Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
July Fourth Incident Summary
The Fourth of July weekend was busy but manageable, with major incidents occurring during the days before and after the holiday. During the three-day holiday weekend itself, there were 397 case incidents, including 17 boat accidents, three motor vehicle accidents, 15 alcohol-related incidents, six DUI's and 13 arrests. EMS calls for service included 18 for basic life support and eight for advanced life support. Major highlights of the weeks before and after the holiday include the following:
- On the afternoon of July 3rd, dispatch received a 911 call reporting six carbon monoxide poisoning victims. Rangers Jason Lux and Chad Marin responded and evaluated the two adults and four children who'd been affected. They reported that they had been sleeping in their RV with the generator running and had experienced headaches, nausea and loss of consciousness. Breath sample results ranged from 12.9% carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) to 23.6% COHb. At the Bullfrog Clinic, all six victims were placed on high flow oxygen and monitored until their COHb levels dropped to acceptable limits. The monoxide poisoning may have resulted from the air conditioning unit pulling in exhaust from a newly installed generator, but faulty installation of the generator may have contributed.
- On that same day, dispatch received a report of a PWC wave-jumping accident in Wahweap Bay involving teenagers in the water, one of whom as unconscious. Rangers Leslie Wells, Kristopher Davis, Jeff Rhame and Stephen Clary responded along with a state game warden. A 13-year-old was found holding his 16-year-old cousin above water, assisted by tour boat mechanics from the park concessioner. The force of the accident caused the 16-year-old to break off the PWC handlebars with his head. The 13-year-old, who was a passenger, was thrown into and over his cousin, landing on the front of the PWC. The older boy was flown to Flagstaff Medical Center; his younger cousin was fully immobilized and transported to Page Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and later released.
- On July 6th, dispatch received a second-hand report of a ski boat with a seriously injured person on board traveling towards Wahweap Marina from Last Chance Bay. Two NPS vessels and a Classic Lifeguard helicopter were dispatched to search for the boat. It was located in Warm Creek Bay, where the operator had ended up after making a wrong turn. A nine-year-old girl was found to be suffering from multiple deep lacerations and other injuries due to contact with a boat propeller. Ranger/paramedic Leslie Wells provided initial care; the girl was then flown to Flagstaff Medical Center. Another responding ranger eventually found the scene of the accident in Last Chance Bay. Witnesses said that they had been in the process of mooring a large houseboat on a beach with both engines operating in forward gear when the girl entered the water to swim and was sucked into the engine wash. She was wearing a life jacket at the time, which most likely saved her life.
- On July 9th, R.B., 47, of Twin Falls, Idaho, suffered first and second degree burns on approximately 35% of his body when his boat exploded at Hite Marina fuel dock after he attempted to jump start the vessel due to a dead battery. An onboard halon system extinguished the fire with no damage to the vessel. Park medic Kerry Haut treated R.B., who was then flown to the University of Utah Medical Center. Preliminary investigation indicated that the explosion was caused by a fuel leak, combined with the spark from the battery.
- During the early morning hours of July 11th, a fire was reported at a Halls Crossing concession housing unit. The trailer's occupant escaped unharmed, but the front half of the trailer was fully engulfed in flames by the time the Halls Crossing fire crew arrived four minutes later. The fire was controlled within an hour, and adjacent buildings were saved. It appears that the fire was started by a short in a wall socket. District ranger Steve Luckesen was IC.
- On July 12th, dispatch received a report of a houseboat on fire in Bullfrog Bay. Firefighters responding by boat found the boat fully engulfed in flame. The fire was contained within an hour. None of the occupants was injured. It appears that the fire started at a propane refrigerator.
[Submitted by Chief Ranger's Office]
Shenandoah National Park (VA)
Successful Search for Missing Boy
A.K., 10, became lost while hiking the Dark Hollow Falls Trail with
his family on the morning of Monday, August 4th. A.K. had run ahead of them on
the trail. Efforts to find the boy by family members and visitors proved
fruitless, so rangers were notified. They began a hasty search later that
morning, which escalated to a full search as the day went on. By late evening,
dozens of state-certified searchers from numerous SAR organizations had joined
the effort. They were subsequently joined by dog teams, Maryland and Virginia
sheriff's department officers, and NPS employees from numerous Northeast,
National Capital and Southeast Region parks. All told, about 150 searchers and
overhead were involved in the operation. The search continued through the night
and into Tuesday. Around 7 p.m., a team comprised of NCR employees found the boy
along Rose River less than a mile from the point where he'd last been seen. He
had lost his glasses and shoes and was suffering from dehydration and minor
injuries. Lora Peppers was the initial IC. Ranger Julena Campbell, who was one
of the liaisons to A.K.'s family, subsequently sent the following note to those
who participated in the search: "I wanted to take a moment to pass along all of
the thanks and warmest regards that the A.K. family wishes to express to each
and every person that helped support this effort in any way. As one of two
family liaisons, I spent a significant amount of time with the family.
Throughout the entire incident, they continually expressed two things to me: one
obviously being that they couldn't wait to see their son again, and the other
how much they appreciated everything that the NPS family and all of the other
agencies and volunteers did to help out. They were overwhelmed by the outpouring
of support. I promised them that I would do my best to make sure everyone
involved received their message of thanks. Please pass this message on to others
who helped out by springing into action and doing everything possible to make
this family's hopes come true. On behalf of the A.K. family, 'Thank you all,
from the bottom of our heart.'
[Submitted by Clayton Jordan, Acting Chief
Ranger]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Replica Aircraft Crashes in Park
Park staff received several 911 calls from visitors on the evening of August
4th reporting the crash of a small airplane near the Midway Geyser Basin on the
west side of the park between Madison Junction and the Old Faithful area. The
pilot of the plane, J.W., 53, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, was killed upon
impact. Witness reports indicated that the airplane approached the geyser basin
area from the west and was flying at about tree-top level just south of the
parking area. The plane evidently hit the ground on the west side of the
Firehole River, then came to rest on the east side of the river near the main
park road. The airplane burst into flame upon impact, but the fire was put out
very quickly by park staff. Debris was strewn throughout the area and the engine
and a wing landed in the river. Some fuel leaked into the river and on the
ground near the river. Park staff removed the engine from the river on Tuesday
night to prevent further leakage. Cleanup of any spilled fuel will be done as
quickly as possible. No one on the ground was hurt. The aircraft was a replica
of the Hughes H-1B racer that was originally designed, built and flown by
millionaire Howard Hughes in the 1930s. This replica was built by J.W. and
made its first flight in July, 2002. The main park road was closed from the time
the incident occurred until about midnight, causing visitors to take alternative
routes. Some visitors were allowed to park RVs in the Old Faithful parking lot
for the night.
[Submitted by Public Affairs]
Natchez Trace Parkway (AL,MS,TN)
Fatal Pickup Truck Accident
On July 25th, ranger Luke Johnson checked out a report of an accident
with injuries at milepost 205 in the Kosciusko District. He found that a
GMC pickup truck had left the parkway, hit a tree, and rolled over. The
passenger in the truck — J.W., 29 — was killed in
the accident.
[Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief
Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - Wednesday, August 6, 2003
Preparedness Level 4
Initial attack yesterday was heavy in the Northwest, moderate in the eastern Great Basin, and light elsewhere. Two of the 274 newly-reported fires became large fires; another five large fires were contained.
Fire Danger
|
Day |
8/1 |
8/2 |
8/3 |
8/4 |
8/5 |
>8/6 |
|
Alaska |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
-- |
|
Arizona |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
California |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Colorado |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Hawaii |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Idaho |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Montana |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Nevada |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
New Mexico |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
New York |
-- |
VX |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Oklahoma |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Oregon |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
South Dakota |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Texas |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Utah |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Washington |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Wyoming |
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 parts of eastern and central Nevada for strong winds, low relative humidity and very high fire danger.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
7/31 |
8/1 |
8/2 |
8/3 |
8/4 |
8/5 |
8/6 |
|
Crews |
458 |
489 |
405 |
353 |
315 |
271 |
270 |
|
Engines |
768 |
826 |
648 |
601 |
461 |
356 |
411 |
|
Helicopters |
151 |
167 |
160 |
134 |
131 |
111 |
110 |
|
Air Tankers |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Overhead |
3,502 |
3,472 |
3,310 |
3,148 |
3,472 |
3,201 |
3,335 |
National Team Commitments
New team commitments or changes in teams are indicated in bold face.
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
|
MT |
ACT |
Mann |
Flathead NF/Glacier NP Fires |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
MT |
T1 |
Ferguson |
Robert Fire Flathead NF/Glacier NP |
23,935 |
50% |
UNK |
|
MT |
T1 |
Raley |
Trapper Creek Complex Glacier NP |
20,540 |
40% |
9/5 |
|
MT |
T1 |
Bennett |
Wedge Canyon Fire Flathead NF |
25,561 |
50% |
UNK |
|
MT |
T1 |
Frye |
Black Frog Complex Bitterroot NF |
7,275 |
90% |
8/6 |
|
ID |
T1 |
Mortier |
Slims Fire Nez Perce NF |
8,780 |
30% |
8/20 |
|
ID |
T1 |
Sexton |
Hot Creek Fire Boise NF |
26,560 |
80% |
8/8 |
|
WA |
T1 |
Lohrey |
Fawn Peak Complex Okanogan-Wenatchee NF |
77,039 |
60% |
UNK |
|
ID |
T2 |
Brunner |
North Fork Lick Fire Payette NF |
625 |
35% |
8/8 |
|
ID |
T2 |
Larsen |
Toboggan Fire Idaho Panhandle NF |
350 |
100% |
CND |
Fire and Aviation Management
NPS Fire Summary - Wednesday, August 6, 2003
Glacier National Park
An area command team (Mann) is coordinating the Type 1 teams assigned to the Robert, Trapper Creek Complex, Wedge Canyon and Ross Creek Fires. Yesterday, the park reopened for day and overnight use from the park entrance at West Glacier all the way to Avalanche Creek. Going to the Sun Highway is now opened from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but no stopping is permitted between Avalanche and Logan Pass. The St. Mary's entrance to Logan Pass is open to 24-hour travel.
Wedge Canyon Fire (25,561 acres; 50% contained) — Crews are beginning to mop up on the east of the Flathead River in Glacier National Park. Structure protection is in place for 100 residences. Resource commitments as of yesterday (Monday's figure in parentheses):
- Firefighters/overhead — 1,286 (1,291)
- Crews — 33 (34)
- Engines — 61 (64)
- Helicopters — 8 (8)
Robert Fire (23,935 acres; 50% containment) — A transfer of command from Stam's Type 1 Incident Management Team to Ferguson's Type 1 Incident Management Team will occur today. This fire will remain under a unified command between Ferguson's Type 1 Incident Management Team and Flathead County. Crews are making good progress securing containment lines on the west flank. Structure protection is in place for six commercial properties. Reduction in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. Resource commitments as of yesterday (Monday's figure in parentheses):
- Firefighters/overhead — 1,031 (945)
- Crews — 15 (22)
- Engines — 41 (63)
- Helicopters — 6 (6)
Trapper Creek Complex (20,540 acres; 40% containment) — Crews made good progress constructing fire lines on the south flank of the Trapper Creek fire. Smoke continues to impact Glacier National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Structure protection is in place for three commercial properties. Resource commitments as of yesterday (Monday's figure in parentheses):
- Firefighters/overhead — 233 (269)
- Crews — 4 (6)
- Engines — 6 (6)
- Helicopters — 7 (7)
Yellowstone National Park
The Grizzly Fire has burned a dozen acres. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity readings limited fire spread yesterday.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Fire suppression operations are continuing on the Dennison and Redwood Fires. A Stage III wildland fire implementation plan is being prepared for the Giant Fire (0.1 acre) in Giant Forest. The fire is burning inside the Hazelwood prescribed fire unit, which was scheduled to be burned next year. The park is monitoring another dozen or so small fires.
Yosemite National Park
No substantial changes were reported from yesterday's summary, except that crews are planning to begin the YV-10 Rx Fire in Yosemite Valley this morning. They plan to burn about 85 acres today and tomorrow, depending on weather, air quality and fuel moisture conditions.
El Malpais National Monument
The park plans on igniting a prescribed fire today if weather conditions permit. They plan to burn 406 acres south of the Big Tubes area on the western side of the park.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Canyonlands NP/Organ Pipe Cactus NM
Remembering Ranger Kris Eggle
Two actions have recently been taken to commemorate Kris Eggle, the ranger who was fatally shot at Organ Pipe Cactus NM a year ago this coming Saturday.
A new river patrol boat at Canyonlands NP has been christened the USNPS Eggle. Eggle worked in the Island in the Sky and Needles Districts at Canyonlands prior to assignments at Sleeping Bear Dunes NL and Organ Pipe Cactus NM.
The USNPS Eggle is an 18-foot "Super Mini-Snout" capable of being navigated in Class V whitewater. The vessel will be used for search and rescue missions, law enforcement, research and routine patrol.
The naming continues the park's tradition of naming vessels for people who have made significant contributions to the resources, visitors or programs at Canyonlands National Park.
The second action took place at the national level.
President Bush has signed into law a bill that renames the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus NM the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.
"This is a very appropriate way to permanently memorialize Kris Eggle's life at a place that meant a lot to him," said Congressman Pete Hoekstra. "With this redesignation, visitors to Organ Pipe will realize the hazards that our park rangers can face in protecting our natural resources, particularly those parks located on borders that can become hotbeds of lethally dangerous activity such as drug smuggling and illegal immigration."
Hoekstra and Congressman Tom Tancredo introduced the bill (H.R. 1577) earlier this year to pay tribute to Eggle. The bill includes provisions for an interpretive sign at the visitors' center and trailhead that discusses the loss of Eggle and the importance of public land law enforcement officers.
"I would like to express my appreciation for the support that the community has shown to our family throughout this tragedy, as well as the work of Congressmen Pete Hoekstra, Dave Camp, and Tom Tancredo in offering this legislation and seeing it through to its passage by Congress and ultimately the signature of the President," said Bob Eggle, Kris' father. "This bill will help to further our cause of keeping alive the memory of Kris and what he fought for and believed in."
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Yosemite National Park (CA)
GS-12 District Ranger
The park is currently recruiting for a GS-12 district ranger for the Mather District, which encompasses the northern portion of the park. The district, which one of the most geographically diverse districts in the NPS, receives over 2 million visitors annually. It includes three separate subdistricts — Tuolumne, Big Oak Flat, and Canyon Ranch. The job entails coordination of a complex visitor and resource protection program that includes, but is not limited to, law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical services, resources protection, and structural/wildland fire. The district ranger also coordinates anti-terrorism and physical security programs at two dams/reservoirs located within the park and is a primary liaison with allied agencies on homeland security issues. She/he represents the park with a multitude of public/private organizations, frequently deals with complex and controversial issues, supervises a large work force (three GS-025-11 subdistrict rangers, up to 15 GS-025-9 full performance rangers, and more than 20 seasonals and volunteers), and manages a budget in excess of $1 million. The vacancy announcement is currently listed on USA Jobs under announcement number YOSE-03-70-MPP-IK and closes on August 22nd. For more information, contact Cameron Sholly, deputy chief ranger, operations, at 209-372-0520.
[Submitted by Cameron Sholly]
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.