Joshua Tree National Park (CA)
Search in Progress for Missing Hiker
Teams of searchers are looking for a hiker who has been missing in
the park since Monday afternoon. The search is being coordinated jointly
by the park and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office and is being
augmented by volunteer search teams. At present, a total of 75 people
are participating in the operation. In addition to ground searchers, the
sheriff's office has contributed a dozen horse-mounted searchers and two
search dogs to the effort. Helicopters from the sheriff's office and the
U.S. Marine base in Twentynine Palms were to join in yesterday.
M.M. and his son Ma.M. were hiking on the popular Barker Dam trail
in the Wonderland of Rocks area of the park on Monday afternoon. The
trail is a one-mile loop; the two hikers went in different directions,
planning to meet on the backside of the trail near Barker Dam. When Ma.M.
arrived at the meeting place, his father was not there.
Yesterday, searchers concentrated on saturating some previously covered
areas and examining more of the many deep holes and crevices that exist
in the rugged boulder formations that characterize the area. There are
many informal trails in the area created by hikers and rock climbers,
all of which must be examined by search teams. Additional updates on the
search progress will be issued as more information is available.
[Submitted by Joe Zarki, PIO]
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Searchers Find and Rescue Overdue Hiker
On the afternoon of April 18th, park dispatch received a call over
marine band radio concerning an overdue hiker in Bridge Canyon. The
hiker, J.P., was scheduled to be picked up early on the morning of
April 17th at Rainbow Bridge. Overnight temperatures were near freezing
with storms and high winds in the area. Several other hikers in the area
reported that they had come across J.P.'s camp and his backpack two
miles from the scheduled pick-up point. His camp was just outside of the
Rainbow Bridge NM boundary on the Navajo Nation. Both the Navajo Nation
and San Juan County Sheriff's Office asked for assistance in locating
J.P.. Wahweap rangers Jared St. Clair, Stephen Clary and Shannon Hope
responded to Rainbow Bridge by boat and met with a hiker who had seen
J.P.'s camp. Pilots Tug Kangus and Jim Traub searched the area from the
air, but their efforts were hampered by strong thunderstorms and narrow
canyon walls. The responding rangers, guided by the airplane, hiked the
rugged canyon to J.P.'s camp. Although J.P. was not there, the camp was
found to be in disarray and it appeared that J.P. was in distress.
Classic Lifeguard Aeromedical Helicopter Service joined the search.
Shortly after reaching the camp, both the ground team and an observer in
the helicopter saw two hikers signaling for help about 300 yards up the
canyon from the camp. The hikers had found J.P. sitting in the cold
waters of a nearby creek. He was suffering from hypothermia and was
confused, disoriented and wearing only a pair of shorts. J.P. had
experienced hallucinations, believing he had been kidnapped and held
hostage. He was warmed and flown to Page Hospital, where he remained for
two days. The items in his camp were collected and packed out by the
rangers.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was light nationally on Tuesday. Commitments to the Columbia Response incident remained the same as yesterday.
Fire Danger
| State |
4/18 |
4/21 |
4/22 |
4/23 |
| Arizona |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VH |
| Colorado |
VH |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Connecticut |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VH |
| New Mexico |
-- |
VH |
-- |
VH |
VH — Very high
EX — Extreme
VX — Very high to extreme
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
4/15 |
4/16 |
4/17 |
4/18 * |
4/21 |
4/22 |
4/23 |
| Crews |
149 |
172 |
155 |
155 |
93 |
83 |
74 |
| Engines |
71 |
132 |
62 |
62 |
12 |
23 |
27 |
| Helicopters |
11 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
2,099 |
2,149 |
1,784 |
1,784 |
1,849 |
1,718 |
1,675 |
* Numbers did not change from Thursday to Friday.
National Team Commitments
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Incident/Fire |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
| TX |
T2 |
Crisman |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Morcum |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Raley |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Dietrich |
" |
" |
" |
" |
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Pacific West Region
GS-025-12 Staff Ranger
Pacific West Region has posted an announcement for a GS-025-12 staff ranger for the protection division in its regional office. The announcement closes on May 7th and is open to all federal employees. The staff ranger is supervised by the regional chief ranger and serves as a staff expert for a variety of program areas relating to protection of persons and resources, management of visitor use, and fee collection. She/he develops and maintains close, effective working relationships with staff specialists in the parks, other regions, the Washington office and with the regional solicitor's office, and regularly engages in problem solving, communications and coordination of a wide variety of protection operations issues with the 54 parks in the region. Since many of the major duties of this position concern policy, regulation and legislation, the person selected must possess knowledge of law enforcement practices gained from significant experience in one or more primary law enforcement positions. Approval of 6c secondary coverage is pending. Although the title of the position in the vacancy announcement reads "Law Enforcement Specialist," this position is for a generalist, staff ranger, and the ideal candidate would be a generalist ranger with broad experience in park protection operations. For additional information, applicants may contact Mark Forbes, acting chief ranger, at 206-220-4258 or mark_forbes@nps.gov
[Submitted by Marti Leicester]
Fire and Aviation Management
GS-0401-7/9 Fuels Management Specialist
Dates: 04/17/2003 - 05/02/2003
A 120-day detail, beginning June 1st and continuing through September 26th is available in the beautiful Kettle Falls District of Lake Roosevelt NRA. The person in this position will:
- provide fire management leadership as a Fuels Management Specialist GS-0401-07/09.
- assist an Interagency Fire Management Officer in the implementation of the LARO Wildland Urban Interface Program (WUI).
- supervise the fuels crew on a daily basis;
- provide compliance with NEPA policies, program coordination and administration, program target accomplishment and the safety and supervision of the WUI crew.
The LARO WUI program is part of a shared fire organization between the NPS and the USFS. The desired minimum qualification is Strike Team Leader Trainee.
LARO will provide salary; travel to and from Lake Roosevelt and a per diem rate of $16.50 per day for meals and miscellaneous. The benefiting account will pay for quarters at $121.17 which is one room in a 3-bedroom shared house.
Lake Roosevelt NRA will only consider those already at the current grade of this work. Please provide a copy of your current SF-50 with a list of 3 references and indicate your fire experience to:
Tom Wienmann
National Park Service, N. Dist. Fire Office
1368 Kettle Park Road
Kettle Falls, WA 99141-8784
or call him at 509-738-6198 or 509-738-7707 by May 2, 2003.
[Submitted by Tom Wienmann, 509-738-7707 , 509-738-6198 ]
Point Reyes National Seashore
Passing of Ranger Lanny Pinola
Point Reyes National Seashore mourns the loss of former Park Ranger Lanny Pinola, who passed away on April 21. Lanny quickly passed away after suffering a heart attack late Monday afternoon. As an ambassador for native people, Pinola served as a Park Ranger for over fifteen years sharing his knowledge and insights into the Coast Miwok and Pomo cultures.Lanny Pinola provided tremendous spirit as he shared the Coast Miwok story with others. He began his career as a Cultural Demonstrator, knapping arrowheads, building traditional structures, and introducing visitors to the customs of Native Californians. As a Park Ranger, Lanny went on to educate tens of thousands of school children and breathe new life into Kule Loklo, the park's cultural exhibit. Even after retiring from the Service, Lanny continued to coordinate Native American dance troupes and preside over the Strawberry Festival and Big Time, two of the park's most popular special events. The Native American community, the Miwok Archaeological Preserve of Marin, and the National Park Service are deeply sadden by this incredible loss. Lanny Pinola was a special teacher and friend to many community members and a major part of the National Park Service family. For many, he was also a patient spiritual advisor that gave endlessly to others. To countless visitors, educators, and interpreters across the nation, Lanny Pinola was truly an inspiration. On Friday, April 25 at 7:00 pm, a special memorial gathering will be held at the Kule Loklo Roundhouse to honor the extraordinary life and impact of Lanny.
[Submitted by Alyssa Baltrus, Alyssa_Baltrus@nps.gov, 415-464-5219]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.