INCIDENTS

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Servicewide
Operation July Fourth

A number of special events will be taking place in the parks during the week of the Independence Day holiday, including some of the Service's "icon" parks. In order to manage these events and establish priorities for resources, Director Mainella has delegated authority to the national incident management team (Skip Brooks, IC) to act as an area command in the management of these events and any other serious incidents that may occur during this time period (June 27th to July 7th). The area command will manage the coordination, mobilization and assignment of critical resources for scheduled events and for unplanned Type 1 or Type 2 incidents, excluding fire. Type 2 teams are in place at Mount Rushmore NM (Central Team, Sherrie Collins, IC), Independence NHP (East Team, Rick Brown, IC), and Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Pacific West Team, Felicia Probert, IC). Elements of a Type 2 team (another East Team, Bob Panko, IC) have demobilized from Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP, where they provided assistance at the event noted below. Reports from those parks follow:

• Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP — The evening reception and preview for the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center on Thursday, June 26th, attracted some 300 invited guests. Regional Director Quintana attended the reception. Aside from some problems earlier in the day when the exhibit contractor abruptly halted work due to the fatigue of his crew, the evening went extremely well. The contractor had been working night and day for several days to attempt completion. After a rest period, the crew returned on Thursday evening to continue work. More of the exhibits were installed on the morning of June 27th in preparation for the afternoon grand opening and dedication ceremonies. Deputy Director Murphy spoke at the dedication; Senator Mike DeWine delivered the keynote address. The events were closely coordinated with other city events taking place in the same area. A contract with the Dayton Police Department to provide security and traffic management services was particularly effective. All the city officers involved were impressed with the resources that they play a major role in protecting from day to day. They have gained a familiarity and appreciation that should serve the park well in the future.
• Mount Rushmore NM — Enhanced security measures are being put in place at the park to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit to the park. In order to do so, the park is closing at midnight on July 3rd. When it reopens at 7 a.m., the improved security arrangements will be in place. Visitors are being asked to arrive early, advised to expect delays, and asked to be patient when approaching, entering or leaving the park. All vehicles will be screened before being permitted to park, and visitors will have to pass through a magnetometer and have their bags and containers searched. Assisting the park's staff are rangers from across the country and representatives from the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Pennington County Sheriff's Department, Rapid City PD, Air Force, FBI, ATF, South Dakota Army National Guard, Fish and Wildlife, Forest Service, and Peace Keepers private security company.
• Independence NHP — The park received a call from the National Constitution Center's construction site at 8:20 a.m. on, Wednesday June 25th, reporting a suspicious 55-gallon drum. A construction worker operating a grading tractor at the site of the new center discovered the drum, which contained an unknown liquid. The park communication center was notified immediately and rangers responded. Two rangers established a perimeter, while another ranger utilized the park's Itemiser 3 (Ion Track Instruments), which detects chemical traces of possible explosives. The initial swab tested positive for a smokeless powder as well as triacetonetriperoxide (TATP), a primary explosive element. Based on this, the Philadelphia Fire Department increased the perimeter and contacted the Philadelphia Police Department's bomb disposal unit and their hazmat team. No signs of explosives were discovered after the barrel was X-rayed. A hazardous waste disposal company was contacted in order to remove the barrel. A preliminary test showed the contents to be a petroleum-based liquid. The origination of the TATP is unknown. The National Constitution Center is gearing up for its grand opening, beginning on Tuesday July 2nd. Particular attention has been paid to the grand opening because of the potential for domestic and international terrorism. A major road onto the Benjamin Franklin Bridge was closed for about two hours during the incident.

Daily updates on the operation will appear in the Morning Report and InsideNPS through July 7th.
[Submitted by Bill Halainen, IO, ACT; Kent Cave, IO, Eastern IMT; Al Nash, IO, Central IMT; Katherine Korte, LES, INDE]

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (NC)
Piper Crashes at End of Billy Mitchell Field

D.M. and R.A.M. were landing their single-engine Piper Dakota at Billy Mitchell Airfield on Cape Hatteras when they skidded off the end of the runway. Neither was reportedly injured in the accident. D.M. told investigating ranger Gary Henson that he was attempting to land the plane and that he was going a little fast and a little high, but that he wasn't sure what happened that caused him to skid off the runway. The plane's right wing, nose cone and propeller sustained major damage. A little fuel spilled but was quickly contained. A vacationing NTSB investigator was in the area and assumed responsibility for the investigation. The plane was removed from the airport at 7 p.m.
[Submitted by Paul Stevens, Acting Chief Ranger]

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Drowning in Middle Fork of Kaweah River

Dispatch received a report on the afternoon of June 25th that a young man had jumped into the water of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River and had not emerged. The park's search and rescue teams and the Tulare County Sheriff's Office dive team responded immediately. A dive team member found and recovered the body of the 22-year-old man in the cold, swirling waters of the river shortly thereafter. Witnesses said that the man had jumped into a pool below a waterfall to help a friend he perceived to be in distress. The friend was able to pull himself out of the water by relaxing and allowing the river to take him to shore, but his would-be rescuer was pinned under the rushing water. This is the second drowning in the Middle Fork this spring.
[Submitted by Shayna Dyas, PIO]

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Assist on Murder Investigation

On June 23rd, Boulder City PD asked the park's dive team for assistance in a murder investigation. Police had found a woman's body floating in a small, man-made fishing lake in one of the city's parks. Divers helped recover the remains and searched the entire pond. The crime scene was identified as a hotel room at the Hacienda Hotel and Casino, a private inholding within the park. A suspect was identified and arrested in California. The victim is thought to have been a porter at the hotel who disappeared during her shift.
[Submitted by Kevin Hendricks, Assistant Chief Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Monday, June 30, 2003

Preparedness Level 2

There were 102 newly-reported fires on Friday, 108 on Saturday and 106 on Sunday. Seven new large fires were reported yesterday — three in California and four in the Great Basin.

Fire Danger

Day	6/25	6/26	6/27	6/28	6/29	6/30
Alaska	--	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Arizona	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
California	--	--	VX	VX	VX	VX
Colorado	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Hawaii	--	--	--	VX	VX	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	--	VX	VX	VX	VX
Texas	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Utah	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Washington	--	--	--	--	VX	--

VH — Very high
EX — Extreme
VX — Very high to extreme

Fire Weather Watches and Warnings

FIRE WEATHER WATCHES have been issued for strong southwest winds, a high Haines index and low relative humidity for portions of southern Idaho, and for dry lightning, gusty winds and low relative humidity for portions of northwestern Montana.

A RED FLAG WARNING has been issued for dry lightning, gusty winds and low relative humidity for western Montana.

National Resource Commitments

Day	6/24	6/25	6/26	6/27	6/28	6/29	6/30
Crews	135	130	155	157	172	177	149
Engines	85	110	163	246	228	194	205
Helicopters	36	46	48	60	39	43	64
Air Tankers	0	0	1	1	1	2	1
Overhead	805	1,571	1,686	1,716	1,163	1,159	1,178

National Team Commitments

New team commitments indicated in bold face.

State	Type Team	Team IC	Fire/Location	Acres	Percent Contain	Est Full Contain
AZ	T1	Humphrey	Aspen Fire Coronado NF	37,500	65%	UNK
NM	T1	Sexton	Montano Fire Bosque State Park	165	50%	6/29
CA	CDF	Kerrigan	Tejon Fire Kern County	1,000	0%	7/1
AZ	T2	Raley	Helen 2 Fire Saguaro NP	3,500	90%	6/30
NM	T2	Mullinex	Jenny Fire Gila NF	5,800	60%	UNK
AK	T2	McKnight	Sand Creek Fire State Lands	43,150	0%	UNK
CA	T2	Dietrich	Sawmill Fire Kern County	536	100%	CND
OR	T2	Hoff	Davis Fire Deschutes NF	3,000	20%	7/5
OR	T2	Gardner	Bear Lake Fire Willamette NF	30	30%	7/2
CA	T2	Wendt	Friday Fire Six Rivers NF	120	0%	UNK
UT	T2	Suwyn	Apex Fire State Lands	6,666	0%	UNK
NM	T2	Bradley	Seco Fire Gila NF	5,300	25%	UNK
NM	FUM	Duncan	Dry Lakes Complex Gila NF	33,500	0%	UNK
AZ	FUM	Cook	Powell Fire Grand Canyon NP	2,030	0%	UNK
UT	FUM	Bonefeld	Woodenshoe Fire Manti-LaSal NF	500	0%	UNK

Saguaro National Park (AZ)
Helen 2 Fire (Wildland Fire)

On Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., dry lightning strikes ignited the Helen #2 Fire located in the Rincon Mountains north of Helen's Dome and west of Spud Rock. The fire is at an elevation of 7,300 - 8,400 feet and is burning on the ground in oak/pine and mixed coniferous forests (full report)
A successful burnout took place yesterday in the northwest division of the fire. Rehabilitation of fire lines continued in the south, east, and north divisions. The fire is located in steep, difficult terrain. No major injuries have occurred.
Status
Trailheads Closed: Douglas Spring Trailhead and Parking Lot (at the east end of Speedway Blvd) will be closed due to helicopter support operations. However, the Douglas Spring Trail will be open up to the Douglas Spring Campground and can be accessed from the Wildhorse Trailhead. Trails Closed: Douglas Spring Trail from Douglas Spring Campground south Turkey Creek Trail Trails Partially Closed: Manning Camp Trail east of Grass Shack Campground Cow Head Saddle Trail east of Cow Head Saddle Heartbreak Ridge/Arizona Trail north of Rincon Creek Trail Italian Springs Trail south of the Forest Service boundary Campgrounds Closed: Manning Camp Campground Spud Rock Spring Campground
Acreage: 3,600
Resources Committed: 4 Type II Helicopters 2 Type III Helicopter 15 Hotshot crews 4 Hand crews Total of 657 personnel on scene
Estimated containment date: Estimated 6/28/2003[Submitted by Chuck Scott, chuck_scott@nps.gov, 520 733-5130]

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Powell Fire

The lightning-caused Powell Fire has burned 2,030 acres. A fire use management team (Cook) is assigned. The fire is burning in ponderosa pine, grass, gambel oak and manzanita, 23 miles northwest of Grand Canyon Village. The fire is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. Poor relative humidity recovery contributed to a long-duration burn period yesterday. The fire has spread south with short, uphill runs observed in brush on the steep sides of the Powell Plateau. The Mauv Saddle historic cabin has been protected from potential fire spread. Currently committed are:

• Firefighters and overhead — 39
• Engines — 0
• Helicopters — 1

PARKS AND PEOPLE

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Point Reyes National Seashore (CA)
GS-7 Lead Fire Effects Monitor

The park has an opening for a GS-7 biological science tech (lead fire effects monitor). This is a great opportunity for the right individual who likes a good challenge and diverse duties. Although duty stationed at Point Reyes, the job involves monitoring fire effects at several California parks, including Channel Islands National Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Joshua Tree National Park, Pinnacles National Monument, and Santa Monica National Recreation Area. The primary duties involve monitoring fire effects and fire behavior on prescribed and wildland fires. This is also a supervisory position; the person selected will supervise a permanent assistant monitor and one to five seasonal monitors both in field and office work. Office work involves data entry and analysis and using database and geographic information system software. This job is being advertised under both merit promotion (PORE 03-27 MPP) and all sources (PORE 03-28 DEU). It is a permanent, full-time, subject-to-furlough position. Unfortunately, government housing is not available. Please go to www.usajobs.opm.gov to view the full vacancy announcement. If you'd like more information or have questions, please feel free to contact plant ecologist Jane Rodgers at 415-464-5190 or fire ecologist Brian Twedt at 415-464-5283.
[Submitted by Anne Clemons]

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.