- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 18, 1998
- Date: Thurs, 18 Jun 1998
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, June 18, 1998
INCIDENTS
98-298 - Shenandoah NP (VA) - Death of Employee
Ranger Ralph W. "Bill" Hoffmeyer, a long-time seasonal interpreter in the
NPS, died at his home on the evening of June 16th following a long fight with
cancer. Bill started with the Service in 1974 and worked at New River Gorge
NR, Saint Croix NSR, and Shenandoah NP. He was well-known for his excellent
interpretive programs, his great sense of humor, and his wonderful
characterizations of historical figures. Funeral arrangements have not yet
been completed. Friends of the family are establishing trust funds for the
education of his children. Details will be provided as soon as they are
available. [Greg Stiles, ACR, SHEN, 6/17]
98-299 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Avalanche with Fatality
A cellular phone call from the 11,600-foot level of the mountain early on the
morning of Thursday, June 11th, alerted rangers to an avalanche that had
swept two rope teams off the nose of Disappointment Cleaver. Off-duty lead
climbing ranger Mike Gauthier reached the party in 26 minutes by snowboarding
from Mount Rainier's 14,410-foot summit and assumed on-scene leadership.
While several medical, military, and contract helicopters attempted to
transport rescuers to the scene, climbing rangers Stefan Lofgren and George
Beilstein climbed to the site. They arrived at Ingraham Flats above Camp
Muir (11,000 feet) at the same time as climbing ranger Joe Puryear and
volunteer Dee Patterson arrived from Camp Schurman via helicopter. Ten
people on two Rainier Mountaineering guided rope teams had been swept off the
route. All but one of the fixed line anchors had ripped out, and the line's
outer sheath had been badly frayed by rocks. The remaining inner strands
held the climbers, who were strewn over the ice and rock cliffs with a
variety of injuries. Four climbers hung from a rope which was coiled around
the left arm of one guide, whose arm was trapped and twisted behind him;
another guide was strapped to an unstable rock by a rope with two people
hanging beneath. Several climbers hung suspended in waterfalls issuing from
the melting ice and snow above them. Rangers replaced the frayed ropes and
gradually raised the injured parties up and over the lip from which they
hung. Several were treated for various injuries and moderate to severe
hypothermia. P.N., 29, had died from exposure by the time
rescuers were able to reach him. His body was lowered off the cliff. All
parties were carried to Ingraham Flats. An Army Chinook helicopter was able
to land just as darkness fell and evacuated the injured. Media interest was
intense throughout the incident; more national and regional news crews were
on scene than any at the park could recall at previous incidents. Interest
remained high throughout the next day, when the non-injured parties walked
off the Mountain from Camp Muir. The Today Show, Hard Copy, Dateline,
Newsweek, and many other national media outlets carried the story. Ranger
John Krambrink was IC. [Maria Gillett, CI, MORA, 6/17]
98-300 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Climbing Incidents and Rescues
There have been several other rescues in the park over recent weeks in
addition to the above incident and the rescue reported yesterday (98-288):
Falling rocks injured a member of a Rainier Mountaineering (RMI) guided
party on Kautz Glacier on the morning of June 11th. The victim, D.W.,
30, suffered a broken leg. Climbing rangers' efforts to
reach him via helicopter were stymied, so the 260-pound D.W. had to
be carried out by RMI guides.
Two climbers were injured on the evening of June 14th as they descended
from Camp Hazard. While glissading into the Nisqually Glacier
drainage, they hit a small band of rock, flipped over onto their heads,
and slid 30 to 40 feet downhill. Thick fog hampered climbing ranger
Mike Gauthier's attempts to reach them, and they walked most of the
remaining distance to Paradise on their own. Gauthier provided medical
assistance and escorted them to the parking lot, where they declined
transport to the hospital.
M.T., 60, who suffered a broken ankle, was rescued by rangers
yesterday. The accident was reported to the park by his climbing
partners yesterday morning. The party was descending from Liberty
Ridge on Tuesday, having turned back from a summit attempt, when M.T,
tumbled about 200 feet. His partners left him on a snow ledge around
9,900 feet with two sleeping bags and pain relievers. On-scene
climbing ranger Mike Gauthier organized a lowering operation to
evacuate M.T, to a landing zone at approximately 8,500 feet, where he
was picked up with climbing ranger Stefan Lofgren and flown to a
waiting ambulance at the park's Kautz Creek helibase. Climbing rangers
George Beilstein, Seth Brothers, Mark Westman, David Gottleib, Rich
Lechleitner, and RMI guide Jason Tanguay participated in the rescue,
stabilization, and evacuation. The media was on scene at the helibase.
Bill Larson was IC.
There was also a significant non-rescue climbing even earlier in the month.
Paraplegic climber P.R. made a highly-publicized attempt to climb
Mount Rainier using a "snow pod", a device built with snowmobile tracks and
bicycle chains which enables him to move upward under the power of his arms.
The June 11th avalanche was reported by his party, which was at the 11,600
foot level at that time. P.R. did not summit; he made it to the 12,600 foot
level on Friday, stayed through Saturday, then began his descent on Sunday.
P.R. reached Paradise on Monday afternoon, and was greeted by a large media
contingent. P.R.'s climb was allowed under a permit which exempted him on a
one-time basis from some wilderness regulations. He was allowed to set up
camp at places where camping is not normally permitted, and was allowed to
enter a wilderness in a device not formally recognized as a wheelchair.
Significant interest has been generated on the part of wilderness managers in
other mountain parks and the Forest Service due to the potential
precedent-setting implications for wilderness management. This climb took
place early enough in the season for him to travel entirely over snow in his
snow pod, thereby avoiding damage to fragile alpine meadow vegetation. John
Krambrink was IC. [Maria Gillett, CI, MORA, 6/17]
98-301 - Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - Assist; Major Structural Fire
Boulder Basin District fire crews were dispatched to a fire at the Gold
Strike Inn and Casino at 1:38 a.m. on June 16th. The Gold Strike is located
on a mining claim that is surrounded by park land; fire protection is
provided by the Clark County fire department, with city of Boulder and the
park providing first response units. Ranger Randy Neal was first on scene
and reported significant fire and dense smoke around the main entrance, with
the facade fully engulfed in flame. The park's fire crew joined in the
initial attack and also performed a primary search of the casino and three-story,
low-rise hotel. Additional units arrived about 40 minutes later.
Clark County took over command and park crews were assigned to the division
protecting one side of the structure, including the hotel. Supervisory
ranger Paul Crawford was assigned to command the division. Park crews,
augmented by firefighters from other districts, advanced a four-inch
large-diameter hose, air bottles and tools to the third floor of the low rise.
A park engine pumped these lines and also supplied water to a supply line to a
tower ladder for roof operations. FMO and fire chief Bob Trodahl led the
interior operations in the low rise. Crews stopped fire from spreading into
the attic spaces in rooms that were closest to the fire. Wildland fire crews
were summoned to check on reports of vegetation fires in the park. A total
of four alarms were struck for this fire. The entire casino and restaurant
area was a total loss; the hotel tower and one low-rise structure received
some damage. The damage has been placed at between $25 and $50 million. The
fire apparently started in roofing construction material. Park crews were
released at 9 a.m. A total of 30 NPS personnel worked the incident. The
incident commander was impressed with the work performed by the NPS and
individual firefighters. [Paul Crawford, SPR, Boulder Basin District, LAME,
6/17]
98-302 - Golden Gate NRA (CA) - Special Event
President Clinton visited Monterey, California, to attend a conference on
marine sanctuaries on June 12th. He then traveled by helicopter to the
park's Presidio Unit. Twenty USPP officers, including SWAT and canine units,
provided a secure landing area and motorcade route through the park. As
Marine One, the president's helicopter, was about to land, ranger Aline
Forbes was flagged down by two citizens who reported a man with a gun at the
Fort Scott overlook, which is about a quarter of a mile from the point where
the president landed. Secret Service agents and NPS law enforcement units
responded, but the suspect had left the area by the time they arrived. The
president's arrival was otherwise uneventful. [Lt. Kevin Hay, USPP, GOGA,
6/17]
98-303 - C&O Canal NHP (MD/DC) - Special Event
On Monday, June 15th, a special event was held in the park in conjunction
with the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual announcement of
the eleven most endangered historic places/resources in America. The event
was held at the Monocacy Aqueduct, which was on the list. Attending were
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Maryland senators Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski,
trust executive director Richard Moe, NPS deputy director Jackie Lowey, and
many other NPS, state and county officials. Mesa Verde NP and
Chancellorsville Battlefield were the other NPS areas on this year's listing.
Security and traffic control were coordinated by the park's protection staff
and Secret Service, with assistance by personnel from Harpers Ferry NHP,
Antietam NB, Monocacy NB, Appalachian NST, and NCR Ranger Activities. The
History Channel will be airing a feature on the list at 10 p.m. on June 22nd.
[Kevin FitzGerald, CHOH, 6/16]
98-304 - Amistad NRA (TX) - Drowning
On the evening of June 11th, T. "G." H., 35, and several friends
were swimming near Spur 454 on Lake Amistad. T.H. jumped off a cliff
nearly 40 feet above the lake and hit his head on the water surface before
plunging in. His friends said that he came to the surface, called out that
he was okay, and began swimming to the east end of the cliff to a climb-out
point. When he failed to climb back up the cliff, his friends began
searching for him. Rangers working in the area were notified and joined in
the search but were unable to locate T.H. that evening. T.H.'s body was
recovered by NPS divers the following morning in 73 feet of water near the
point last seen. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor. The incident is
being jointly investigated by the park and the county sheriff's office.
[CRO, AMIS, 6/15]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Tue Wed % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 6/16 6/17 Con Con
FL Apalachicola NF Holiday T2 6,518 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 -- 800 800 100 CND
Lake Palestine -- 1,000 1,000 100 CND
Micco Command -- 850 850 100 CND
Worthington Sp -- 200 200 100 CND
Scottsmore -- 200 200 100 CND
Jacksonville Cx T2 1,900 1,900 UNK NEC
Flager Estate II -- 419 258 UNK NEC
Fort Peyton -- 700 975 UNK NEC
* Race Track -- - 435 UNK NEC
State Brantley -- 300 300 UNK NEC
* St. George -- - 8,300 70 6/18
AK Fort Greely Carla Lake T1 60,516 60,516 32 NEC
NM State * Buckeye -- - 16,080 100 CND
* Las Flores -- - 600 100 CND
AZ Tonto NF * Black -- - 620 100 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
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
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
Wednesday, 6/17 1 0 3 0 8 16 28
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Sunday, 6/14 50 59 20 4 467
Monday, 6/15 39 39 21 3 421
Tuesday, 6/16 45 39 26 3 445 *
Wednesday, 6/17 37 72 19 7 500
* Reports from the South were incomplete, lacking figures for state crews,
engines, and aircraft.
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack continued yesterday in the South and increased in southern
California; large fires also continued in the South and increased in the
Southwest. Gainesville, Clay, Union, Duval, St. Johns, Nassau and Flagler
counties and the entire Lake City District in Florida are experiencing
numerous wildfires, with many exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Several
evacuations were ordered yesterday in Florida and Georgia.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported yesterday in units in
Florida, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
NICC has posted a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for low relative humidity (below 35%) in
northern Florida.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/18]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Point Reyes NS (CA) - Follow-up on Elk Management
On June 16th and 17th, park staff began the second phase of a multi-year
project to evaluate the effects of the immuno-contraceptive vaccine PZP
(Porcine zone pellucida) on tule elk. During the two-day period, 30 elk were
net-gunned and captured by helicopter crews; ground crews hobbled the
animals, placed radio collars on them, and administered the vaccine by direct
syringe injection. Personnel from the USGS Biological Resources Division,
California Department of Fish and Game, and University of California (Davis)
assisted in the collaring and the administration of the drug. During the
first phase of the study last year, the vaccine proved over 80% effective in
inhibiting reproduction. Based on the recommendations of three scientific
panels and the completion of a final tule elk management plan, park staff
will be also relocating elk to another area in the park's wilderness later
this year to establish a free-ranging herd. These actions are being
conducted because the current annual growth rate of the herd is over 30%.
Point Reyes has 16% of the total population of tule elk left in California.
The tule elk population, which exceeded 500,000 in the late 1800s, is
currently estimated at about 3,200 animals. [Don Neubacher, Superintendent.
PORE]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No entries.
MEMORANDA
No entries.
EXCHANGE
Radar Units - Devils Tower NM is looking for two surplus radar units for use
in patrol operations. If you can help, please call chief ranger Jim
Schlinkmann at 307-467-5283, extension 21, or contact him by cc:Mail at NP-DETO.
* * * * *
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
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pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub
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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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