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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, September 1, 1999
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Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 09:53:12 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, September 1, 1999
*** NOTICE ***
Problems with Servicewide distribution of the Morning Report persist and are
apparently unique to the MR mailing list. The time lag between transmission
and receipt over the past few weeks has run from eight to 72 hours. System
specialists at the national and regional level are working to resolve the
problem.
INCIDENTS
99-520 - East Coast Areas - Follow-up: Hurricane Dennis
The following reports have been received from parks over the past 24 hours:
o Cape Hatteras NS (NC) - All of Dare County was being buffeted by full
gale force winds yesterday, and they were expected to last for another
72 hours. Park beaches will continue to take a beating. NC Highway 12
has been breached by the ocean north of Buxton, and there's serious
overwash along other portions of the 80 to 90 miles of that highway
between the Currituck Beach lighthouse and Ocracoke Village. All
facilities in the three parks - Cape Hatteras NS, Wright Brothers NM,
Fort Raleigh NHS - will remain closed until the hurricane threat is
over, damage assessments have been made, and the parks have been
sufficiently cleaned to permit safe entry. Ocracoke Island was without
phones or power at the time of the report, and most of the island and
village were under a foot or two of water. Hatteras Island was flooded
in low areas. Some structural damage was reported to minor facilities
on Cape Hatteras; Fort Raleigh and Wright Brothers have fared well, with
some roof leakage and ground debris.
o Cape Lookout NS (NC) - A comprehensive damage assessment has been
delayed by continuing high winds and seas. The preliminary review so
far indicates extensive damage to docks, structures, resources and
roads on the banks due to high winds and overwash. Concessioners on
North Core and South Core Banks report extensive damage to their
facilities, which will remain closed until repairs are completed.
Services provided by incidental business permittees have been suspended
to assure visitor safety. The Harkers Island visitor center is open,
but the outer banks are still closed to the public and lessees.
Yesterday afternoon's high winds and tides have caused damage to the
boat basin at the Harkers Island administrative site. Gale force winds
persist. Employees are on alert status due to the possibility of
Hurricane Dennis returning to the coast.
o Assateague Island NS (MD/VA) - One parking lot on the Virginia end of
the park has been cut away on its western edge; it and a second lot
were being washed over at the time of the report. Parking lots and the
oversand zone in the district were closed to visitor use. The beach
was still in fairly good condition and had suffered only minimal
erosion. Restrooms and a fee booth had been removed to a safe area.
The off-road vehicle zone on the Maryland end of the island was also
closed, as overwash had left a large area of water along the entire 12-
mile length of the ORV zone. The district was closed to backcountry
camping, but frontcountry camping was being permitted.
o Colonial NHP (VA) - The hurricane has so far inflicted only minor
damage on the park. Short portions of the Jamestown tour road have
been underwater at high tide and tree limbs have fallen. Since high
tides and gusty winds are continuing and the hurricane has turned
toward shore again, a thorough check of the shoreline for erosion has
not yet been conducted.
o Fire Island NS (NY) - Seas were running at approximately five feet
yesterday. Some beach has been lost, but dunes remain unaffected so
far. Ocean beaches have been closed to swimming due to strong currents
and rough surf.
o Cape Cod NS (MA) - Heavy surf has been rolling up on the park
shoreline. Swimming restrictions have been put into effect at
protected beaches.
[Bob Woody, IC, CAHA, 8/31; Jim Burnett, CR, COLO, 8/31; Kevin Fitzgerald,
CR, CACO, 8/31; Jim Zahradka, IC, CALO, 8/31; Dave Griese, CR, FIIS, 8/31;
John Burns, CR, ASIS, 8/31]
99-524 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Military Aircraft Crash
On the afternoon of August 30th, China Lake Naval Air Station notified the
park that a Marine Harrier jet had gone down in Saline Valley. The pilot
ejected, but did not survive. The park employed GPS to determine that the
crash site was well within the park's wilderness. The Navy asked for
assistance in leading their crash site security team into the remote area.
Ranger Bill Archard met and assisted the security details. No further
information is currently available. [CRO, DEVA, 8/30-31]
99-525 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Falling Fatality
On the afternoon of August 19th, G.C., 25, of Sarasota, Florida,
visited Moran Point overlook on East Rim Drive. While there, he had some
visitors at the overlook take photos of him as he clambered out on to a
detached rock promontory. The visitor continued to take pictures as
G.C. walked back. At the top of an exposed cliff edge, he stumbled and
fell out of site. Dispatch was notified via a cellular phone call, and a
technical rescue effort was initiated. Ranger Nancy Mecham rappelled over
300 feet in an attempt to locate G.C., but was unsuccessful. Due to
severe weather, impending darkness, and the certainty that the fall was
fatal, operations were suspended for the night. G.C.'s body was
recovered by helicopter the following day from a point 875 feet below the
rim. The photographs taken with G.C.'s camera provided investigators
with documentation of the actual fall. Patrick Brasington served as IC.
[Ken Phillips, SAR Coordinator, GRCA, 8/30]
99-526 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Rescue
The park received a report of a large motorized raft stranded in the middle
of the river below Crystal Rapids on August 20th. The 40-foot J-rig,
operated by Western River Expeditions, had been negotiating the rapids when a
juvenile passenger fell off the bow and became entangled in ropes. The guide
cut the engine and worked to free the passenger. By the time that was
accomplished, the five-ton raft had lodged firmly on rocks. A reconnaissance
was conducted via the park helicopter, and it was determined that there were
23 uninjured passengers and crew on board the raft. Ranger Nick Herring was
lowered to the raft, and the passengers were extracted by short haul. They
camped with other raft parties in the area that night. Twelve were flown out
of the canyon the next day at their request; the remainder continued down the
river in another Western River Expeditions raft. Staff from Grand Canyon and
Glen Canyon NP worked to remove the raft on August 22nd. Lower river flows
made the removal even more difficult. The raft was partially folded with the
assistance of technical rigging, then dragged free by another Western River
Expeditions raft sent down to assist in the operation. During this recovery
operation, an upstream spotter advised all passing boat traffic on what was
going on. Despite being warned, a solo cataraft operator completed his run
of Crystal Rapids, then rowed directly at the disabled J-rig. He became
pinned against the J-rig and was being sucked under it when the recovery team
pulled him free and removed his craft. Marty McCaslin was IC. [Ken Phillips,
SAR Coordinator, GRCA, 8/30]
99-527 - Isle Royale NP (MI) - Rescue
The vessel "Jolly Roger" reported a medical emergency - either a stroke or
heart attack - on August 29th. Rangers Steve Martin and Joel Barnett
responded to the craft, which was located at the west end of Isle Royale, and
found an unconscious 47-year-old male who was still breathing. He was
transferred to the park boat and medical care was provided while en route to
the Windigo ranger station. He was flown by Canadian air ambulance to
Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he's reported to be stable and recovering. [Bill
Munsey, DR, ISRO, 8/30]
99-528 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
Concession employee D.H., 47, was the victim of a fatal accident while
welding at the Wahweap tour boat dock on the morning of August 27th. He was
standing on an unstable raft adjacent to the dock while welding, and
evidently was burned (burn marks were found above his sternal notch) and fell
into the water and drowned. His body was recovered in 24 feet of water by
fellow employees. Rangers responded and provided emergency medical support.
He was declared dead at the scene on medical advice. The investigation is
continuing. [Phil Hibbs, DR, Downlake District, GLCA, 8/30]
99-529 - George Washington Memorial Parkway (VA) - Drowning
On August 28th, M.C. went for a swim while fishing with friends on
the bank of Little Hunting Creek under a parkway bridge. The current pulled
him downstream; he was able to grab a bridge support, but let go of it a
short time later and disappeared under the water. USPP officers and a
helicopter took part in the search along with divers and fire and rescue
workers. Fairfax County police found his body in the creek two days later.
[Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 8/30]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level IV
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Mon Tue % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 8/30 8/31 Con Con
CA Angeles NF Bridge T1 2,000 3,000 15 UNK
San Bernadino NF Willow T1 44,000 55,400 25 UNK
Mixing T2 3,000 3,000 70 UNK
Mad.-Mar.-Mer. RU Coulterville -- 500 1,000 100 CND
Merced -- 500 500 100 CND
Kern County Wind -- 300 300 100 CND
Los Angeles County Shannon -- 1,650 3,065 100 CND
Riverside RU Pine -- 1,523 1,523 100 CND
Shasta Trinity RU Shasta-Trin. Cx ST 2,500 2,500 100 CND
Modoc NF Yellow-Pine Cx T2 34,441 34,441 100 CND
Plumas NF MHRD Cx T1 12,587 12,342 30 UNK
FRRD Cx T1 3,755 3,755 72 UNK
Shasta-Trinity NF High Cx T1 18,500 18,500 20 9/4
Big Bar Cx T2 4,685 5,235 16 UNK
NV Ely FO Sellem T2 10,000 10,000 100 CND
MT Crow Agency Ash Creek -- 500 500 80 UNK
Glacier NP Anaconda -- 540 600 0 RBF
State Briney -- 800 850 50 UNK
* Wessel -- - 1,000 50 9/1
UT Salt Lake District Flat -- 3,000 1,805 100 CND
* Parker -- - 800 50 UNK
ID Lower Snake District East Slick T2 1,000 34,000 40 9/2
TX State Pitchfork ST 1,500 1,960 100 CND
Corbett Ranch -- 140 220 100 CND
* Darby Springs -- - 2,000 45 9/2
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
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; UNK = unknown; NR = no
report; RBF = resource benefit fire, no containment action being
taken; LR = last report unless significant activity occurs
FIRE NARRATIVES (as of 8/31)
Yosemite NP - The fires burning in the park remain within prescription.
There was little change on the North Park fire; the South Park fire has now
burned 9,157 acres.
Glacier NP - The Anaconda fire was started by lightning on August 6th. It is
being managed as what used to be called a prescribed natural fire, but is now
known as a wildland fire used for resource benefits (WFURB). The fire has
burned about 600 acres. It is being managed by park staff rather than a
formal fire use team. Activity on the fire has slowed down due to recent
precipitation, but the potential exists for it to become more active later in
the week and further into the fire season.
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Saturday, 8/28 2 8 30 0 85 98 223
Sunday, 8/29 0 8 15 1 74 45 143
Monday, 8/30 3 5 18 1 230 31 288
Tuesday, 8/31 2 3 8 1 193 29 236
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Saturday, 8/28 468 797 127 21 2,616
Sunday, 8/29 419 756 103 6 2,196
Monday, 8/30 441 849 102 5 2,059
Tuesday, 8/31 403 643 89 15 1,387
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack activity was moderate in the South yesterday and minimal in
most other areas. NICC continues to mobilize resources; competition exists
for Type I crews.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported on Sunday in Oregon,
Washington, California, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Nebraska, South Dakota,
Wyoming, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
NIFC has posted a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for strong winds and low relative
humidity in southern Nevada.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/1; Mike Warren, NPS FMPC, 8/31;
Fred Vanhorn, GLAC]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION AND EDUCATION
No entries.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No entries.
MEMORANDA
No entries.
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.
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