Steamtown National Historic Site (PA)
Low-Speed Train Derailment
At 1:15 p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, October 25th, a rail
excursion that originated at Steamtown NHS derailed near Point of Gap
within Delaware Water Gap NRA. This was a low-speed derailment that
occurred while the train was negotiating a curve; a coal tender and six
passenger cars were involved. More than 300 passengers were on the
excursion, but many had already disembarked during a previous stop in
the nearby town of East Stroudsburg to join in activities scheduled by
the community to coincide with the event. Of the 228 passengers who
remained on board for the trip to Slateford (an area where switching
operations were to be conducted to ready the train for the return trip
to Steamtown), none sustained any injuries. Although the train was
scheduled to return to Steamtown by 5:45 p.m., a delay of approximately
four hours occurred while awaiting the arrival of alternate motive
power. Through coordination with the Delaware Lackawanna Railroad
Company, a diesel locomotive was dispatched with three additional
coaches in tow. After stopping in East Stroudsburg to board the
remaining passengers, the train continued to Point of Gap, arriving
there at approximately 7 p.m. The three coaches that had not derailed
were coupled to it and it returned to Steamtown, arriving just before 10
p.m. This excursion was one of three special trips conducted between
Steamtown and Delaware Water Gap during the 2003 season. Introduced over
the Labor Day Weekend to celebrate the physical and thematic linkages
between Pennsylvania's national parks, the first Pocono region excursion
carried 650 passengers to Point of Gap for a special commemorative
ceremony. On Saturday, October 11th, a second excursion traveled along
the same route, by way of East Stroudsburg to Slateford, with nearly 300
passengers on board.
[Submitted by Ralph Coury, Public Affairs]
Oregon Caves National Monument (OR)
Drive-By Shooting
Two people were fired on and their parked car was struck at the
Illinois Valley Visitor Center in Cave Junction on October 22nd. No one
was injured. Two men in a blue, 1984 Pontiac drove toward the victims,
who were on foot, and fired several shots from a sawed-off shotgun. The
victims fled and another shot was fired into the side of their vehicle.
Initial investigation by the Josephine County Sheriff's Department
revealed that incident stemmed from a verbal disagreement earlier in the
day. The sheriff's department has arrested 18-year-old J.S.,
the driver of the vehicle, and charged him with conspiracy to commit
murder. His companion, A.R.G., 21, is still at large and is
considered armed and dangerous. The visitor center is situated on four
acres of park land located within the town of Cave Junction.
[Submitted by Craig Ackerman, Superintendent]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Rescue at Cascade Falls
B.B., 26, of Durham, North Carolina, fell about 100 feet off
the falls on October 25th and sustained multiple injuries. A technical
evacuation and medical air transport were required. The case ranger was
Ted Morlock.
[Submitted by John Garrison, Staff Ranger]
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (CA)
Body Found Near Shasta Divide Access Road
Park firefighters and CCC crew members discovered the body of a man
near the Shasta Divide access road on the afternoon of October 21st. A
pistol was found beside his body. County detectives are investigating
along with the park's special agent.
[Submitted by Steve Prokop,
Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (CA)
Simi fire (Wildland Fire)
This fire continues to threaten thousands of homes west of Los Angeles in Ventura County, one of many burning in the region. Media interest is very high, as this fire offers a potential to directly impact Los Angeles itself. (full report)
Current threat to park resources is minimal; shifting winds have caused the fire to move east into the City of Los Angeles. Media interest remains high; Governor Davis visited ICP this morning; at least one network news anchor is in town.
Status
Current threat to park resources is minimal. Cheeseboro Canyon has reopened to the public as a precaution. Patrols are ongoing.
Acreage: 92,000
Resources Committed: 1074 total personnel: 9 crews, 210 engines and six helicopters. Hand crews are a critical shortage.
Estimated containment date: 10/29/2003[Submitted by Marty O'Toole, marty_o'toole@nps.gov, 805-370-2364]
Redwood National and State Parks (CA)
Xowannutuk ("Tuk") Fire (Wildland Fire)
The Xowannutuk prescribed fire was set on October 21st in the Bald Hills area in one of the parks' only old-growth redwood units. With a significant weather change overnight on October 25th, it crossed its boundaries into second-growth Douglas-fir forest and is being suppressed. The parks' program of prescribed burning in this area has an excellent record of containment and resource benefits to natural prairies. (full report)
Status
Trail closures are in effect in the Redwood Creek drainage. Backcountry camping is also temporarily prohibited due to extreme fire danger.
Acreage: The fire is approximately 120 acres, grown from a 10-acre prescribed fire unit set on October 21st.
Resources Committed: Approximately 200 personnel.
Estimated containment date: UNK[Submitted by Fire Information Office, 707-464-6101, extension 5058 or 5263]
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.