
97-377 - Golden Gate NRA (CA) - Bicycling Fatality
L.M., 40, of San Francisco, and a companion were riding bikes
down a steep and twisting one-way section of Conzelman Road in the Marin
Headlands when they both lost control of their bikes. L.M.'s companion
went down in the road and sustained a bruised shoulder. L.M., however,
struck the guard rail with his bike, went airborne, and came to rest in thick
brush down a steep slope. During the process, his biking helmet was broken
in numerous pieces and scattered around the area. When rangers and
paramedics arrived on scene, bystanders had pulled L.M. up the slope
and begun CPR on him. He did not survive. Witnesses indicated that
L.M. and his companion were traveling at very high speed and had passed
a car just prior to the accident. The area is posted with cautionary signing
and has a speed limit of 15 mph. [Jon Anglin, PR, GOGA, 7/9]
97-378 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Drowning
Park dispatch received a report of a personal water craft (PWC) floating in
the lake without an operator around noon on July 2nd. A search was begun,
and the victim, a 37-year-old male, was soon found floating in the water. He
was wearing a life jacket. Two visiting paramedics began CPR until a
critical care unit from Las Vegas could arrive on scene. He was taken to a
hospital in Boulder, where he was pronounced dead from drowning. This was
the park's 14th fatality of the year. [Dispatch, LAME, 7/3]
97-379 - Big South Fork NRRA (TN/KY) - Drowning
On the afternoon of July 2nd, B.P. and two companions attempted to
swim across the Clear Fork River, which was swollen from weeks of rain.
B.P. did not make it. Rangers and members of the county rescue squad
searched the river until dark without luck, but found B.P.'s body the next
morning. Neither alcohol nor drugs was a factor. [Frank Graham, CR, BISO,
7/7]
97-380 - Gulf Islands NS (FL/MS) - Drowning
Two volunteers checking turtle nests in the Perdido Key area of the Florida
district early on the morning of July 4th discovered the body of 19-year-old
B.B. of Stapleton, Alabama, floating face down in the Gulf of Mexico
near his personal water craft (PWC). A local volunteer firefighter who was
in the area swam out and retrieved the body, which was about 15 yards
offshore. Since the accident involved a PWC, the Florida Marine Patrol (FMP)
was called in to investigate. It appears that B.B.'s head struck the PWC's
handlebars, possibly knocking him unconscious. According to FMP officers,
the Type III PFD (life jacket) he was wearing at the time of the accident was
legal but nonetheless failed to keep him face up in the water. The death has
been ruled a drowning. [Skip Prange, GUIS, 7/7]
97-381 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Drowning
On the evening of July 20th, a man and his three-year-old son and sister-in-
law were picnicking on a small island near Government Wash. A storm with
high winds came up. As they attempted to wade across the inlet to the shore,
the father lost his footing and went under with his son. His sister-in-law
went back to help, but also went under. Bystanders pulled all three from the
water and started CPR on the father, who did not survive. The sister-in-law
and child were taken to a hospital in Henderson for observation. This was
the park's 15th fatality of the year. [Terri Greene, Lead Dispatcher, LAME,
7/21]
97-382 - Cape Hatteras NS (NC) - Swimming Fatality
While swimming with his family off Hatteras Island, H.H., 75, of
Williamsville, New York, was hit by a wave that knocked him under the
surface. When he failed to resurface, his son located him and brought him to
shore. Rangers Michelle Uhr and Jack Kane responded along with local EMS and
volunteer water rescue units. CPR and ALS were begun, but H.H. failed to
respond and was pronounced dead at a local medical center. The doctor
recommended an autopsy to confirm the suspicion that the cause of death was a
broken neck. [Steve Ryan, DR, CAHA, 7/15]
97-383 - Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD) - MVA with Fatality
A 25 year-old Washington man was killed early on Sunday, July 6th, in a
single vehicle accident on the Anacostia River bridge at the entrance to the
Baltimore Washington Parkway. The victim was identified as D.J.
of Northeast D.C. Investigation revealed that D.J. was a front seat
passenger in a vehicle that swerved across the median, struck a barrier and
overturned. D.J. sustained massive head injuries and was pronounced dead
at the scene. The driver of the vehicle and another passenger were
transported to a local hospital, where they were admitted with unspecified
injuries. The accident is under investigation by the Park Police. Excessive
speed may have been a contributing factor. [Bill Lynch, RLES, NCRO, 7/7]
97-384 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Suicide
Ranger VanNest was on patrol early on the afternoon of July 6th when he came
upon a vehicle off-road with tubing extending from the tailpipe into the
right rear window. The suicide victim was a 43-year-old male from Las Vegas.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. This was the park's 16th fatality of
the year. [Dispatch, LAME, 7/6]
97-385 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Suicide
On the evening of July 9th, climbers reported finding a body at the base of
the northwest face of Half Dome which apparently had been there for several
days. Park rescue team members went up the Half Dome slabs in the dark to
confirm the report and protect the scene. A recovery team lead by
ranger/coroner Evan Jones flew to the scene the next morning and recovered
the body. Evidence found at the top of the cliff, with the body, and in a
rented car tentatively identified the victim as a German citizen and
indicated that he'd jumped to his death around July 5th. [Dan Horner, CI,
YOSE, 7/14]
97-386 - Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - Burglary
A series of intrusion alarms was received from the park's visitor center just
past 3 a.m. on July 2nd. No patrol rangers were on duty, so a request to
check the building was made to a local agency. An officer arrived on scene
18 minutes after the first alarm; the building looked secure, so he left the
area. Ranger Steve Chorba arrived from home at 3:30 a.m. and found a door
ajar. Nobody was found inside, but a safe used by ENP&MA was found partly
pried open - but not enough to get to the $2,300 in cash inside. The safe,
however, was a total loss. About $150 was taken from a donation box. A
modest effort was made to enter a government safe from which $850 had been
removed the previous day, but the safe was not damaged. Two alarm keypads
were ripped from walls, possibly in an effort to silence the alarm. Two BMX
bicycles were found on a paved trail about 50 yards from the building. The
point of entry was a 16 by 20 inch window which had been disassembled. Some
fingerprints have been recovered, but may belong to park staff. All
information indicates that juveniles were involved. Attempts to trace the
bikes have so far been unsuccessful. [Joe Wieszczyk, CI, INDU, 7/8]
97-387 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Drug Seizure
A ranger discovered vehicle and foot tracks on July 16th and followed them to
a cache of 62 pounds of marijuana hidden in a manzanita bush along the main
park road. It's believed that additional marijuana bundles were successfully
loaded into a vehicle a very short time before the ranger's afternoon patrol.
[Scott Sticha, CORO, 7/16]
97-388 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Drug Seizure; Arrest
On July 15th, a task force of rangers, Raleigh County deputies, DEA agents
and West Virginia state police investigators executed a search and arrest
warrant for J.S., 29, of Beckley, West Virginia. A two-month-long
investigation, supported by special WASO funding, netted four pounds of
marijuana, seven firearms (including three assault rifles), bomb making
materials, $800 in cash, a computer, and several boxes of financial records.
J.S. admitted to investigators that he'd transported a total of 25 pounds of
marijuana and a kilo of cocaine from Chicago to the local Amtrak train
station within the park on several occasions. Although J.S. was on welfare,
the U.S. attorney's office is issuing seizure warrants for seven vehicles and
a four-wheeler that J.S. owns, based on his admission that the vehicles were
purchased with drug money. J.S. is a member of a loosely organized local
anti-government and police hate group. [Chris Schrader, CI, NERI, 7/21]
97-389 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Drug Eradication
On July 15th, rangers participated in an interagency eradication effort. A
total of 347 marijuana plants were discovered and destroyed on NPS and
adjacent lands through helicopter surveillance of lands in Floyd County,
Virginia. Ranger Pete Schula coordinated NPS efforts on the ground along
with rangers Ed Clark and Bill Calvert. The value of the plants has been
placed at $347,000. No arrests had been made at the time of the report.
[CRO, BLRI, 7/17]
97-390 - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP (MD/DC) - Marijuana Eradication
On July 18th, a joint NPS, county and state narcotics operation led to the
identification of four plots with about 250 plants growing in the area
adjacent to the Potomac River west of Hancock, Maryland. The plants ranged
in height from three to eight feet, and evidence at the scene indicated that
they were being actively cultivated. Ranger George DeLancey installed a
remote sensing video camera on the 19th, and the task force provided
personnel for surveillance on the 21st. The decision to eradicate the plants
was made the following day. A total of 254 plants with an estimated street
value of over $300,000 were destroyed. [Kevin FitzGerald, CHOH, 7/23]
97-391 - Little River Canyon NRA (AL) - Assist: Marijuana Eradication
On July 7th and 8th, rangers assisted county and state officers in locating
and eradicating marijuana cultivation sites in the county. Over 1,800 plants
were located and destroyed. Their street value has been placed at $2.5
million. [Dwight Dixon, CR, LIRI, 7/9]
97-392 - Mount Rushmore NP (SD) - Special Event
On July 15th, the park's new 2,000-seat amphitheater was dedicated at a
ceremony sponsored by The Freedom Foundation, a Virginia-based foundation
which contributed $1 million toward construction of the facility. The
featured speaker at the event was former Canadian prime minister Brian
Mulroney. The amphitheater, which has been in use for evening programs and
special events since late May, also has overflow space for hundreds more,
making it one of the largest such facilities in the NPS. There were no
significant incidents during the event. [Mike Pflaum, CR, MORU, 7/17]
97-393 - Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (MO) - Special Event
Fair Saint Louis was held on park grounds during the Fourth of July weekend.
Three special events teams and two additional law enforcement rangers were
called in to provide the park staff with much-needed assistance during the
event. Over a half million people attended the three-day event, which
featured three daily air shows and two daily concerts with entertainment
provided by the Neville Brothers, Randy Travis, Silk, Huey Lewis and the
News, the BoDeans, and the Pointer Sisters. Each day ended with a half hour
fireworks display. There were few law enforcement incidents and only six
arrests. Numerous special use permits were issued for First Amendment
activities and distribution of printed material. [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF,
7/22]
97-394 - Minute Man NHP (MA) - HazMat Dumping
On July 2nd, rangers found four cardboard boxes containing a variety of
bottles with lab chemicals along a park road. Most of the bottles were full
or nearly full; none was leaking, but fumes were emanating from the boxes. A
state hazmat team was summoned and arrived within an hour. They indicated
that the materials should be removed immediately by a licensed contractor due
to their reactivity and instability. A contractor was hired and removed the
material by 7 p.m. that evening at a cost of $3,500. [Flo Smith, PR, MIMA,
7/8]
97-395 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - Arson
On the afternoon of July 7th, a park visitor reported recent fire damage to a
structure located on the Freeman Tract Road on the Pennsylvania side of the
Delaware River. Investigating rangers found that about 20% of the roof of
the Stone Spring House had burned as a result of an arson fire. The monetary
damage to the house, which was constructed around 1840, has been placed at
about $4,500. [Bob Wilson, LES, DEWA, 7/16]
97-396 - Lake Roosevelt NRA (WA) - Body Recovery
Two men fishing from a boat on the Kettle River found the body of an adult
female on July 12th. The body was recovered by rangers with assistance from
county and state officers. The victim is believed to have come from a
missing vehicle that disappeared into the river upstream of the park last
month. An autopsy will be conducted in an attempt to identify the victim and
determine the cause of death. [CRO, LARO, 7/16]
97-397 - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP (MD/DC) - Body Found
On July 18th, a fisherman on the Potomac River near Dam #3 found and reported
what he believed to be a human skeleton lodged between some boulders just
below the dam. Rangers and maintenance personnel responded and confirmed the
find. The remains are believed to be those of a 60-year-old woman who has
been missing since last December 31st and whose vehicle was found in the
Mountain Lock parking area in early January. Maryland state troopers and the
state medical examiner are continuing the investigation. [Kevin FitzGerald,
CHOH, 7/23]
[Additional reports pending...]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Thu Fri % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 7/24 7/25 Con Con
AK Southwest Area * Inowak T2 475,150 475,150 0 NEC
* Chiniklik Mt. T2 800 3,350 0 NEC
* Oskawalik T2 1,028 1,320 0 NEC
Galena District * Paimiut -- 130 700 0 NEC
LA Sabine NWR * Bayou -- - 500 30 7/25
MT Fort Belknap Agency * Kirkaldie CRP -- - 690 100 CND
Heading Notes
Unit -- Agency = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA state resource
or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; District = BLM
district; NWR = USFWS wildlife refuge
Fire -- * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex; LSS =
limited suppression strategy; CSS = containment suppression
strategy
IMT -- T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con -- Percent of fire contained
Est Con -- Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report; LPS = limited
protection status
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FIVE DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Tuesday, 7/22 0 21 23 6 65 43 158
Wednesday, 7/23 1 10 20 0 66 32 129
Thursday, 7/24 0 6 11 5 41 32 95
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FIVE DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Tuesday, 7/22 51 66 29 6 272
Wednesday, 7/23 42 33 20 4 130
Thursday, 7/24 47 62 21 10 161
COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT
1997: YTD Ten Year Average: YTD
Number of fires 39,389 48,914
Acres burned 1,943,871 1,571,010
CURRENT SITUATION
New large fires were reported yesterday in the Rockies. Large fire activity
continued in Alaska, but initial attack decreased. There was only minimal
fire activity elsewhere in the U.S. Very high to extreme fire indices
continue to be reported in California, the Great Basin and the Rockies.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/25]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Big Cypress NP (FL) - Biological Control of Melaleuca
On July 9th, 60 Australian melaleuca snout beetles (Oxyops vitiosa) were
released in the park by the Department of Agriculture. The beetles will help
the park's resource management staff manage melaleuca quinquenervia, an
exotic pest tree from Australia. The melaleuca snout beetle is the first of
a suite of insects that will be released by USDA to help Florida natural area
managers control melaleuca. [RMS, BICY]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Servicewide Information Management Council Meeting - This relatively new
group , which is comprised of information management coordinators from the
support offices, regions, centers, and WASO, met in May. The purpose of the
council is to make recommendations to the associate director for professional
services regarding Servicewide policy, direction, budget and activities for
information technology, telecommunications, and computer-related matters. To
obtain a copy of the meeting notes you can either visit the AMOEBA website at
http://165.83.20.6/amoeba.nsf and look under "Meeting Notes 2," or send a
cc:Mail to Betsy Chittenden with "IMC Notes" (without quotes) in the subject
line. The message runs about 66K in size. The meeting notes include a list
of the council members/ attendees; if you have questions, please direct them
to your representative. [Betsy Chittenden, WASO Administrative Program
Center]
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
EXCHANGE
No submissions.
OBSERVATIONS
This section, which appears intermittently in the Morning Report, contains
observations regarding the National Park Service, the System and the several
professions of park employees. Today's observation is inscribed on the
panels at the new FDR memorial in Washington, D.C.
"Men and nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the
resources of nature throws out of balance also the lives of men."
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
* * * * *
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators. Please address requests
pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub
coordinator.
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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