Big Bend National Park (TX)
Hiker Dies on Grapevine Hills Trail
On Thursday, May 20th, park searchers, aided by a Border Patrol
helicopter, found the body of a 42-year-old New York man who became lost
on a day hike the previous day. Another hiker reported seeing the
man around 11 a.m.on Wednesday on the Grapevine Hills trail. When the
hiker returned to his car at 4 p.m., he noted that the other hiker's
vehicle was still at the trailhead. He reported this fact to rangers,
noting that the man had no pack, water or hat on a day when temperatures
hovered near 100 degrees. Several hasty teams aided by a Border Patrol
tracker searched until dark, following an intermittent track. Terrain
and darkness halted their efforts, which resumed the next morning.
Searchers picked up tracks near the last known point shortly after
sunup. An observer in the helicopter spotted the body of the hiker
as the helicopter flew ahead of searchers who were on the
track trail. It appears that dehydration and heat were the cause of
death. Ranger Kathy Hambly was IC.
[Submitted by Mark Spier,
Chief Ranger]
New River Gorge National River (WV)
Falling Fatality
An apparent fall from an abandoned railroad bridge on Friday resulted
in the death of Matthew Hunley, 20, of Oak Hill, West Virginia. Around
1 a.m. on Saturday morning, Fayette County
911 received a report that Hunley was missing from a group of people who
were camping and fishing near the New River downstream from the Cunard
River access. A search was launched and Hunley's body was found in a
stream below the bridge and near the campsite. It appears that he fell
from the bridge. Assisting in the recovery and removal of the body were
members of the Fayette County Rope Rescue Team. An investigation is
being conducted by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department and the park.
NPS SA Chris Schrader is the lead for the park.
[Submitted by Gary
Hartley, Chief Ranger, and William R. Laird, Sheriff, Fayette County
Sheriff's Department]
Little River Canyon National Preserve (AL)
Drowning in Canyon Mouth Day Use Area
On the evening of May 14th, ranger David Walker was contacted by a
visitor at the Canyon Mouth day use area who said that his 18-year-old
companion had disappeared while swimming and hadn't been seen for 20 to
30 minutes. J.W. was swimming through the shoals area when
he was last seen. Walker and resource management specialist Mary Shew
began a search of the area, including the trail along the river.
Cherokee County Rescue and Cherokee EMS responded, as did ranger Jimmy
Dunn and NPS paramedic Valerie Saferite. The rescue squad began dragging
the river and recovered J.W.'s body about 50 yards below the
shoals area in four feet of water. Walker served as IC.
[Submitted by
Valerie Saferite, EMS Coordinator]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report Highlights — Monday, May 24, 2004
Preparedness Level 1
Only 56 new fires were reported yesterday.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
Warnings and Watches
A RED FLAG WARNING has been posted today for strong southwest winds and low humidity in most of northern New Mexico.
FIRE WEATHER WATCHES have been issued today for strong southwest winds and low humidity for northeast and east-central Arizona and most of southern New Mexico.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Mon |
|
Date |
5/18 |
5/19 |
5/20 |
5/21 |
5/22 |
5/23 |
5/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crews |
13 |
22 |
21 |
22 |
40 |
51 |
42 |
|
Engines |
35 |
44 |
25 |
24 |
62 |
70 |
68 |
|
Helicopters |
12 |
14 |
10 |
6 |
7 |
16 |
16 |
|
Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
65 |
109 |
39 |
57 |
129 |
175 |
352 |
National Team Commitments
Newly listed fires (on this report) appear below in boldface. Fires are sorted by type of team; teams are listed in alphabetical order within each type by the IC's last name.
|
State |
Type |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres |
Acres |
Percent |
Est Full |
|
| |||||||
|
AZ |
T2 |
Kvale |
KP Fire |
1,900 |
6,642 |
15 |
UNK |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Kvale |
Rose Fire |
1,200 |
780 |
95 |
5/24 |
|
AZ |
T2 |
Kvale |
Pigeon Fire |
350 |
5,558 |
100 |
CND |
|
NM |
T2 |
Winchester |
Lookout Fire |
--- |
4,600 |
40 |
5/28 |
Everglades National Park (FL)
Blocks J & H Fire (Wildland Fire,Prescribed Fire Treatment)
The pine rockland savannahs of Everglades National Park represent the remaining intact fragment of a pine stand that used to extend from the Everglades nearly to Ft. Lauderdale. These pines, a variety of which occurs virtually nowhere else but the Everglades, require frequent fire. This burn was conducted to maintain the natural frequent fire regime that is required for the survival of this unique habitat.
Up until May 14, the prescribed fire was considered successful in meeting management objectives. However a persistent pattern of extremely dry weather entrenched over South Florida caused the fire indices to drop below acceptable levels.
When the soil moisture of the hardwood hammocks is above 82%, as it was at the time of ignition, fire will not carry through the hammocks. Fires normally burn up to the fringe of the hammocks, but moist soils prevent fire from creeping through the understory vegetation.
Weather conditions led to a reduction of the moisture levels in the hammocks and caused the fire to fall out of prescription. On May 14, the fire was observed creeping into several large tropical hardwood hammocks in Block H & J that house multiple threatened and endangered plants and animals. Fire prescription and implementation were both designed to exclude fire from penetrating sensitive hardwood hammocks that grow in the interior of the fire perimeter. As a result, the incident shifted from a prescribed burn to a suppression effort on May 14. (full report)
Continued progress in eliminating fire from hammocks.
Status: Pineland fire roads adjacent to the burn are currently closed since they represented holding lines. Engines are identifying and mitigating hazard snags, and it is expected trails will re-open upon control.
Acreage: May 4: 205 acres, May 5: 800 acres (2 day total) May 6: 1000 acres (3 day total, May 23, 1,450 acres (20 day total)
Resources Committed: Current resources include one Type 3 engine, one Type 5 engine, four Type 6 engines, a hotshot crew, a squad of firefighters, two light helicopters, a single-engine air tanker, and two task force leaders. The Type 3 Incident Management Team managing this fire is also managing expanded staffing for initial attack.
Estimated containment date: May 31, 2004[Submitted by Michelle Fidler, Fire Information Officer, Michelle_Fidler@nps.gov, 305-242-7898]
Bryce Canyon National Park (UT)
Paria Prescribed Fire (Prescribed Fire Treatment)
The initial phase of the Paria Prescribed Fire in Bryce Canyon National Park began today (Wednesday, May 19, 2004) with a 25-acre blacklining operation on the northeastern boundary of the unit. This is a second entry fire for the 1000-acre unit. The project is expected to last a few more days until complete. (full report)
The ignition phase of the operation was successfully completed yesterday. Mopping up of a portion of the unit along the park road and continued monitoring will occur throughout the day.
Status: Trails, viewpoints, and roads in the vicinity of the burn unit are temporarily closed for visitor safety, but are planned to be opened by noon today.
Acreage: 1000+ acres have been burned
Resources Committed: A twenty-person hotshot crew, two engines (plus crew), one water tender and 1 helicopter.
Estimated containment date: May 22, 2004[Submitted by David Eaker, Bruce Fields, bruce_fields@nps.gov, 435-834-4912]
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Quail Flat Prescribed Fire (Prescribed Fire Treatment)
The objective of this burn is to reduce fuels along the park road and restore healthy forest conditions. While normally under snow at this time of year, this burn unit is already within "prescription" due to warm spring temperatures. Now that ignitions are complete, the fire will continue to smolder over the next week. (full report)
Acreage: 110 acres
Estimated containment date: Ignitions complete on May 21, 2004[Submitted by Jody Lyle, jody_lyle@nps.gov, (559) 565-3703]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
NPS Office at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Ranger Honor Guard Participates in Police Week 2004
National Police Week, which this week occurred from May 12th to the 17th, is a week dedicated to honoring officers who have died in the line of duty from law enforcement agencies around the country.
The names of 362 fallen officers were officially added to the memorial on Thursday, May 13th, during the 16th annual candlelight vigil ceremony. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. Approximately 20,000 people attended the event to pay tribute to these officers and those who have gone before them.
A four-person detail from the NPS Ranger Honor Guard attended Police Week this year, and took part in the various events and ceremonies that occurred throughout the week. In attendance were James Barnes (Lake Mead), Chris Figge (Ozark), Gabriel Bell (Indiana Dunes) and Lena Boesser-Koschmann (Lake Mead). Their official duties included guarding the memorial wreath, posting guard during the survivor's vigil, taking part in the candlelight vigil, and holding the Department of Interior Flag during the National Peace Officer's Memorial Services. In addition, team leader Dana Condron (Assateague Island) and team member Marty Huseman (Lake Roosevelt) participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the DOI building.
The National Park Service added two names to the wall this year: Duane P. McLure, a ranger who died in Yellowstone in 1980; and William J. Grissam, a Park Police officer who died in 1932. McClure's two brothers were in attendance at Police Week, in addition to Bob and Bonnie Eggle, and Lucy O'Hara and her three children.
The honor guard was proud to represent the National Park Services at these events, and to honor not only the fallen NPS officers, but also every other officer on the memorial wall who has made the ultimate sacrifice.[Submitted by Lena Boesser-Koschmann, lena_boesser-koschmann@nps.gov, 702-293-8720] More Information...
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.