Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Falling Fatality
Dispatch received a report of a visitor fall in the Redwall Bridge
area along the North Kaibab trail on September 18th. Park rescue
personnel flew to the site, anticipating a short-haul rescue based on
the initial information received on the accident. While conducting a
recon of the area, located below the Needle's Eye, the helicopter flew
into dangerous winds in the narrow canyon and the crew aborted the
mission for safety reasons. They were able to confirm that the hiker had
died in the fall, though, based on the fall distance (about 500 feet)
and the lack of signs of life. They also determined that the terrain
— a very steep slope with large loose rocks — and incoming
severe weather created an excessively hazardous environment for
rescuers. Unfavorable weather delayed the recovery operation for several
days. On September 21st, a recovery team was lowered to the site by
helicopter short-haul. Team members conducted an investigation and
extricated the body. The victim was identified as Marlin Lindquist, 70,
who was on a rim-to-rim backpacking trip with his wife when the accident
occurred. Members of the recovery and investigation team were rangers
Marc Yeston and Greg Moore; Paul Ross was the spotter and Mike
Brinkworth the pilot.
[Submitted by Hunter Bailey, IC]
Boston National Historical Park (MA)
Multiple Weapons Seized at Checkpoint
A ranger working at the park's security/weapons checkpoint this week
discovered numerous weapons while conducting a search of a vehicle
operated by an Arizona resident. During the search, three loaded
handguns, a .40 Glock, .38 S&W revolver and a .22 derringer were
discovered, along with additional ammunition, concealment holsters,
pepper spray, assorted knives and an ASP baton. The man was arrested and
charged with numerous weapons violations.
[Submitted by
Suzanne Smith]
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
Cause of July Death Released by Coroner
On Friday July 23rd, ranger Brian Rutledge checked out a report of a
man "passed out" in a picnic area restroom. Rutledge found a 45-year old
man lying on the restroom floor; he was conscious, but appeared
agitated, disoriented and extremely intoxicated. Evidence at the
scene indicated he'd consumed numerous cans of beer and unknown portions
of a bag of hand sanitizer gel (containing isopropyl alcohol) which had
been removed from the restroom's hand-washing station. An ambulance was
quickly summoned and the man was transported to a local hospital in
Tucson, where he died the next day. An autopsy was performed on July
25th, the results of which were made available on September 27th. The
coroner's report cited complications of hyperthermia with acute and
chronic ethanol abuse as the cause of death, with hypertensive
cardiovascular disease and emphysema as contributory conditions. The
Pima County Sheriffs Department and the Pima County Medical Examiner's
Office conducted the death investigation.
[Submitted by Bob Love,
Chief Ranger]
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Accident with Two Fatalities
A two-vehicle accident in the park on Sunday, September 27th,
resulted in the deaths of visitors J.H. and C.H., both 53, of
Buford, Georgia, who were traveling along the Foothills Parkway about
five miles west of its intersection with U.S. Route 321. Preliminary
indications are that a 1993 Nissan Quest Minivan driven by 42-year-old
J.J. of Maryville, Tennessee, drifted across the centerline
while traveling east, hitting the couple's 1999 Gold Wing motorcycle car
in a head-on collision. J.J. and a 17-year-old passenger in the van
were taken to a hospital for treatment. The investigation is being
conducted by rangers with assistance from a Blount County traffic
reconstruction team. The case ranger is Richard Aldridge.
[Submitted
by Chief Ranger's Office]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Situation Highlights — Friday, October 1, 2004
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
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National Situation Report
The full NIFC Incident Management Situation Report for today can be obtained at http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf. NIFC's national fire news is at http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Director/Deputy Directors
Continuing Resolution Signed
It is not likely that the DOI appropriations bill will be enacted before the Congress departs for elections next week. Therefore, Congress has passed a continuing resolution (CR) that appropriates funds at everyone's current FY 2004 level through November 20, 2004. At that time, its anticipated that Congress will have reconvened to address all the FY 2005 appropriation bills that have not yet been passed, including the Interior bill.
The assumption was that this CR would be signed by President Bush by close-of-business yesterday, so business should continue as usual today.
The Comptroller's Office will provide some short-hand rules regarding operating in a CR environment early next week.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Midwest Region
John Townsend Retires
John "JT" Townsend will retire on Saturday, October 2nd, bringing to conclusion a 35 plus year career as a ranger in the National Park Service.
Among his many accomplishments were the development and oversight of the Harry Yount ranger award program and continued provision of guidance to the Service's uniform program as the regional uniform coordinator.
A luncheon will be held for John today at Angie's Restaurant in Omaha.
John has championed the ranger ethic throughout his entire career and embodied its central philosophy, so it is fitting to send him off with this quote from Stephen Mather, the Service's first director:
"If a trail is to be blazed, send a ranger,
if an animal is floundering in the snow, send a ranger,
if a bear is in a hotel, send a ranger,
if a fire threatens a forest, send a ranger,
and if someone needs to be saved, send a ranger."
Alaska Region
Sandy Brue on the Move
Sandy Brue, Chief of Interpretation at Kenai Fjords National Park, has accepted the position of Chief of Interpretation/Resources Management at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site. She will be heading south for her new position in October. Sandy is well-suited to work at a historic site: previous NPS experience includes positions at Boston National Historical Park and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (former home of another President--Theodore Roosevelt.) She has been Chief of Interpretation at Kenai Fjords since 2001. Brue was instrumental in reviving the Alaska Region's Interpretive Leadership Council (now Education Advisory Group) during her tenure as Chair and Co-Chair. She has also represented the Region at the annual National Interpretive Advisory Council meeting. When asked to share any thoughts she might have upon her departure from Alaska, Sandy said: "I'll be heading back to Kentucky where I grew up and where my parents, son and grandchildren are living. I have never worked for the Southeast Region and looking forward to learning how they accomplish things. I'm leaving a bit piece of myself in Alaska and if it were not for family concerns, would not be going at all. Everyone has been wonderful here--the park staff and the regional office staff. I don't think anyone can accomplish tasks or understand the workings of the NPS system without a close relationship with regional office staff. I have been fortunate in my career to work closely with both the NER and the Alaska Regional Offices which have broadened my perspective and increased my effectiveness as a park employee. Thanks to a wonderful supportive staff with KEFJ — you will never find a more supportive and caring group of people. I'm buying a big house in KY — come see me." We wish Sandy well in her new position and plan to take her up on the invitation to visit, maybe during our long winter or at Kentucky derby time?
[Submitted by Jane Tranel, jane_tranel@nps.gov, 907-644-3513]
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.