East Coast Areas
Update on Hurricane Isabel Recovery Operations
The following reports reflect the status of operations through late Thursday.
Type 1 Team (JD Swed)
Additional resources, including crews and heavy equipment such as mechanical chippers and front end loaders, are now in place in all field working groups, and progress is being made toward reopening additional areas of the affected parks. The seven saw crews at Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania NMP have opened up six miles of trails previously closed by fallen trees and cleaned up a large historic tree that fell in the Chatham Manor formal gardens. Crews at Petersburg NBP have finished clearing park tour roads; those in Richmond NBP began work in the Cold Harbor unit on Thursday. Crews have completely cleared the Jamestown Island loop drive and have begun work on clearing up the Glasshouse and the "New Towne" historic site. Assessment field teams continue to assist parks with condition assessments and input assessment data into the FMSS system.
The incident-ordered resources for the recovery effort include hotshot crews from Arizona, Utah, Virginia, Mississippi and Tennessee, and Type 2 crews from Idaho and Colorado. National Park Service resources have come from throughout the system. Seven state agencies and four federal agencies are amongst those contributing resources to the incident.
The FMSS team expects to have a complete package of hurricane damage condition assessments by Monday, October 6th.
Incident personnel at the Williamsburg base camp were treated to a performance of the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps during dinner Wednesday night. This elite group of young musicians perform in competitions and concerts all over the world. The competition to be part of the Corps is intense, and those selected begin training for the Corps at a very young age.
The National IMT will turn over the management of the recovery efforts to the Central IMT (Sherrie Collins, IC) on Monday, October 6th. The Eastern IMT with Rick Brown as IC will transition with another Eastern IMT (Bob Panko, IC) on Sunday, October 5th.
There are 347 people assigned to the recovery efforts being managed by the Type 1 team. The cost to date is $2,242,827.
Type 2 Team (Rick Brown)
More of Cape Hatteras National Seashore re-opened to the public yesterday, including the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (October 1st) and off-road vehicle Ramps #2 and #4. The beach between the ramps is open to vehicles, but sections north of #2 and south of #4 remain closed.
Much of Cape Lookout NS is open to pedestrians. For those looking for details, daily progress reports and photos, check out a new section of the park's website: www.nps.gov/calo/isabel.htm
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.
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (ND)
Retired Employee Charged with Theft of Government Property
Retired facility manager M.D. was charged with
misappropriation of government property on August 23rd. While serving a
warrant for the possession and manufacture of illegal drugs, the Mercer
County's sheriff contacted chief ranger John Moeykens and asked him to
assist with the search due to the obvious surplus of government
possessions readily visible on M.D.'s property. Numerous items from
the park were found, many of them in their original GSA packages with
the park's identifying labels still intact. A pickup truck load of
park-related items was seized as evidence. Moeykens and district ranger
Dean Wyckoff from Theodore Roosevelt NP interviewed M.D.; further
investigation revealed that the items had been removed from the park for
many years during his tenure as a park employee.
[Submitted by John
Moeykens, Chief Ranger]
Canaveral National Seashore (FL)
Special Operation Focuses on Lewd Activities
Rangers in the park's north and south districts conducted a special
operation this past spring and summer to detect and reduce lewd and
lascivious behavior — an ongoing problem in the park. To date, they
have cited 103 people for disorderly conduct for public sex acts and
obscene and lewd behavior. This is more than double the number of
citations issued in a comparable period last year. Several registered
sex offenders were identified, contacted and cited. Rangers have
notified appropriate jurisdictions to report probation violations of
registered sex offenders. The majority of these violations have occurred
in areas of the beach where nudists congregate.
[Submitted by Eric
Lugo, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Natchez Trace Parkway (AL,MS,TN)
Auto Accident with Fatality
In the early morning hours of September 22nd, a 1993 Cadillac El
Dorado was heading northbound on the parkway near mile marker 263 when
the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a bridge that spanned an
agricultural underpass. The Cadillac then flipped over and landed upside
down below the bridge. D.D., 37, of Pontotoc, Mississippi, was
declared dead at the scene. A rainstorm passing through the area at the
time may have contributed to the accident.
[Submitted by Jackie
Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Summary - Thursday, October 2, 2003
Preparedness Level 3
Initial attack was moderate in northern California on Wednesday and light elsewhere. Ninety new fires were reported, two of which became large fires. Another four large fires were contained.
The three Type 2 teams assigned to the hurricane recovery operation in North Carolina have been demobed.
Fire Danger
|
Day |
9/24 |
9/25 |
9/28 |
9/29 |
9/30 |
10/1 |
10/2 |
|
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 |
VX |
|
Wyoming |
VX |
VX |
VX |
VX |
-- |
-- |
-- |
VX = Very high to extreme danger
National Resource Commitments
|
Day |
9/24 |
9/25 |
9/28 |
9/29 |
9/30 |
10/1 |
10/2 |
|
Crews |
153 |
148 |
209 |
206 |
218 |
273 |
237 |
|
Engines |
299 |
274 |
339 |
338 |
353 |
363 |
415 |
|
Helicopters |
52 |
53 |
102 |
107 |
113 |
95 |
103 |
|
Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
|
Overhead |
2,654 |
1,052 |
1,625 |
1,877 |
1,973 |
1,729 |
1,764 |
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 |
7,660 |
5 |
12/1 |
|
WA |
T2 |
Furlong |
Needles Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
19,300 |
43 |
UNK |
|
CA |
T2 |
Rios |
Kibbie Complex Yosemite NP |
10,100 |
95 |
10/2 |
|
CA |
T2 |
Walker |
Spanish Fire Mendocino NF |
4,610 |
40 |
UNK |
|
WA |
ST |
Berndt/ Baarspul |
Crystal Creek Fire Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
1,300 |
35 |
UNK |
|
CA |
ST |
Hawkins |
Canoe/Honeydew Fire Humboldt-Del Norte RU |
22,114 |
96 |
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 |
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)
We expect little fire spread for the rest of the week due to lower temperatures, higher relative humidity and expected rain. Rain showers are predicted from Thursday through Sunday. The heavy fuels will continue to burnout within the fire perimeter. Thunderstorm activity is expected Thursday with possible high winds. This could create hazardous conditions within the fire perimeter due to falling snags. Given these conditions, firefighter and public safety remains a high priority. Both the Big and Corral Fires have been contained. Mop up work will continue today. On the Poplar Fire, helicopters will continue to be used to suppress burning and torching of unburned fuel near the southern portion of the fire.
Status
October 2, 2003: Visitor access to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reopened Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. due to reduced fire activity from favorable weather conditions. All North Rim services are open, including lodge, dining facilities, campground and associated operations.
Acreage: Poplar Fire: 2/Oct/03 = 7,186; 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
Resources Committed: Currently 158 personnel are committed to the fires including two crews, six helicopters, six engines, two dozers and six water tenders.
Estimated containment date: unknown[Submitted by Donna Nemeth, Donna_Nemeth@nps.gov, 928-638-7922]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Retired Ranger Jack Fields Passes Away
Retired ranger Jack Fields passed away on September 26th at the age of 74. Jack started his career at Bandelier in 1961 as a seasonal ranger and subsequently worked, among other jobs, as a district ranger during summer months at the North Rim at Grand Canyon, as a patrol ranger and liaison to the Supi during winter months, andd as a unit manager at Scotty's Castle in Death Valley. Services were held on October 1st at Palm Mortuary in Henderson, Nevada. He will be buried this afternoon in Grand Canyon cemetery. Jack is survived by his widow, Esy, son, Jack Hamblin Fields, Jr., his daughter Beth, and five grandchildren. Cards and letters should be sent to Esy Fields, 41 Bay Ridge Road, Henderson, NV 89074 (702-492-6363]. Dale Antonich, chief ranger at Lake Mead, offered this remembrance of Jack: "Jack was a true ranger's ranger. During all the years he worked in the National Park Service, he was always working toward improving the seasonal ranger program. Jack always felt that the better he trained the seasonal, the better off we all would be in the future. He use to say 'Someday I will be working for you' and that's why he put so much effort into the seasonal program. A ranger at heart Jack loved every aspect of what a ranger stood for. From law enforcement, wildland fire, structural fire, emergency medical, search and rescue and interpretation to maintenance work, it did not matter to Jack. No matter what division you worked for, you were the same in his eyes and he wanted everyone to be the best they could. He was a cowboy at heart, loved horses, and yet loved to work outlaw motorcycle gangs. He developed much rapport with the various gangs that visited the national park lands and learned how to get along and make the two worlds blend yet hold true to the law all the time. He was a leader and pioneer in the NPS for all he did from working at Scotties Castle, teaching seasonals, to mentoring many rangers into career paths that lead our organization today. We all are at much of a loss to lose the man who called us all 'partner,' said 'Howdy' to everyone, smiled, and was the most polite and gentleman anyone could ever met. The world was a far better off place and I know the NPS was for having had Jack Fields being a part of it."
[Submitted by Dale Antonich, Chief Ranger]
Mammoth Cave National Park (KY)
Lateral GS-9 Protection Ranger Position
The park is seeking qualified candidates interested in a lateral reassignment into a full performance GS-025-09 law enforcement park ranger position. The vacancy announcement number is MACA-03-011; it opened on September 29th and closes on October 15th. This is a required occupancy position with a take-home patrol vehicle provided. The park has a very proactive law enforcement and emergency service operation that provides rangers with exposure to all types of crimes and resource violations. Rangers manage and investigate the majority of the Part I offenses occurring within the park under the direction of the law enforcement specialist. Qualified candidates will gain extensive exposure into investigatory techniques and case preparation. The park also has a very active emergency medical and search and rescue (cave/surface/river) program, and a prescribed fire management program that LEES rangers participate in. The person selected for this position may be nominated to FLETC for consideration as a field training ranger (FTR). FTR positions may receive administratively uncontrollable overtime (AOU) for their participation in the program. For more information on joining this highly motivated team of law enforcement and emergency service professionals, call chief ranger Wayne Elliott at 270-758-2116.
[Submitted by Wayne Elliott, Chief Ranger]
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.