Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
East Entrance Road to Open Tomorrow
The East Entrance road in Yellowstone National Park is slated to
reopen to through travel at 8 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, July
24th. It has been temporarily closed since last Sunday, when heavy rains
caused several mudslides to cover the road. Most of the 30,000 tons of
mud, rock and debris that have covered a section of the road east of
Sylvan Pass have been removed. Crews plan to finish clearing the road of
debris today and install jersey barriers along hazardous areas where
guardrails and portions of the roadbed were washed away. Both lanes are
expected to be open to traffic Saturday morning. However, travelers
should be aware they might encounter flaggers and short delays if
limited sections of the road are restricted to one-way traffic. A
construction project to rebuild the road east of Sylvan Pass was all set
to get underway before the mudslides and temporary closure. The delayed
road project will start on July 25th. During construction, the road
between the East Entrance Station and Sylvan Lake will be open from 8
a.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with up to half-hour
construction delays. This section of road will be closed Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.the following morning.
There will be around the clock access through the East Entrance without
closures or delays each weekend from 8 a.m.Thursday until 8 p.m.Sunday
evening. Several visitors were trapped in their cars last Sunday
night until rescued by park rangers. The Cowboy Branch of the Wyoming
Red Cross (Worland, Wyoming), Pahaska Tepee, North Fork ranches, Park
County Search and Rescue (Cody, Wyoming) and several local families were
instrumental in rescue efforts and the care of the victims trapped in
Sunday's slides. Employees of the Federal Highway Administration, HK
Contractors, Inc., Tetra Tech, Inc., and the Montana National Guard
joined park staff in the massive cleanup effort.
[Submitted by Al
Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
Mammoth Cave National Park (KY)
Storm Damage and Recovery Efforts
The park continues its efforts to recover from massive storm damage
inflicted when a severe thunderstorm with hurricane-force winds passed
through the park on the evening of Tuesday, July 13th. The park was
without power until mid-day on Thursday, July 15th. Numerous trees were
uprooted and limbs and debris scattered throughout the park, forcing the
closure of park roads and trails. Several buildings were damaged by
downed trees. Due to the widespread impacts of the storm in much of
Kentucky and Tennessee, the park is having difficulty obtaining the
services of a tree contractor to assist with the cleanup effort.
As of Monday, July 19th, all major roads had been reopened. The removal
of debris from roadways and trails will begin as soon as a tree
contractor can be located. A survey of the 80 miles of backcountry
trails revealed that there are approximately 250 to 300 trees down
across trails. The Green River Bluffs frontcountry trail will be closed
for the foreseeable future due to the massive number of uprooted and
downed trees in that area of the park. The elevator that is used to
transport handicapped visitors on cave tours and freight to the Snowball
Dining Room was damaged by lightning and repair may take several weeks.
Two transformers were destroyed that supply electricity to restrooms and
lights on the historic cave tour. Temporary repairs will be made to
restore power to this section of cave sometime this week. Cleanup and
repairs will be ongoing within the coming weeks. Damage from this storm
in larger communities including Louisville, Kentucky, was widely
reported by the national news media.
[Submitted by Steve Kovar, Chief
of Facilities Management]
Joshua Tree National Park (CA)
Investigation and Search Continue for Missing Teen
The search for E.S., 17, of Carlsbad, California, continues, as
does a parallel investigation into possible criminal activity. During
the search, which began last week, information was gathered through
interviews with park visitors that suggested the possibility of foul
play in his disappearance. The Riverside Sheriff's Department's homicide
unit accordingly entered the investigation (80% of the park is in that
county). The Jumbo Rock area was again searched on Tuesday, but no sign
of E.S. was found. The search was therefore scaled back on Wednesday.
Rangers are continuing their patrol and monitoring of other search
areas. New information is being posted on the sheriff's department's web
site (http://www.
riversidesheriff.org/press/index.html) as it becomes
available.
[Submitted by Joe Zarki, Public Information Officer]
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Investigation into Death of "John Doe"
On June 13th, rangers on motorcycle patrol in the Gypsum Wash area
contacted visitors who were riding their ATV's off road. During the
contact, the visitors reported finding a body near the shore of the
lake. Law enforcement personnel responded and recovered the remains. The
area was searched by foot and aircraft, but no further evidence was
found. His identity could not immediately be established; the evidence
regarding cause of death was inconclusive. Investigators were finally
able to establish his identity by fingerprint comparison in early July
and found that he was K.D., 27, of Lincoln, Nebraska. K.D. had
been entered into NCIC as a missing person on May 20th. He was listed as
depressed and had made comments about committing suicide by alcohol
overdose. On May 16th, he had been arrested for his third DUI, posted
bail, took out $2,500 in cash, left his cell phone behind, and
disappeared. The only indicator of intent was discovered on June 27th.
On the back of a poster in his room was written "It's all for the best."
His vehicle was later found in Las Vegas. The investigation
continues.
[Submitted by From reports by Talmadge Magno and Paul
Crawford]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Concessioner Arrested for Drug Possession
Two Delaware North employees came to the Canyon Ranger Station on July 7th to report smelling marijuana at a particular location in their dormitory the previous evening. Ranger Amy Fink, assigned to the park as an FTEP training ranger, took the report and conducted an investigation with her field training ranger, Matt Vandzura. They contacted the suspect in his room the following day. Fink obtained written consent to search the room and found and seized a quarter-pound of marijuana. The resident, a 50-year-old Delaware North employee, was arrested and charged with possession. He appeared before the magistrate and was released on a $5,000 bond pending trial or plea agreement.
[Submitted by Brian Smith]
Grand Teton National Park (WY)
Fatal Motorcycle Accident
On the afternoon of July 8th, rangers responded to a motorcycle
accident a mile south of the Triangle X Dude Ranch on Highway 89.
C."C."F., 51, of Lowell, Oregon, was heading north
when he lost control and laid the bike down on the roadway. Teton
Interagency Dispatch received a cell phone call from a passing motorist
who came upon the accident scene shortly after it happened and rangers
immediately responded. Although C.F. was alert when rangers first
arrived, his condition deteriorated while he was being transported to
St. John's Medical Center and park emergency medical technicians had to
begin CPR while en route. Medical personnel continued CPR at the
hospital until C.F. was pronounced dead. At the time of the
accident, C.F. and companions K.P., 61, and R.L., 59,
were traveling together on separate motorcycles on their way to tour
Yellowstone National Park. For reasons not yet known, C.F. tipped
his bike sideways while trying to avoid a car which was parked along the
roadway. His motorcycle skidded toward the car while he was thrown from
his bike and tumbled on the asphalt. Park rangers closed Highway 89 for
approximately 15 minutes and resumed one-way traffic for three hours
until an investigation could be completed and wreckage
removed.
[Submitted by Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs
Specialist]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Situation Highlights — Friday, July 23, 2004
Preparedness Level 3
Initial attack was moderate in northern California on Thursday and light elsewhere. There were 185 newly-reported fires. Five became large fires; one large fire was contained.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Weather Forecast
A much drier air mass will continue to dominate western weather today, decreasing thunderstorm activity and lowering humidity values. The exception will continue to be across the Rocky Mountain Area, New Mexico and northern Utah where residual moisture will lead to isolated thunderstorms. In Alaska, scattered thunderstorms will be a threat once again as low pressure south of the Kenai Peninsula rotates moisture into east-central sections of the state.
Warnings and Watches
No warnings or watches have been issued for today.
NPS Fires
For a brief supplemental narrative on each fire, click on the bar with the arrow. Internal NPS readers can link directly to full reports on each fire by clicking on the notepad icon; public readers of the Morning Report can obtain similar information by going to http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
{||inc|http://data2.itc.nps.gov/fire/includes/bill_table.cfm||}
National/State Team Commitments
Newly listed fires (on this report) appear below in boldface. Changes in the status of a fire (type of team, change from a fire to a complex, etc.) are also noted 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 |
Agency |
Team |
IC |
Fire and Location |
7/22 |
7/23 |
% Con |
Est Con |
|
AK |
State |
1 |
Anderson |
Boundary Fire, Fairbanks Area |
485,600 |
491,800 |
20 |
UNK |
|
WA |
USFS |
1 |
Bennett |
Icicle Fire, Okanogan/Wenatchee NF |
778 |
778 |
70 |
7/25 |
|
CA |
USFS |
1 |
Cable |
Crown Complex, Angeles NF |
14,958 |
17,876 |
80 |
7/23 |
|
AK |
State |
2 |
Bateman |
Taylor Complex, Tok Area Forestry |
460,806 |
NR |
0 |
8/3 |
|
AK |
BLM |
2 |
Carlson |
Eagle Complex, Upper Yukon Zone |
614,974 |
614,974 |
NR |
UNK |
|
AK |
BLM |
2 |
Furlong/ Gormley |
Central Complex, Upper Yukon Zone |
222,900 |
242,900 |
0 |
UNK |
|
AK |
State |
2 |
Goheen |
Chicken Fire, Tok Area Forestry |
392,352 |
256,020 |
NR |
UNK |
|
WA |
USFS |
2 |
Johnson * |
Pot Peak Fire, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF |
11,850 |
12,030 |
68 |
UNK |
|
CA |
NPS |
FU |
Cook |
Meadow Complex, Yosemite NP |
4,308 |
4,308 |
N/A |
11/1 |
* Washington Interagency IMT
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
Sat |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
|
Date |
7/17 |
7/18 |
7/19 |
7/20 |
7/21 |
7/22 |
7/23 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
|
Crews |
257 |
284 |
301 |
273 |
261 |
257 |
230 |
|
Engines |
609 |
644 |
653 |
482 |
481 |
587 |
384 |
|
Helicopters |
115 |
124 |
125 |
109 |
98 |
91 |
82 |
|
Air Tankers |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
2,221 |
2,237 |
2,234 |
2,495 |
2,506 |
2,134 |
1,734 |
Further Information
This report is meant to present just highlights of the current fire situation. Two other NIFC sites provide much greater detail:
Full NIFC Situation Report (PDF file) — http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf
National Fire News — http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
Information on NPS Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) and on park fires can be found at:
FAM — http://www.nps.gov/fire
Park fires — http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Saratoga National Historical Park (NY)
Passing of Cathy Glynn
Cathy M. Glynn, 57, of Hearthwood Dr., died peacefully with loved ones at her side on July 20th after a brief illness. Cathy was born in New York City. She graduated in 1965 from Mother Cabrini High School. Cathy attended classes at Mount St. Vincent College in Riverdale and Manhattan College, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1969 psychology from Mount St. Vincent College. She married Allan Glynn on June 21, 1970. For about five years, Cathy was a peer counselor coordinator for the Center for Independence in Albany. She was a National Park Service ranger at Saratoga National Historical Park; she was a member of Worldwide Marriage Encounter; a communicant, lector and CCD instructor for Corpus Christi Church. Cathy spent time in Oklahoma after her husband's military experience in Viet Nam. She lived on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon with her daughter and husband while he was a park ranger there. They also lived on Liberty Island for five years. Cathy was a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities, and was also a housewife and homemaker. Cathy is survived by her beloved husband Allan Glynn; her cherished daughter, Erin Glynn of Albany; and a devoted sister, Jacquelyn Birch of Niskayuna. Cathy was predeceased by her parents, John and Catherine Wolf and her brother, Robert A. Wolf. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m.on Friday, July 23, 2004 at Corpus Christi Church, Route 9, Ushers. Interment will follow at the Gerald B.H. Solomon National Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 22 at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd., East Glenville. Memorial contributions may be made to Fr. Joseph Girzone, the Joshua Foundation, 1071 Joshua Lane, Altamont, NY
[Submitted by Albany Times Union]
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.