-
Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, July 7, 1999
-
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 1999 04:58:37 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, July 7, 1999
INCIDENTS
99-331 - Steamtown NHS (PA) - Train Crash with Injuries
On July 5th, a steam engine that was supposed to hook up with an eight-car
holiday excursion train that had originated in the park accidentally rammed
the waiting train, causing at least 16 injuries. Nearly 100 emergency
service personnel from volunteer and paid companies responded to the accident
and worked in the 100-degree heat to evacuate the victims. The train was
part of a special holiday excursion sponsored by the Railroad Club of America
and had 400 people on board. Many had gotten off for lunch and a visit to a
train museum when the accident occurred. The NPS will conduct an
investigation into the cause of the accident. [Pocono Record, 7/6]
99-332 - Sequoia NP (CA) - Rescue
A hiker suffering from the effects of high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) was
successfully extricated from the summit of Mount Whitney during a rescue
which took place on Wednesday, June 30th. H.R., 46, of San Jose,
California, was airlifted from the summit at around 4:30 p.m. as his medical
condition rapidly deteriorated. His breathing stopped several times and had
to be assisted during the short flight to Lone Pine. After being stabilized
there by hospital staff, he was flown in a pressurized aircraft to Loma Linda
Hospital for advanced treatment. H.R. will recover, despite being perhaps
minutes from death. H.R. was discovered on the peak's summit by an
off-duty member of Inyo County Search and Rescue at approximately 1:15 p.m.
that day. He was disoriented and in need of medical assistance. The
off-duty officer called the sheriff's office in Bishop, who then notified the
park. H.R.'s condition declined rapidly - an hour after the initial call
he was incoherent, and by 3:50 p.m. he was suffering from convulsions. The
rescue was challenging due to the difficulty in locating an aircraft capable
of flying both to that elevation (14,494 feet) and in temperatures in excess
of 100 degrees. High temperatures at higher elevations make it impossible
for all but specialized aircraft to get the necessary lift for landing and
taking off. Angel 6 from Lemoore Naval Air Station dropped off oxygen
bottles and a litter on scene, but initially could not land due to the
temperatures. A California Army National Guard Chinook from Stockton was en
route to the scene when word was received that H.R.'s condition was
worsening. Recognizing the need of a quick evacuation, the crew of Angel 6
striped their aircraft down to a minimum load by leaving gear and personnel
at a site lower on the mountain. They were then able to land and extricate
H.R. from the mountain, saving his life. H.R. and four other family
members had begun their hike on Sunday, camping two nights at Whitney Portal
and another night at 12,000 feet before hiking to the summit on Wednesday.
[Tom Tschohl, DR, Sequoia District, 7/1]
99-333 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Rescue
At 9:40 p.m. on June 29th, rangers received a report that a woman had fallen
into an earth crack about 75 yards inland from a point where molten lava
currently cascades into the sea. L.H., 19, of Branchport, New York,
and four companions had hiked three miles east along the park's coastline
from the end of the Chain of Craters Road. Group members subsequently
admitted to rangers that they had read but disregarded area closed signs
posted near the lava flow. Soon after entering the closed area, L.H. fell 30
feet into the 75-foot-deep crack, landing on a narrow ledge. Four rangers
and a county firefighter located L.H., who was conscious and alert but
suffering from head and leg injuries. A ranger was lowered into the crack
and outfitted L.H. with a climbing harness and helmet. She was then raised
out of the crack, flown by helicopter to a waiting ambulance, and taken to
Hilo Hospital. Group members were cited for entering a closed area. [Neil
Akana, PR, HAVO, 7/4]
99-334 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Rescue
On July 3rd, a visitor notified the park that a woman was injured on the
north side of Naches Peak, just south of Chinook Pass. The 44-year-old woman
had been ski touring with three friends when she lost her footing on a 45-
degree snow slope and fell vertically about 35 feet into a snow moat. She
sustained a head injury and was reportedly unconscious for five minutes. Her
partners moved her from the bottom of the moat into a more comfortable
position. Rangers mustered a team to immobilize and transport her to medical
facilities. She was extricated, then transported over snow to Chinook Pass,
where she was transferred to an ambulance. While in the ambulance, the woman
became confrontational and insisted she did not want further treatment or
evacuation to a medical facility by a waiting helicopter. Paramedics from a
local ambulance company advised against this, but she insisted and was
released. [Uwe Nehring, MORA, 7/4]
99-335 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/TN) - Burglary
Great Smokies ranger Jonathan Holter was called out at 2:30 a.m. on July 6th
to investigate a vehicle that had broken through a gate and entered a closed
road. Holter stopped the vehicle, which was occupied by five people, and
found alcohol, marijuana and merchandise that appeared to have been taken
from a Blue Ridge Parkway facility. The five were positively identified,
cited and released and the merchandise was seized. Blue Ridge ranger Don
Coleman subsequently determined that the Water Rock Knob Visitor Center had
been burglarized, with numerous items taken. The burglars had entered the
building through a ceiling sky light. A joint investigation by the two parks
is underway. All five individuals face charges for B&E and larceny. [John
Mattox, CI, GRSM, 7/6]
99-336 - Fort Pulaski NM (GA) - Severe Storm; Park Closure
On June 30th, a line of severe thunderstorms struck Chatham County and the
park. When conditions began deteriorating, rangers cleared the fort of
visitors and secured the facility. Weather reports indicated that a tornado
accompanied the storm; employees took cover as the park was buffeted by
strong winds, lightning, thunder and sheets of rain. The tornado warning
expired at noon, but intense thunderstorms continued in the area. Once the
storms subsided, acting superintendent Lance Hatten advised visitors that
they could leave, but cautioned them about area road closures and flash
floods. Park employees were permitted to leave with approval of their
supervisors. The governor declared that the county was in a state of
emergency, so the park was closed, cleared and secured. [Lance Hatten,
Acting Superintendent, FOPU, 7/6]
99-337 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Fatal Boating Accident
On July 5th, R.J., 59, was returning to Callville Bay with friends
in a small Zodiac boat when the Zodiac was struck by a vessel being operated
by the 17-year-old son of one of the members of the party. A young child and
dog were rescued, but R.J. could not be found and is presumed dead. An
investigation is underway. [Terri Greene, Dispatch, LAME, 7/6]
99-338 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - MVA with Fatality
J.R., 19, was heading north on Northshore Road at a high rate of
speed on the evening of July 5th when his Mustang swerved into the southbound
lane and struck a Toyota. The Mustang broke into two pieces and J.R.
was thrown about 75 to 100 feet and killed. All persons involved in the
accident were wearing seatbelts. [Terri Greene, Dispatch, LAME, 7/6]
99-339 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Drowning
D.R., 48, and a female companion were tubing on Government Wash on
the afternoon of July 4th. Gusty winds blew the tube offshore and D.R.
swam after it. He disappeared in the middle of the cove. [Terri Greene,
Dispatch, LAME, 7/6]
99-340 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - Drowning
Rangers received a report of a man who was missing and last seen swimming in
the Delaware River near Depew Recreation Site around 4 p.m. on Sunday, July
4th. D.B., 30, reportedly on a picnic with friends and family,
attempted to swim across the river, but went under before reaching the other
side. A search was immediately begun and the park's dive team was brought in
within a half hour. No sign of D.B. was found and the search was
discontinued at 9:45 p.m. The search resumed on the following morning.
Rangers were aided by a New Jersey state police helicopter, by New Jersey
state parks and forests staff, and by New Jersey and Pennsylvania regional
SAR, search dog, rescue, and underwater recovery units. A member of the
latter found and recovered D.B.'s body at 4:15 p.m. on July 5th. [Doyle
Nelson, CR, DEWA, 7/5]
99-341 - Upper Delaware S&RR (NY/PA) - Possible Drowning
On the evening of July 4th, K.Z. and friends were swimming in the
Delaware River near Damascus Bridge. K.Z. attempted to cross from the
shallow New York side to the deeper Pennsylvania side around 8:15 p.m., but
began to have difficulty and called for help. A friend brought him to shore.
K.Z. was still responsive, but having respiratory difficulties. He soon
became unconscious. His companions began administering CPR and continued
until relieved by responding emergency personnel. A witness said that K.Z.
and his group had been in the area most of the afternoon. Although he'd been
drinking beer, both friends and witnesses said he wasn't intoxicated. K.Z.
also had asthma, but reportedly had not experienced any breathing
difficulties prior to the incident. State troopers are investigating. The
official cause of death is unknown at present. [B. Perry, LE Assistant,
UPDE, 7/6]
99-342 - Richmond NBP (VA) - Special Event
Approximately 1,400 bicyclists traveled through the park on June 30th as part
of the annual "Bike Virginia" event. Two rest stops within the park were
manned by volunteer groups. One vendor was shut down for selling on park
property. Two cyclists involved in an accident within the park were treated
for minor injuries and released. There was some minor traffic congestion on
the Hoke-Brady and Battlefield park roads. [Tim Mauch, SPR, RICH, 7/6]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Wed Sat % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 6/30 7/3 Con Con
UT Richfield FO Railroad T1 40,000 61,417 90 NR
Moab FO Wrigley T2 2,800 3,711 45 7/6
Uinta NF * West Mountain II -- - 5,500 80 7/10
Cedar City FO Meadow Spring -- 250 2,400 60 7/6
State Rush -- 3,000 3,200 100 CND
CO Craig District North Ridge T2 500 360 100 CND
* Birthday -- - 600 75 7/6
Montrose District Fruitland -- 500 500 100 CND
Grand Jct. District Black Ridge Cx T2 2,000 3,400 30 7/8
Black Mountain -- 230 230 100 CND
NV Elko FO Hunter -- 2,500 4,640 100 CND
Carson City District * Pah Rah -- - 12,000 100 CND
Battle Mtn. FO * Buffalo -- - 500 100 CND
CA Shasta-Trinity RU Lowden ST1 2,000 2,000 85 7/6
* Placer -- - 200 100 CND
WA State Major Creek ST 650 698 80 7/5
AK Noatak NP * Uvgoon #2 -- - 54,400 NR NR
Yukon-Charley NP * B242 -- - 12,000 NR NR
* B248 -- - 3,200 NR NR
* B260 -- - 3,200 NR NR
MN Superior NF * Ind. Day '99 T2 Search and rescue ops
following major wind
storm
Heading Notes
Unit Agency or Area Office = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA
state resource or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; FO =
BLM field office; 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 I Team; T2 = Type II Team; T3 = Type III Team; ST =
State Team; FUM = Fire Use Management Team
% Con Percent of fire contained; UNK = unknown; NR = no report
Est Con Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report
FIRE NARRATIVES
Noatak NP - Smokejumpers mopped up hot areas along the northwest perimeter of
the Uvgoon #2 fire on July 4th. Fire activity decreased along the northeast
perimeter due to lower temperatures and increased relative humidity. Fire
objectives had been met and demob was to begin.
Yukon-Charley Rivers NP - The B242 fire was crowning intermittently on a 9
mph northeast wind on July 4th. Personnel and a helicopter were dispatched
to the fire to protect cabins on the east bank of the Yukon River. B248 was
not flown that day; B260 was reported to be burning vigorously and had
progressed south to the Tatonduk River. Personnel and a helicopter were in
the area for possible structure protection operations.
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Friday, 7/2 2 15 48 0 58 36 159
Saturday, 7/3 3 12 15 1 147 28 106
Sunday, 7/4 1 7 12 1 105 39 165
Monday, 7/5 1 19 28 0 134 89 271
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Friday, 7/2 58 214 29 6 166
Saturday, 7/3 185 377 53 8 430
Sunday, 7/4 193 366 50 3 580
Monday, 7/5 191 326 54 3 648
CURRENT SITUATION
Significant progress was made on large fires in the Great Basin and Rockies
on Monday. Moderate fire activity was reported in California, Alaska and the
western Great Basin.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Nevada, California,
Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Alaska, Wyoming, Texas and Idaho.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/5-6; Mike Warren, NPS, 7/5]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION
Entries pending...
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Entries pending...
MEMORANDA
Entries pending...
INTERCHANGE
No entries.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
No entries.
* * * * *
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.
--- ### ---