East Coast Areas
Isabel Recovery Update - More Park Sites Open
The following reports reflect the status of operations through late Wednesday.
Type 1 Team (JD Swed)
Crews have made additional progress towards reopening some park areas. The Encampment Tour Road and the historic Moore House in the Yorktown portion of Colonial NHP opened on Tuesday. The discovery of the damaged bridges on Jamestown Island will hamper the re-opening of that section of the park, as both loops of the tour road are impassable without the bridges. The bridges have been surveyed by FHWA experts, who believe that the bridges can be moved back to their original locations. Work began on the cleanup of the heavily traveled Colonial Parkway, the 23-mile road that connects Yorktown and Jamestown. The park staff had cut through hundreds of downed trees to open the road only four days after the hurricane, but additional clearing and debris cleanup needs to take place. The relocation of the Jamestown artifact collection to Fort Lee near Richmond has been completed.
Crews are making headway at Richmond NBP and the area could reopen later this week. Incident personnel working with Petersburg NBP staff continued clearing trees and debris from park roads and trails. Trail clearing continued at Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania NMP.
The Richmond NBP employee who had sustained a hand injury (it was Richmond and not Petersburg as reported in an earlier update) is back at work. One new injury was reported, an ankle injury sustained by a hotshot crew member yesterday.
It has been determined that very costly repairs would be required to repair the Jamestown Visitor Center, due to the extensive water damage to its electrical, heating and air conditioning systems. The building was going to be replaced by 2007, in time for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. Besides functioning as the area's main visitor contact point and housing the park's cultural artifact collection, the visitor center provided space for employee offices and a large bookstore operated by Eastern National. Plans are being developed for an interim visitor contact station that will accommodate these functions until the new visitor center is constructed. To meet the park's immediate needs, a modular trailer from Shenandoah National Park will be relocated to Jamestown for use as a contact station and office space until plans and funding for the interim facility are finalized.
Assessment field teams continue to assist parks with condition assessments and input assessment data into the FMSS system.
There are 246 people currently assigned to this portion of the recovery efforts. The cost to date is $1,863,809.
Outer Banks Group
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse reopened to the public yesterday after a fourteen-day closure. Beach vehicle access ramp 44 near Cape Point reopened on Tuesday. Vehicles will now be able to reach Cape Point. South Beach will reopen as soon as beach cleanup is completed. Opening of park lands and facilities will be a phased operation. Areas will be open on a case-by-case basis, as safety and resource protection issues are resolved. Areas already reopened include:
- Whalebone Information Station
- Coquina Beach Public Use Facility
- Bodie Island Visitor Center
- Oregon Inlet Campground
- Oregon Inlet Fishing Center
- Ramp 27, Ramp 34 and the section of beach between them
- Haulover Day Use Area
- Hatteras Island Visitor Center
Shenandoah NP
An additional section of Skyline Drive and other facilities, closed due to Hurricane Isabel, were reopened yesterday. Skyline Drive is open from Front Royal at milepost 0 south to Swift Run Gap at milepost 65.5 — a section of the road that includes all of the North and Central Districts. The following facilities will reopen today:
- Mathews Arm Campground
- Lewis Mountain Campground
- Lewis Mountain Campstore and Cabins
- Elkwallow Wayside
- Lewis Mountain Picnic Area.
Facilities and areas already re-opened include:
- Byrd Visitor Center
- Dickey Ridge Visitor Center
- Big Meadows Campground
- Big Meadows Lodge
- Big Meadows Wayside
- Skyland Resort.
- Big Meadows
- Pinnacles
- Dickey Ridge
Skyline Drive in the South District, from Swift Run Gap at milepost 65.5 south to Rockfish Entrance Station at Waynesboro (milepost 105), remains closed. South River and Elkwallow picnic areas and all facilities at Loft Mountain remain closed due to hazardous trees. The remaining closed facilities will be reopened as conditions warrant. Park visitors are encouraged to call 540-999-3500 for additional information and updates regarding the status of the park or may check the park website at http://www.nps.gov/shen.
Additional Information
- NPS Interactive Map Center — Select maps of parks affected by the hurricane: http://maps2.itc.nps.gov/nps/parkatlas/jsp/atlas.jsp
- Hurricane Photo Gallery — Photos showing impacts of hurricane on parks and recovery efforts (available only within the NPS): http://inside.nps.gov/people/hurricane/
- NPS IMT Web Page — Home page for NPS incident management teams: http://www.nps.gov/fire/allrisk/
Reports compiled from submissions by Kris Fister, IO, Type 1 IMT;
Barb Stewart, IO, Type 2 IMT; Karl Merchant, Plans Chief, Type 2 IMT;
Dave Lattimore, Plans Chief, Type 1 IMT; Karen Beck-Herzog, PIO,
SHEN.
Mammoth Cave National Park (KY)
Follow-up on Aggravated Sexual Abuse Case
On August 10, 2002, rangers investigated a report that a 17-year-old
girl had been forced into performing oral sex on numerous male students
at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center, which is located within the park. A
total of twelve suspects were identified and arrested. On September
22nd, the last defendants were sentenced in this case. In return for
testifying against their co-defendants and to spare the victim the
trauma of recounting the incident at trial, all defendants pled guilty
to various related charges. The four juvenile males were sentenced to
three months incarceration each in a juvenile detention facility and
placed on probation until they are 18 years of age. T.L.,
J.S. (aka "R."), and E.Y. ( aka "E.") received
sentences of 27 months in jail. H.S. (aka "N.O.") was
sentenced to 30 months in prison, and H.A., the primary
suspect in the incident, was sentenced to 41 months incarceration.
Charges against two other students were dismissed when the investigation
revealed they were not involved. C.H. (aka "H.") violated
his probation prior to trial and fled the state to avoid prosecution. He
is believed to be in California and a warrant has been issued for his
arrest. The coordinated efforts by Mammoth Cave rangers, the U.S.
Attorney's Office, and the staff of the Great Onyx Job Corps were
instrumental in the successful prosecutions in this case. Law
enforcement specialist Brad McDougal was the lead investigator and case
agent.
[Submitted by Wayne Elliott, Chief Ranger]
Glacier National Park
Rescue of Injured NPS Employee
Late in the afternoon of Thursday, September 25th, park personnel
received word of an injury on the Triple Divide Pass Trail in the
Cutbank area. Long term seasonal ranger-naturalist Ginny West had been
hiking with her husband and another park employee when she was knocked
off her feet by a sudden gust of wind about a mile below Triple Divide
Pass. Sustained high winds were blowing along the east side the park all
day. According to witnesses, West fell approximately five feet, then
tumbled an additional five feet before coming to rest below the trail.
Attempts were made to have rescuers transported to the scene via
helicopter, but were unsuccessful due to the sustained high winds. They
were instead shuttled via helicopter to nearby Medicine Grizzly Lake
from St. Mary; a litter team also responded by foot from the Cutbank
Ranger Station. Rescue personnel were able to reach West around 7 p.m.
She was treated for injuries, raised to the trail and evacuated
approximately seven miles by wheeled litter to the ranger station.
Browning Ambulance transported West to Browning Hospital at
approximately 2 a.m.. The rescue involved 18 park employees. Assisting
were Minuteman Aviation of West Glacier and Browning Ambulance. Hudson
Bay DR Pat Suddath was IC.
[Submitted by Amy Vanderbilt, Public
Affairs Specialist]
Glacier National Park
Women Injured by Grizzly Bear
On the afternoon of September 27th, K.H., 48, of Bozeman,
and K.R.W., 20, of Browning, where hiking on a game trail
near the northwest face of Cataract Mountain when they encountered a
grizzly bear. According to the account they later provided to
investigating rangers, the women head a woof, followed by what sounded
like teeth gnashing. K.H. pulled out her bear spray and had it in
hand when she was hit from behind by the bear and pushed into a fir
tree. The bear then attacked K.R.W., pulling her to the ground and
biting her on the shoulder. When the bear turned on K.R.W.,
K.H. discharged her can of bear spray at the bear, which immediately
left the area. The entire incident lasted only 10 seconds or so. Both
women sustained puncture wounds, scratches, bruises and contusions.
K.H. also had a strained or sprained ankle. Despite their injuries,
they were able to hike unassisted for about six miles to the ranger
station at Many Glacier, where they were treated by a ranger-medic. They
were then taken to a hospital, treated and released. Both women are
experienced hikers. They said that they followed the bear precautions
recommended by the park; they believe that they may have inadvertently
awakened the bear, despite these precautions. Park managers believe that
the attack was consistent with a defensive response on the part of the
bear, rather than a predatory attack, so no wildlife management actions
are planned. Rangers have posted the Piegan Pass with bear notices and
closed the north side of the Piegan Pass to its junction with the
Grinnell Lake trail to all off-trail hiking.
[Submitted by Amy
Vanderbilt, Public Affairs Specialist]
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Marijuana Eradication Operations
Park rangers, assisted by a Tulare County Sheriff's Office deputy and
an INS special agent, eradicated 1, 027 marijuana plants from two
plantations in the park's Sequoia District on September 17th and 18th.
One site was located in the South Fork drainage of the Kaweah River near
the Garfield Trail. A cache of assorted equipment and clothing placed in
large military type ammo cans was found at the site. A solar panel,
measuring approximately 14 inches by 14 inches, was found near the
cache. Wire from the panel ran around the cache and back to solar panel,
and was presumably installed to keep animals away from the cache. A
second, similar solar panel was attached to a 30-gallon container with
an input water line attached to one end and a discharge line to the
other. A programmable timer was built into the water container. The
second cultivation site was located in the East Fork drainage of the
Kaweah River. The street value of the marijuana plants totaled over $4
million. No arrests were made. Rangers remain vigilant for additional
cultivation, as approximately two to three weeks still remain in the
marijuana harvest season.
[Submitted by Al DeLaCruz, Special
Agent]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Report - Wednesday, October 1, 2003
Preparedness Level 3
Initial attack was moderate in southern California on Tuesday, but light everywhere else. Eight-four new fires were reported, four of which became large fires.
A Type 1 team and three Type 2 teams are committed to Hurricane Isabel recovery operations in North Carolina and Virginia.
Fire Danger
|
Day |
9/23 |
9/24 |
9/25 |
9/28 |
9/29 |
9/30 |
10/1 |
|
Arizona |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
California |
VX |
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 |
VX |
|
Oklahoma |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
-- |
|
Oregon |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Utah |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Washington |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
|
Wyoming |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
-- |
VX = Very high to extreme danger
National Resource Commitments
|
Day |
9/23 |
9/24 |
9/25 |
9/28 |
9/29 |
9/30 |
10/1 |
|
Crews |
153 |
153 |
148 |
209 |
206 |
218 |
273 |
|
Engines |
226 |
299 |
274 |
339 |
338 |
353 |
363 |
|
Helicopters |
60 |
52 |
53 |
102 |
107 |
113 |
95 |
|
Air Tankers |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Overhead |
2,676 |
2,654 |
1,052 |
1,625 |
1,877 |
1,973 |
1,729 |
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 |
|
VA |
T1 |
Ferguson |
Hurricane Isabel |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Bateman |
Poplar Complex Grand Canyon NP |
7,654 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
NC |
T2 |
Collins/ Col. Holt/ Hendricks |
Hurricane Isabel |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
NC |
T2 |
Custer |
Hurricane Isabel |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
WA |
T2 |
Furlong |
Needles Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
19,220 |
40 |
UNK |
|
CA |
T2 |
Rios |
Kibbie Complex Yosemite NP |
9,230 |
88 |
10/2 |
|
CA |
T2 |
Walker |
Spanish Fire Mendocino NF |
2,000 |
30 |
UNK |
|
NC |
T2 |
Wathen/ Pearson |
Hurricane Isabel |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
WA |
ST |
Berndt/ Baarspul |
Crystal Creek Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
1,253 |
35 |
10/18 |
|
CA |
ST |
Hawkins |
Canoe/Honeydew Fire Humboldt-Del Norte RU |
21,917 |
85 |
10/6 |
|
WA |
ST |
Johnson/ Barnett |
Isabel Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
2,440 |
25 |
UNK |
|
CA |
FUM |
Bonefeld |
Homers Nose 2 Sequoia-Kings NP |
230 |
40 |
10/20 |
|
CA |
FUM |
Bonefeld |
Kaweah-Kern Complex Sequoia-Kings NP |
8,470 |
N/A |
N/A |
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Poplar Complex (Wildland Fire)
The Poplar Complex, consisting of the Poplar, Big, and Corral Fires, is being managed under a suppression strategy on Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim.
These fires are burning at various intensities, in a mixed conifer ecosystem, with heavy fuels on the ground and wind variations. Fire behavior primarily consists of low intensity surface flames, with some torching of single trees or groups of trees. (full report)
October 1, 2003: Weather conditions are expected to be favorable for fire suppression efforts today with cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Given these conditions and the current fire behavior, Highway 67 will reopen to all traffic early this afternoon.
Suppression efforts continue on the 7,180—acre Poplar Fire, as well as the 455-acre Big Fire today. The Corral Fire was fully contained at 19-acres on Monday. All three fires in the Poplar Complex had been managed under a Wildland Fire Use strategy, which allows some lightning-caused fires to burn for resource benefits. This strategy also calls for suppression actions to occur when resource management objectives are not being met.
Firefighters, along with engines and other suppression equipment will be present. Please drive cautiously and observe speed restrictions around the park entrance and other areas where fire traffic is present.
Status
October 1, 2003: All North Rim facilities are open for regular operating hours, including the lodge and dining facilities. The campground and the camper store are open.
Acreage: Poplar Fire: 1/Oct/03 = 7,180 acres; 30/Sep/03 = 6,855 acres; 29/Sep/03 = 3,065 acres; 28/Sep/03 = 1,730 acres; 26/Sep/03 = 1,121 acres; 16/Sep/03 = 15 acres
Estimated containment date: unknown[Submitted by Donna Nemeth, Donna_Nemeth@nps.gov, 928-638-7922]
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.