Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Heat Exposure Claims Lives Of Two Hikers
On the afternoon of June 18th, hikers in Gold Strike Canyon came upon
a naked, hysterical, incoherent man swinging on a tree and noted that
his clothing and shoes were lying just below him on the trail. They
continued down the trail, where they came across a second unresponsive
naked man lying face down on the ground. The hikers turned around and
attempted to make contact with the first man, but he would not respond
to them. They left him a bottle of water and started to hike out to get
help. They came across two hikers and asked them to go get help so that
they could return to assist the man who was still alive. When they
returned in about 30 to 45 minutes, the man had passed away. The park
received a call for help at 3 p.m. Rescuers arrived on scene 45 minutes
later. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene, with each displaying
obvious signs of heat exposure. Initial investigation revealed that they
were not prepared for the desert conditions. Gold Strike Canyon is a
steep, rugged desert canyon with temperatures in excess of 110 degrees.
Metro Search and Rescue and the Hoover Dam Police assisted the NPS with
this incident. Their deaths are the 17th and 18th fatalities to occur in
the park of the year.
[Submitted by Mary Hinson, District Ranger,
Boulder District]
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A 57-year-old park visitor lost consciousness due to significant
exposure to carbon monoxide on the morning of June 18th. He was making a
second attempt to remove an entangled rope from the prop of his beached
vessel when he was overcome. On the previous evening, he'd spent two
hours under the swim platform attempting to remove the rope, but had to
discontinue his efforts when he became weak and nauseous. The next
morning, he put on a life jacket, entered the water, and resumed his
efforts. Thirty minutes later a friend same him float from underneath
the swim platform. He was conscious and alert, but slow to answer some
questoins. He was taken by vessel to Callville Bay marina, then
transported to a medical facility. Doctors there determine that he had
nearly 20 times the maximum permissible amount of carbon monoxide in his
blood. He was admitted to the hospital in serious but stable condition.
Further investigation revealed that the 22-horsepower generator on the
boat had been running the entire time. This is the second serious carbon
monoxide exposure requiring hospitalization this year.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Cliff-Jumping Fatality
On June 14th, a 25-year-old man jumped from the top of Cat Eye Cliff
on Lake Mohave, which is about 50 feet above the lake. Witnesses said
that he was leaning slightly forward when he hit the water and that he
never surfaced. Family members and bystanders tried to find him before
calling for help via marine band radio. Divers found his body on the
lake bottom at a depth of 49 feet. The victim was an Eagle Scout who was
working full-time as a CPA and had just finished his masters degree.
This was the family's eighteenth consecutive Fathers Day outing on Lake
Mohave. All the members of his family witnessed the incident. Alcohol
may have been a contributing factor. Rangers regularly advise visitors
that jumping from cliffs is hazardous. Mathematical calculations show
that anyone jumping from this height hits the water at over 35 mph.
[Submitted by John Tesar, Supervisory Park Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was again light on Tuesday, with 132 new fires reported nationally. Three new large fires were reported — one each in Alaska, California and the Southwest.
Fire Danger
|
Day |
6/20 |
6/21 |
6/22 |
6/23 |
6/24 |
6/25 |
|
Alaska |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
|
Arizona |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
California |
-- |
VX |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Colorado |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Idaho |
VX |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Nevada |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
N. Hampshire |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
|
New Mexico |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Oklahoma |
VX |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Oregon |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
|
Texas |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Utah |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VH — Very high
EX — Extreme
VX — Very high to extreme
Fire Weather Watches and Warnings
A RED FLAG WARNING has been issued for strong winds along the north side of the Alaska Range.
National Resource Commitments
|
Day |
6/19 |
6/20 |
6/21 |
6/22 |
6/23 |
6/24 |
6/25 |
|
Crews |
131 |
132 |
135 |
130 |
131 |
135 |
130 |
|
Engines |
198 |
180 |
164 |
122 |
123 |
85 |
110 |
|
Helicopters |
36 |
34 |
39 |
31 |
41 |
36 |
46 |
|
Air Tankers |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
410 |
993 |
1,129 |
1,192 |
1,288 |
805 |
1,571 |
National Team Commitments
|
State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
|
AZ |
T1 |
Humphrey |
Aspen Fire Coronado NF |
25,000 |
25% |
UNK |
|
AZ |
T1 |
Oltrogge |
Picture Fire Tonto NF |
13,120 |
70% |
6/26 |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Raley |
Helen 2 Fire Saguaro NP |
2,945 |
25% |
6/28 |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Bradley |
Ash Fire Coronado NF |
564 |
90% |
6/25 |
|
NM |
T2 |
Mullinex |
Jenny Fire Gila NF |
3,500 |
30% |
UNK |
|
NM |
FUM |
Goheen |
Dry Lakes Complex Gila NF |
27,000 |
NR |
UNK |
|
AZ |
FUM |
Kitchen |
Powell Fire Grand Canyon NP |
750 |
0% |
UNK |
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
Helen 2 Fire
The Helen 2 Fire has burned almost 3,000 acres and is 25% contained. A Type 2 team is assigned. The fire is burning in ponderosa pine, mixed conifers and brush. Extreme fire behavior with rapid surface spread was reported yesterday. Crews are constructing lines and conducting burnout operations on the east and northeast flanks.
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Powell Fire (Wildland Fire,Wildland Fire Use)
Powell Wildland Fire Use, managed by Wayne Cook's Interagency Fire Use Management Team (full report)
Status
North Bass Trail, Powell Plateau Trail and Swamp Ridge Road are closed for public safety
Acreage: 690
Resources Committed: 29 Personnel
Estimated containment date: 10/1/03[Submitted by Punky Moore, sjmoore@fs.fed.us, 928-638-0178]
Fire and Aviation Management
Fire Restrictions Announced for Southwestern Utah
Due to the very high fire danger in Southwestern Utah, Federal and State Fire Management Officials will institute fire restrictions beginning Friday, June 27 at 12:01 a.m. These restrictions will apply to all public and private lands in the following Utah counties and will be in effect until further notice.
- Washington
- Kane
- Garfield
- Iron
- Beaver (West of I-15 only)
- Setting, building, maintaining, attending, or using open fire of any kind, except campfires within approved fire pits and grills provided for, in improved campgrounds, picnic areas, and permanently improved places of habitation, or except as otherwise authorized. Devices fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed in all locations.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, camp trailer, or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared to mineral soil.
- Discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition, or other incendiary devices in any location on federal, state, and unincorporated private lands. (Note that these acts are always prohibited on Federal Lands.)
Exemptions:
- Person with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
- Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written notice.
- Any federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
For more information on fire restrictions:
- National Park Service 435 772-3256
- Bureau of Land Management 435 586-2401
- U.S Forest Service (Dixie National Forest) 435 865-3700
- Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands 435 586-4408
[Submitted by David Eaker, david_eaker@nps.gov, 435-772-7811] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Central High School National Historic Site (AR)
GS-9/11 Education Specialist
Dates: 06/16/2003 - 07/07/2003
This is an Education Specialist, GS-9/11, position located at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.
The primary duties of this position include developing curriculum-based education materials and programs that conform to state and national curriculum standards, planning and organizing statewide or regional teacher workshops, providing personal services to schools, developing relationships with external park partners, and contributing toward the development of park interpretive and educational programs.
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site is a non-traditional unit of hte national park system. The centerpiece of the site is Central High School, a functioning public educational institution serving approximately 2,400 students in grades 9-12. The Little Rock School District maintains authority over the school and its operations. The park has developed an excellent working relationship with the school and district officials and the incumbent will work to strengthen this partnership and collaborate with students, faculty, and administration to develop the park's education program. This is an exciting opportunity to develop a new program tailored to meet the demands created by a national historic site that is also a fully operational public high school.
This vacancy is open to all sources and also to merit promotion candidates. The merit promotion announcement number is HOSP-03-0013 and the all sources number is HOSP-03-0014.
[Submitted by Laura A. Miller, laura_a_miller@nps.gov, 501-364-1957]
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.