- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, June 17, 1998
- Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, June 17, 1998
INCIDENTS
98-288 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Follow-up on Rescue
On the evening of June 14th, the park communication center received a 911
relay of a cellular phone call from two climbers in distress at the 13,400-foot
elevation of Mount Rainier. The call was forwarded to the park by the
Washington State Patrol office in Wenatchee. The climbers had reached the
summit via the Liberty Ridge route earlier that day. While attempting to
descend via Emmons Glacier, one of the two men fell into a crevasse. He was
held by his partner and was able to climb out of the crevasse after two
hours' effort, but both were suffering from hypothermia by that time. They
bivouacked in an effort to warm up, and made the distress call when one of
them continued to lose body heat. Rangers organized a response that evening.
A cold front was expected to move through during the night, lowering freezing
levels and bringing snow, freezing rain, and high winds. Rescuers were
dispatched from Camp Schurman at 4:45 a.m. the next morning. Visibility at
the camp was limited to 200 feet and winds blew between 35 and 40 knots.
Climbing teams from Tacoma, Seattle and Olympic Mountain Rescue also
responded to the call, and a Bell Jet Ranger and an Army Chinook CH-47 were
summoned to search for the pair and insert rescue teams. Efforts to do so,
however, proved impossible because of strong winds. The ground team
continued to climb to the site despite winds of up to 50 mph and below
freezing temperatures, and reached the two climbers around 2:30 p.m. Both
were in good condition but suffering from exposure. They were given water
and food and rewarmed before descending to Camp Schurman. They overnighted
their before continuing their descent the following day. [Uwe Nehring, MORA,
6/16]
98-289 - North Cascades NP (WA) - Search
On June 15th, a party of seven climbers failed to sign out on a voluntary
climber register following a weekend climb of 9,100-foot Mount Shuksan. A
check of emergency phone numbers revealed that two of the party members had
already returned home after becoming exhausted on the approach to the summit;
the other five were unaccounted for, and their vehicle was still at the
trailhead. Rangers Kelly Bush and Craig Brouwer joined with Whatcom County
Sheriff's Department officers in assisting a hasty search team, which found
the five climbers descending their planned route. They had successfully
summitted on June 14th, but became lost in whiteout conditions during their
descent. They spent that night huddled in a snow cave without any overnight
gear. The weather broke on Monday, permitting them to locate their camp and
complete the descent. Area media interest in climbing incidents is high
following the recent fatality on Mount Rainier. [Galen Stark, NOCA, 6/16]
98-290 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Road Closures, Partial Campground Evacuation
Heavy spring runoff forced the closure of two of the three roads leading in
and out of Yosemite Valley on the evening of Monday, June 15th. High water
from melting snow undercut a section of road a quarter mile east of the
junction of Highways 140 and 120, an area which had been temporarily repaired
after being severely damaged during the severe flooding of January, 1997.
Until temporary repairs are completed, access to the valley is limited to
Highway 41 through the park's south entrance. The park remains open and
visitation is expected to continue at normal summer levels despite the
inconvenience to visitors and a three hour commute for many park employees.
A few visitors have been moved from 42 low-lying campsites in valley
campgrounds. [Kendell Thompson, Scott Gediman, PIOs, YOSE, 6/16]
98-291 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Drug Seizure
On June 10th, rangers Mike Hardin and Bill Smith conducted a narcotics
interdiction operation in the park along with members of the Arizona National
Guard. Ten individuals were seen walking north from the border towards the
headquarters/picnic area just after 2 a.m. the next morning. Eight appeared
to be carrying large bundles. When efforts were made to apprehend them, they
dropped their bundles and fled south into Mexico. The area was secured and
assistance was sought from Customs agents and a drug dog team. Sixteen
bundles of marijuana weighing 368 pounds were seized by rangers and turned
over to Customs for processing. A total of 3,117 pounds of marijuana has
been seized in the park this year; last year, a total of 7,731 pounds was
seized. Rangers in the five border parks have seized 5,812 pounds of
marijuana so far this year; in 1997, they confiscated a total of 10,296
pounds of marijuana and 10.5 pounds of cocaine. [Bill Smith, CORO, and Joel
Wright, WASO, 6/12]
98-292 - American Memorial Park (Saipan) - Homicide
A jogger reported the discovery of a body in a shallow channel in the park at
6 a.m. on the morning of June 13th. The victim was identified as
D.A.S., 14, from Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia.
Contusions were found on his face and there were abrasions on his nose,
elbows and abdomen. D.A.S. had last been seen the previous evening at the
American Memorial Park fair grounds. Various fights occurred during the
carnival that evening, which was attended by about 1,500 people, and police
were dispatched to gain control of the situation. Preliminary investigations
indicate that he was attacked at the park's carillon, then dragged about 75
yards to the drainage channel. Security and police presence at the fair were
both stepped up after the incident as a precaution against possible
retaliatory gang activity. Local police are leading the investigation.
There are no suspects at this time. [Chuck Sayon, Site Manager, AMME, 6/15]
98-293 - Canyonlands NP (UT) - Rescue
J.E., 48, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was on an extended flatwater canoe
trip on the Green River on June 15th when she became ill. Rangers received a
cellular phone call from a member of her party around 10:30 p.m. requesting
assistance. The caller said that J.E. was exhausted, confused, having
difficulty breathing and near death. Rangers Mike Hill and Steve Swanke flew
to Anderson Bottom on a private helicopter at first light the following
morning, as it was too hazardous to either fly to the remote site at night or
attempt to negotiate the river in darkness. J.E. was flown out to Allen
Memorial Hospital in Moab, where she was still being diagnosed at the time of
the report. She is in stable condition. Although the park was prepared to
cover the flight cost, J.E.'s husband, a commercial pilot, agreed to
pick up the $1,275 tab for the hour and a half of helicopter flight time.
[Steve Swanke, CANY, 6/16]
98-294 - Fort Matanzas NM (FL) - Rescue
On June 6th, site supervisor Dave Park received a report of a near drowning
in the Matanzas Inlet from a local volunteer department. Park took a boat
out and located a kayak and a swimmer helping victim L.R. to reach
shore. Parker beached the boat and took an oxygen kit to L.R. Parker and
a county lifeguard provided oxygen; Parker also translated for L.R., who
spoke no English. L.R. had gone into the water fully-clothed to assist two
young girls who were caught in an outgoing current. The girls were brought
to shore by other bystanders. [Gordie Wilson, CASA/FOMA, 6/12]
98-295 - Maggie Walker NHS (VA) - Burglary
Ranger Les Winston responded to a burglary alarm at the park's visitor center
around 3:30 a.m. on June 16th. Winston found that a window on the inside of
the gated visitor center compound had been broken out and that the donation
box inside the visitor center had been forcibly entered. An unknown amount
of cash was stolen. Richmond detectives are investigating. [Mike Johnson,
CR, FRSP, 6/16]
98-296 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Drowning
On Saturday, June 13th, C.C. of Anniston, Alabama, drowned while
kayaking the lower section of the New River. Participants on a commercial
river trip found his body floating face down at the bottom of the class VI
Lower Keeney Rapid. They pulled C.C. into the raft and began CPR while
paddling to shore. The park was contacted; rangers responded and called in a
medivac helicopter. The helicopter hovered over a large rock while C.C.
was loaded on board. C.C. never regained consciousness and failed to
respond to CPR, which was continued for over 45 minutes. He was flown to a
hospital in Beckley and was pronounced dead upon arrival. There were no
witnesses to the accident, so it has not been possible to determine the
cause. A follow-up investigation revealed that C.C. had apparently come
to the river alone and may not have been a very experienced kayaker. He'd
contacted two other kayakers in the Cunard launch area who agreed to allow
him to paddle with them down the river. His partners reported that C.C.
had some difficulty at the class II Warm-Up Rapid, where he came out of his
kayak. They last saw him paddling in an eddy at the top of Middle Keeney
Rapid. Several "how to" guidebooks on the New River were found in C.C.'s
vehicle at the launch area. [Rick Brown, Protection Unit Leader, NERI, 6/14]
98-297 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Arson
Rangers responded to a fire in a recently vacated, NPS-owned use and
occupancy structure at the south end of Freshwater Spit Lagoon on the morning
of June 14th. Volunteer and state firefighters also responded. The building
was engulfed in flames when units arrived. There was no one in the house.
Investigation revealed that the fire had been deliberately set. [Paige
Ritterbusch, REDW, 6/14]
[Additional reports pending...]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Mon Tue % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 6/15 6/16 Con Con
FL Apalachicola NF Holiday T2 6,453 6,518 70 6/20
Merritt Island NWR St. Johns 1 -- 435 435 80 NR
State 206 -- 1,000 1,000 UNK NEC
Lake Butler Cx -- 800 800 UNK NEC
Lake Palestine -- 1,000 1,000 UNK NEC
Micco Command -- 850 850 90 NEC
Worthington Sp -- 200 200 UNK NEC
Scottsmore -- 200 200 70 NEC
* Jacksonville Cx T2 - 1,900 UNK NEC
* Flager Estate II -- - 419 UNK NEC
* Fort Peyton -- - 700 UNK NEC
GA State Brantley -- 300 300 UNK NEC
AK Fort Greely Carla Lake T1 60,296 60,516 30 NEC
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
IMT T1 = Type I; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con Percent of fire contained; UNK = unknown
Est Con Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Saturday, 6/13 0 1 0 0 20 10 31
Sunday, 6/14 0 0 2 0 64 12 78
Monday, 6/15 0 9 4 0 218 12 243
Tuesday, 6/16 0 17 2 0 117 8 144
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Saturday, 6/13 47 53 19 2 483
Sunday, 6/14 50 59 20 4 467
Monday, 6/15 39 39 21 3 421
Tuesday, 6/16 45 39 26 3 445 *
* Reports from the South were incomplete, lacking figures for state crews,
engines, and aircraft.
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack increased again yesterday in the South.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported yesterday in units in
Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
NICC has posted two FIRE WEATHER WATCHES - the first for dry conditions in
northern Florida, the second for windy conditions in northeast New Mexico.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/17]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No entries.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No entries.
MEMORANDA
No entries.
EXCHANGE
No entries.
UPCOMING IN CONGRESS
The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or kindred agencies. For
inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please contact the
main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded to the appropriate
legislative specialist.
HEARINGS/MARK-UPS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee: Mark-up of NPS FY99
appropriations legislation.
House Resources Committee: Mark-up of the following bills (among others):
H.J. Res 113, approving the location of a Martin Luther King, Jr.,
memorial in the nation's capital;
H.R. 1728, to provide for the development of a plan and a management
review of the National Park System and to reform the process by which
areas are considered for addition to the National Park System, and for
other purposes;
H.R. 2993, to provide for the collection of fees for the making of
motion pictures, television productions, and sound tracks in National
Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System units, and for other
purposes (subject to a discharge from Subcommittee on Fisheries
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans);
H.R. 3625, to establish the San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area and
the San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area in the state of Utah;
and
H.R. 3903, to provide for an exchange of lands located near Gustavus,
Alaska, and for other purposes.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands: Hearing on
the following bills (among others):
H.R. 2970, to amend the National Historic Preservation Act for purposes
of establishing a national lighthouse preservation program; and
H.R. 3746, to authorize the addition of the Paoli Battlefield in
Malvern, Pennsylvania, to the Valley Forge National Historical Park,
and for other purposes.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation: Hearing on the following bills:
S. 469, to designate a portion of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord
Rivers as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act;
S. 1016, to authorize appropriations for the Coastal Heritage Trail
Route in New Jersey, and for other purposes;
S. 1665, to reauthorize the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal
National Heritage Corridor Act, and for other purposes;
S. 2039, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate El Camino
Real Tierra Adentro as a National Historic Trail; and
H.R. 2186, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide
assistance to the National Trails Interpretive Center in Casper,
Wyoming.
Senate Appropriations Committee: Mark-up of NPS FY99 appropriations
legislation (tentative).
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health: Oversight hearing
on fire and its effects on air quality.
Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee: Mark-up of NPS FY99
appropriations legislation (first session).
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
House Appropriations Committee: Mark-up of NPS FY99 appropriations
legislation.
Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee: Mark-up of NPS FY99
appropriations legislation (second session).
FLOOR ACTION
No action scheduled on NPS legislation.
* * * * *
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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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