INCIDENTS

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Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site (GA)
Special Event: "I Have A Dream" Speech Anniversary

The park and the M.L. King, Jr. March Committee/Africa African-American Renaissance hosted a march and rally in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech on Thursday, August 28th. The rally was held at Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta and was followed by a march to the historic site along Auburn Avenue. Special greetings and speeches were offered by Mark Taylor, Georgia's lieutenant governor, Mrs. Corretta Scott King, Mayor Shirley Franklin, Representative John Lewis (the only surviving member of the "Big Six" who participated in the 1963 March on Washington), and other prominent civil rights leaders. Nearly 2,000 people attended the event. There were no significant law enforcement problems. Security was provided by rangers from Martin Luther King and Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta police and Fulton County deputies.
[Submitted by Clark W. Moore, Chief Ranger]

Gateway National Recreation Area
Marijuana Eradication

The Park Police were advised of marijuana plants being cultivated in a heavily vegetated area located in the northern section of Floyd Bennett Field, an historic airfield in southernmost Brooklyn that served as the starting point for the flights of many famous aviators, including Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes and Wrong Way Corrigan. The field was also active during WW II and served as the first municipal airport in New York City. USPP SWAT units began surveillance of the area. On August 20th, officers John J. Piccolo and Jason Delameau saw two people cultivating the marijuana plants and maintained surveillance as they left the area and walked toward their vehicle. The officers immediately apprehended one person, while the other fled into the densely vegetated area. The fleeing person was seen about a half hour later, attempting to blend in as a jogger on the Belt Parkway bicycle path just north of Floyd Bennett Field. He was immediately arrested by officers Alan Kolega and Danny Ng. Each was charged with a felony count of possession of marijuana and a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing. The person who fled the area was also charged with resisting arrest. Approximately 200 plants, each eight to ten feet tall, were recovered. Together, they had an approximate street value of $600,000. The case is being prosecuted by the Kings County District Attorney's Office. Officials from that office re-arrested the pair shortly after they were released from the New York City central booking facility the following day after a search warrant of their domicile revealed an additional pound and a half of marijuana and implements for growing marijuana. The USPP Canine and Marine Patrol Unit also assisted in the apprehension of the subjects.
[Submitted by Capt. Marty Zweig, USPP, New York Field Office] More Information...

Canaveral National Seashore (FL)
Murder Suspect Commits Suicide in Park

On the morning of August 29th, ranger Dave Fuellner received a BOL (be on the lookout message) from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office regarding D.C., 57, a murder suspect thought to be in the area. Shortly thereafter, Fuellner spotted D.C.'s blue Ford pickup in a parking lot in the Apollo Beach District. He advised the sheriff's office and waited for officers to arrive before taking any action. Shortly after the officers appeared, a gunshot was heard from the truck, and it was determined that D.C. had shot himself. D.C. had left home on August 15th, telling his wife that he had to collect a debt from "a guy who owed him money." When he failed to return, she'd filed a missing person report. On August 28th, D.C. called his wife via cell phone and told her that he'd done "something terrible" to a woman. The wife advised police about her husband's call, and they found that the woman's home had been forcibly entered and that she'd been tied up and shot. Further investigation revealed that D.C. had called the park's visitor center information number on his cell phone just prior to coming to the park. The message provides directions and hours of operation.
[Submitted by Eric Lugo, Law Enforcement Specialist]

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (NC)
Drowning Off Frisco Beach

Visitor K.B. was swimming with a boogie board in the Atlantic late on the afternoon of September 4th when he evidently became caught in a rip current and was pulled away from shore. His friends asked a nearby fisherman to call 911 on his cell phone. Ranger Phil Swartz and rescue personnel were on scene within a few minutes. They found K.B. floating face down in the surf about 100 feet from shore and 200 yards south of the location where he'd been swimming. He was quickly pulled in. CPR was begun, but all attempts to revive him failed. Other than being overweight, K.B. had no known health problems, and alcohol was not a factor.
[Submitted by Mary Doll, PIO]

Blue Ridge Parkway
Fatal Motorcycle Collision with Truck

R.R. of Ohio and a friend were heading south on the parkway on their motorcycles on the afternoon of September 4th when they entered a sharp curve and were hit by a northbound pickup truck. R.R. died at the scene; his companion was medevaced to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem and was last reported to be in fair condition. The driver of the pickup sustained minor injuries. The investigation continues. The case ranger is Brent Pennington from the Highlands District.
[Submitted by John Garrison, Staff Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Report - Tuesday, September 9, 2003

Preparedness Level 5

Initial attack was moderate in northern California and light elsewhere. Nationally, 175 new fires were reported. There were no new large fires; five other large fires were contained.

Fire Danger

Day	9/1	9/2	9/3	9/4	9/8	9/9
Arizona	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
California	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Colorado	--	--	VX	VX	--	--
Hawaii	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
North Dakota	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Oklahoma	--	VX	--	--	VX	VX
Oregon	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
South Dakota	VX	VX	VX	--	VX	VX
Texas	--	VX	--	--	VX	VX
Utah	--	--	--	--	VX	VX
Washington	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX
Wyoming	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX	VX

VX = Very high to extreme danger

Fire Weather Watches and Warnings

No watches or warnings have been posted for today.

National Resource Commitments

Day	8/24	9/1	9/2	9/3	9/4	9/8	9/9
Crews	570	471	470	406	327	568	535
Engines	1,112	773	793	690	668	1,153	990
Helicopters	199	162	161	159	148	221	205
Air Tankers	2	0	0	1	3	3	2
Overhead	6,006	4,350	4,416	4,144	3,827	4,663	4,334

National Team Commitments

Teams are listed alphabetically by type. New team commitments or changes in teams (as of this report) are indicated in bold face.

State	Type Team	Team IC	Fire/Location	Acres	Percent Contain	Est Full Contain
MT	ACT	Williams-Rhodes	Flathead NF/Glacier NP Fires	---	---	---
MT	ACT	Ribar	Montana Fires	---	---	---
OR	T1	Anderson	B&B Complex Deschutes NF	90,376	55	UNK
MT	T1	Cable	Robert Fire Flathead NF/Glacier NP	57,570	60	10/1
MT	T1	Cable	Middle Fork Complex Glacier NP	10,977	5	10/1
MT	T1	Cable	Rampage Complex Glacier NP	23,497	0	10/1
MT	T1 T2	Cable Saleen	Trapper Creek Complex Glacier NP	19,150	45	10/1
MT	T1	Frye	Myrtle Creek Fire Idaho Panhandle NF	3,800	30	UNK
MT	T1	Mortier	Blackfoot Lake Complex Flathead NF	28,349	15	9/30
MT	T1	Stam	Fish Creek Complex Lolo NF	36,855	65	9/28
CA	T1	Vail	Grindstone Complex Mendocino NF	2,965	NR	UNK
WA	T2	Berndt/ Andring	Needle Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF	24,000	2	UNK
MT	T2	Broyles	Mineral/Primm Fire State Lands	25,202	72	9/20
ID	T2	Brunner	Beaver Lake Complex Clearwater NF	14,621	52	UNK
CA	T2	Domanski	Bridge Fire San Bernadino NF	1,352	70	UNK
WA	T2	Halloway/ Reed	Maple Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF	1,500	0	UNK
MT	T2	Hoff	Lincoln Complex Helena NF	39,707	77	10/1
MT	T2	Kechter	Cooney Ridge Fire State Lands	25,200	75	10/15
OR	T2	Morcom	Bull Springs Fire Umatilla NF	1,463	40	9/13
MT	T2	Saleen	Wedge Canyon Fire Flathead NF	52,974	87	9/15
CA	T2	Sczepanik	Smokehouse Complex Mendocino NF	1,210	90	9/10
MT	FUM	Rath	Little Salmon Creek Wildland Fire Complex	43,018	O	UNK
MT	FUM	Rath	Little Salmon Creek Fire Use Complex	33,441	N/A	N/A

PARK FIRE SITUATION

Glacier NP

Williams-Rhodes' Area Command Team is responsible for coordinating management of the Robert Fire, Trapper Creek Complex and Wedge Canyon Complex. Cable's Type 1 IMT is managing the Robert Fire, Middle Fork Complex, Trapper Creek Complex, Beta Lake - Doris Ridge Complex and the Rampage Complex; Saleen's Type 2 IMT is managing the Wedge Canyon Complex. Together, the ten fires in the complexes have burned a total 0of 120,112 acres.

A cold front brought cooler temperatures and precipitation to the area yesterday. There was increased activity from winds associated with the frontal passage. Suppression priorities are to prevent fire from crossing the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and diminish the threat to structures in Pinnacle and Essex; to stop the westerly spread of the Belton Fire towards West Glacier; and to keep the Rampage Complex from spotting over the Continental Divide. 

• Robert Fire — The fire has burned 57,056 acres and 70% contained. Moderate surface fire, torching, and spotting were observed on the fire. Fire activity increased with the passage of the weather front. The fire was active in the Livingston Range and Camas Creek drainage. Yesterday, crews took advantage of the cooler, wetter weather to continue mopping up and controlling the fire lines. Rehabilitation of cooler portions of the fire will also continue.
• Trapper Creek Complex — Fires in the complex have burned 29,850 acres and are 45% containment. The Robert IMT is managing the Trapper Creek and Trout Fires and the Wedge Canyon IMT is managing the Wolf Gun and Paul Bunyan Fires. The Trapper Creek Fire has burned 19,150 acres and is 45% contained. On Monday, the fire was active on its southeast corner and was characterized by smoldering, creeping, torching and short upslope surface runs. All the fires are in monitoring status.
• Middle Fork Complex — Complex fires have burned 10,800 acres and are 5% contained. They include the Belton Fire (952 acres) and the Center — Harrison Fire (9,848 acres). Moderate ground fire with torching and short crown runs were observed yesterday. There was some moderate fire activity near the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. The Harrison Fire is also well established in the Nyack Creek drainage. The Belton Fire had some activity on its southeast corner.
• Rampage Complex — The complex has burned 22,406 acres, with 0% containment. It consists of the Riverview 1 and 2 Fires (518 acres) and the Double Mountain Fires (21,888 acres). Moderate surface fire with torching and short crown runs were observed yesterday. The fire activity increased with the passage of the weather front. The fire continues to back down toward the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. All backcountry trails and the backcountry campground at Upper Two Medicine and Two Medicine Lakes have been closed because of potential fire danger. The Fish Creek, Avalanche and Big Creek Campgrounds remain closed.
• Wedge Fire — The fire has burned 52,100 acres and is 87% contained. Crews continue to make excellent progress, completing burnout operations in several areas. Aggressive fire suppression activities continued in the Kintla Lake area to prevent the fire from spreading into Canada. Mop up activities in remaining divisions continues along with continued structure protection from isolated flare-ups. Structure protection remains in place. There currently are no road closures on this fire.
• Wolf Gun Fire — The fire has burned 10,700 acres and is 50% contained. The Wolf Gun Fire was very active Sunday, with two to three miles of very active front on the southwest side of the fire. It continues to be in aerial patrol status.

Yosemite NP

• Kibbie Complex — The fire complex has grown to 1,750 acres, with fire activity being moderate yesterday. This complex experienced most of its growth when the Kibbie South Fire was pushed by wind 150 acres upslope into the SOK Fire. The two fires are now being called the South-SOK Fire. This fire is reaching areas of rock and old burn areas on all flanks but the southwest, so the growth rates experienced over the last few days should slow down. Crews are locating containment lines should air quality impacts occur. Agreement is still in place to share this fire across agency boundaries. The trail between the Kibbie Lake Junction, (East of Kibbie Lake near its entrance to Yosemite National Park) and Styx Pass (near its exit of Yosemite National park) along the Kibbie Ridge, and the trail between Lake Eleanor and Kibbie Lake are closed because of fire activity in the area.

Mt. Rainier NP

• Mt. Rainier Complex — Fires in the complex have burned 352 acres and are 18% contained. The complex consists of three fires: the Panther Fire (contained at 56 acres) is smoldering in 500 year old old-growth with two to three foot duff layers; The Chenuis Fire, contained at one acre; and the Redstone Fire (296 acres) burning in mature timber with heavy down woody material interspersed with rock openings. This fire is being managed under a confinement strategy using natural barriers to check the fire's spread. The park has received rain and cooler temperatures so activity will be slower unless the fuels dry out. The Northern Loop Trail is closed between the Carbon River and the West Fork of the White River. An area closure is in effect beginning north of the Wonderland Trail to the northern park boundary between Carbon River and the West Fork of the White River. The Wonderland Trail remains open.

North Cascades NP

No significant changes from yesterdays report. Fire activity is expected to decrease due to the arrival of cooler, wetter weather. A seven-mile section of the Big Beaver trail from its beginning at Ross Lake, extending northwest to the Boundary near the mouth of McMillan Creek, remains closed because of fire activity.

Redwoods NP

The park had 13 fires during last week's storm. All exhibited low to moderate intensity, with short flame lengths and slow rates of spread. Suppression efforts have been successful and resources are being demobilized.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's

No significant changes from yesterday's report. A number of trail closures remain in effect.

Yellowstone NP

The Rathbone Fire has been fully contained at 3,010 acres. Crews are mopping up. Crews are also mopping up on the East Fire (18,052 acres) and the Grizzly Fire (4,458 acres).

OPERATIONAL NOTES

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Administration, Business Practices, and Workforce Development
Memorandum: "Fee-Free Day - September 20, 2003, National Public Lands' Day"

September 5, 2003

Memorandum

To:           Associate Directors, Regional Directors, and Park Superintendents

Attn:        All Employees

From:      Associate Director, Administration, Business Practices, and Workforce
               Development

Subject:  Fee Free Day - September 20, 2003, National Public Lands'Day

This year the annual Fee Free Day will be celebrated as an interagency event on Saturday, September 20,2003. In accordance with the July 23,2003, memorandum issued by the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service (NPS) will celebrate National Public Lands Day as the interagency Fee Free Day.

Although National Public Lands Day is usually the last Saturday in September, this year it will be held on September 20. On that day the NPS will join the other Department of the Interior bureaus and the U .S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and will waive entrance fees.

Traditionally, the NPS has celebrated Founder's Day, August 25 as the annual Fee Free Day. Because of the establishment of an interagency Fee Free Day, August 25 may not be designated as a Fee Free Day in the future. Additional guidance will be issued for August 25,2004. This year only parks that had previously announced August 25 as a Fee Free Day or planned special activities with the local community were instructed to waive fees on that day.

This memorandum is sent to you to better define the fee waiver aspect for September 20, 2003, and to provide instructions for all parks.

Entrance Fees, Commercial Tour Fees, and Transportation Fees (Entrance)

All park entrance fees, including commercial tour entrance fees and transportation entrance fees, will be waived September 20,2003. Whether a park is collecting an entrance fee under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965,as amended, the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, or the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998, the fee will be waived.

Length of Stay/Daily Entrance Permits

A park must provide free entrance for that day. If a superintendent wishes to extend that time because of a standardized length of stay for daily entrance permits (e.g., 7 days), they may elect to do so. Commercial tour fees are waived on September 20 and re-entry on a standardized length of stay longer than 1 day is allowed only with the same passenger manifest. It will be the responsibility of parks to clearly communicate to all affected groups and visitors that fee waiver extensions beyond September 20 are only being offered at some sites at the discretion of local park managers, mainly for administrative reasons. Because fee free days occur each year parks should consider programming their cash registers with a "Free Day" button. The use of such an entry on the cash register will reduce errors and insure greater accountability .

Use Fees

Use fees are not required to be waived, however, if it is administratively feasible and consistent with contractual obligations, parks have the option to waive use fees ( e.g., day use, interpretive tours, parking, cave tours) that are not on the National Park Reservation Service.

Concession, Cooperating Association, Park Partners, Other Agencies

Park managers are encouraged to work creatively with their partners ( e.g., cooperating associations, friends groups, concessioners) on a voluntary basis, to make, the day a special time for the public.

Specific fee questions about this memorandum should be directed to Jane Moore, WASO Fee Program, at 202/513-7088.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

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Acadia National Park (ME)
Park Seeks Equipment Swap

The park has a 1993 F-350 diesel ambulance with only 11,400 miles on it that they do not need and would like to swap for a new rescue truck. The type of vehicle they're seeking is a step-up type van. If you're interested in making a swap, contact Richard Rechholtz at 207-288-8775.
[Submitted by Richard Rechholtz]

Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL,MS)
GS-025-9 Park Ranger

The park is currently advertising for a GS-025-9 protection ranger. This position is located in the Florida District. Occupancy of government housing is required. The announcement number is GUIS P03-08; it opened on September 2nd and closes on September 24th. Applications are being accepted from current career or career-conditional federal employees within the National Park Service and CTAP eligibles within the local commuting area. There are several conditions of employment and special requirements, including the requirement to currently possess a Type 1 or 2 NPS LE commission, so please check the vacancy announcement for details. You can view or download this announcement on USAJOBS at www.usajobs.opm.gov or by calling the park job line at 850-934-2601 and requesting that a copy be sent to you.
[Submitted by Kitty Lewis]

Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
GS-12/13 Assistant Chief Ranger

The park has an announcement out for a GS-12/13 assistant chief ranger. It opened on September 3rd and will close on September 16th. The duty station is in Mammoth.
[Submitted by Lisa Helms]

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.