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Subject: Fwd:NPS Morning Report - 7/2/98
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 14:11:38 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, July 2, 1998
INCIDENTS
97-424 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Follow-up: Search for Missing Aircraft
On the morning of July 23, 1997, a single-engine 1962 Navion with two men on
board disappeared from radar as it crossed the Sierra Nevada range. An
extensive search was launched which involved over two dozen Civil Air Patrol
aircraft, a park helicopter and an Air Force C-130; although two brief ELT
transmissions were detected by the C-130, they could not be plotted. No sign
of the aircraft was found. On May 18th, a rancher riding horseback in a
remote area southeast of Gabbs, Nevada, found the remains of the Navion. The
preliminary report from the NTSB indicates in-flight structural failure. The
wreckage was spread over a mile-long path on rolling hills between 5,400 and
5,700 feet. The remains of both the pilot and passenger were found with the
wreckage. Firearms and cash were recovered from the plane. [Steve
Stockdale, Mather District, YOSE, 7/1]
98-331 - Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP (CA) - Follow-up: Search for Employee
Additional information has been received on the search for seasonal trail
crew employee Tami Skaggs, who was found by searchers on Monday afternoon.
Skaggs had departed from a trail crew camp at Buck Creek on the High Sierra
trail at noon on Sunday and headed for her own crew's camp at Panther Creek,
some six to seven miles to the west. She left the trail at Nine Mile Creek
to find a safe place to cross the stream; after crossing, she lost the route
back to the trail. She spent the next two days on steep slopes, attempting
to find the trail and to signal the helicopters that she saw intermittently.
Skaggs was located by a team of ground searchers who heard her calls for
help. [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 7/1]
98-334 - Theodore Roosevelt NP (ND) - Rescue
S.V. of Fosston, Minnesota, was thrown from her horse in a rugged
section of the South Unit backcountry on June 29th and sustained a cracked C5
vertebra, minor dislocations in the lumbar area of her back, and other
injuries. S.V. was stabilized and flown by helicopter to St. Alexis
Hospital in Bismarck. Twenty NPS and county personnel were involved in the
rescue, which took from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. to complete. [Gary Kiramidjian,
CR, THRO, 6/30]
98-335 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue
On the evening of June 14th, valley rangers received a report of an injured
climber on the Selaginella route below the Upper Yosemite Falls trail. A
ground team hiked up the trail to the top of the climb; two rangers, one a
paramedic, rappelled from the park helicopter to the trail. The medic was
lowered to the victim, who has found to have shattered his leg in a 60-foot
leader fall. A splint was applied and he was short-hauled in his climbing
harness about a half mile to a waiting ambulance, then flown to a hospital in
Modesto for surgery. [Brian Smith, IC, YOSE, 6/30]
98-336 - Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - DUI Operation
A DUI checkpoint was set up on Northshore Drive near Echo Bay for most of the
afternoon of Saturday, June 13th. Eight rangers participated under the
supervision of criminal investigator Mike Blanford. A total of 378 vehicles
were checked; eleven field sobriety tests were conducted, resulting in one
arrest for drunk driving. A second arrest was made for an outstanding
warrant and 18 violation notices were issued for a variety of offenses,
including possession of open containers and a controlled substance. Another
30 drivers were warned about using seatbelts. Many visitors expressed their
thanks to the NPS for being out there and making the roads safer for their
families. [Bud Inman, LAME, 6/17]
98-337 - Catoctin Mountain Park (MD) - Severe Storm
A violent thunderstorm struck the park on the evening of June 30th. Downed
trees forced the closure of Park Central Road for about three hours. Tree
branches and heavy debris covered park roads, Owens Creek campground, and
Camp Misty Mount. Three cabins in the latter area and one RV in the
campground sustained minor structural damage. Only one minor visitor injury
was reported. Park Central Road was scheduled to reopen yesterday following
the completion of tree removal and cleanup operations. Local Marine Corps,
Seabee and YCC crews assisted in the cleanup. [Mel Poole, CATO, 7/1]
98-338 - Independence NHP (PA) - Special Event
The park celebrated the 50th anniversary of its authorization as a park with
a ceremony in Independence Square on June 28th. Congressman Robert Borski,
mayor Edward Rendell, and regional director Marie Rust were among the
speakers. The special guest was Hardie Scott, who introduced the park's
authorizing legislation when he was in Congress in late 1947. The ceremony
included the opening of a new exhibit in the west wing of Independence Hall
which focuses on the transformation of the park from a heavily developed
urban area and on plans for future reconstruction of Independence Mall. The
day concluded with a concert. All events received extensive coverage by
local media. [Phil Sheridan, INDE, 7/1]
98-339 - Sagamore Hill NHS (NY) - Special Event
On June 15th, the park hosted the annual Theodore Roosevelt Association
Police Award ceremony. The award, sponsored by that association and the
Friends of Sagamore Hill, commemorates Roosevelt's triumph over childhood
ailments and his service as New York City police commissioner. Officers are
recognized who have overcome major physical challenges and continued to
render outstanding service to their departments. Officer Allan Wickland was
cited for serving as a dive team leader in the TWA 800 disaster and for
counseling others facing life-threatening circumstances while in the midst of
his own debilitating surgeries for prostate and bladder cancer. Officer
Anthony Molfetta, who was blinded in one eye while helping to control a
violent party of 45 people, was cited for declining disability retirement,
reteaching himself basic life skills, and resuming his career as an academy
trainer. Congressman Peter King was the speaker and presented the awards,
which are also presented annually in New York, Long Island, Boston, Dallas,
Philadelphia and Nashville. [Michael Shaver, PR, SAHI, 6/21]
98-340 - Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - Apparent Suicide
On June 30th, rangers responded to a visitor's report of a man sleeping in a
locked vehicle at the Lake Mead Lodge at Boulder Beach. The found the body
of S.G., 26, of Fullerton, California, in the back seat of a rental
1997 Ford Explorer. He appeared to have died as a result of a plastic tie,
similar to a Flexicuff, tightly secured around his neck. Metro homicide
detectives are investigating the case as a suspicious death, but it appears
at present that there is a high probability that the death is a suicide. The
death apparently occurred two to three days previously. This is the
eighteenth fatality recorded in the park this year. [Bud Inman, LAME, 6/30]
[Additional reports pending...]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Tue Wed % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 6/30 7/1 Con Con
FL Osceola NF Oak Head T1 20,120 20,120 90 7/3
Merritt Island NWR Merritt Island Cx -- 4,987 4,987 80 NEC
State Suwanee Cx T1 16,326 16,356 99 7/15
Bunnel Cx T1 20,556 25,656 UNK NEC
Bunnel-Volusia Cx T2 67,385 67,385 45 NEC
Orlando Cx T1 NR NR NR NR
Withlacoochee Cx T2 3,807 3,807 90 NEC
Jacksonville Cx -- UNK UNK UNK NEC
Waccasassa Cx T2 11,927 12,077 98 NEC
* Jacksonville 2 T1 - UNK UNK NEC
TX Lake Meredith NRA Palo Duro -- 5,000 5,000 100 CND
State * Don Ranson Ranch -- - 800 35 7/2
Ouachita NF * DOC=S Campfire -- - 210 80 7/6
CO Arapaho-Roosevelt NF Bear Tracks T2 485 485 70 7/4
Pike-San Isabel NF Muddy Creek T2 135 140 100 CND
White T2 160 150 50 7/3
NM Santa Fe NF Oso T1 2,560 5,120 10 7/5
AZ Pima Agency Riverbed -- 100 120 100 CND
WA Spokane District * Rattlesnake -- - 1,000 UNK NEC
Yakima Agency * Athtanum -- - 597 100 CND
AK Fort Greely Carla Lake T2 60,520 60,420 80 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
Sunday, 6/28 1 15 3 0 40 21 80
Monday, 6/29 2 3 5 2 192 37 241
Tuesday, 6/30 1 13 3 0 262 23 302
Wednesday, 7/1 4 9 7 2 275 58 355
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Sunday, 6/28 69 159 44 14 551 @#
Monday, 6/29 143 225 63 34 771 @&
Tuesday, 6/30 152 266 63 29 986 @
Wednesday, 7/1 179 315 61 28 1,266 @
Overhead notes: Footnotes indicate that reporting was incomplete on resource
commitments on fires in either the South (@), the Southwest (#), and/or the
Rockies (&).
CURRENT SITUATION
The fire situation in northern and central Florida escalated yesterday. High
winds caused extreme fire behavior on most incidents. Firefighters made
significant progress on the fires in the Rockies and Southwest. Large fire
activity increased in the Northwest. NICC processed orders for a Type I IMT,
equipment, crews, and overhead for the South. Minor initial attack was
reported in most other regions.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported yesterday in units in
Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas,
Utah, Nevada, and California.
NICC has continued the FIRE WEATHER WATCH posted Monday for low relative
humidity in northern Florida.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/2]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No entries.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No entries.
MEMORANDA
No entries.
EXCHANGE
No entries.
* * * * *
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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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