Grand Teton National Park (WY)
Backcountry Skier
Seriously Injured in Avalanche
On March 7th, rangers assisted Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR)
ski patrollers in rescuing an injured backcountry skier from Granite
Canyon. A.B., 24, of Jackson, Wyoming, received multiple serious
injuries after he triggered an avalanche which swept him over rocks and
carried him about 1,000 feet downslope in an area called Northwest
Passage. A.B., an employee at JHMR, was skiing with friends in the
backcountry of Granite Canyon when the incident occurred. Teton
Interagency Dispatch was notified at 11:50 a.m. by a JHMR ski patrolman,
who reported a possible avalanche occurring in Granite Canyon that
involved some backcountry skiers. Teton County dispatch called
minutes later, confirming that they had just received a 911 call by cell
phone from Granite Canyon with the same information, adding that one
skier was reported to be seriously injured. Park rangers immediately
began to coordinate rescue efforts, contracted for the use of Teton
County's rescue helicopter, and flew rangers with medical equipment and
additional rescue gear to the scene. Two JHMR ski patrollers reached the
injured A.B. first and provided emergency medical care while other
skiers in the area prepared a landing zone for the helicopter by packing
down the snow with their skis. Once on the scene, rangers provided
additional medical evaluation and care, then placed A.B. in the
helicopter and attended him during the flight to St. John's Medical
Center in Jackson, Wyoming.
[Submitted by Jackie Skaggs, Public
Affairs Specialist]
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HI)
Shorthaul Rescue of
Dehydrated Hiker
The park received a cell phone call via 911 reporting an unconscious
girl on the switchbacks on the backcountry Kaaha trail below the Hilina
Pali Road around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 7th. Rangers and Hawaii
County FD paramedics responded. The 12-year-old girl was a member of a
school group that had walked down a difficult trail during the heat of
the day. Many in the group were out of water and had difficulty getting
back up the hill. The girl was conscious but very weak when rangers
arrived. One of the paramedics started an IV and rangers shorthauled her
to a waiting ambulance. She was taken to Hilo Medical Center for
treatment. [Submitted by Paul M. Ducasse, Chief Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Law Enforcement and Emergency Services
Clemson University Ranger Study On Hold
On Tuesday, March 8th, a message was sent out to many NPS law enforcement rangers and park managers from the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University regarding a study being conducted on "perceptions of law enforcement within the National Park Service (NPS) and protection rangers." This message was sent out prematurely and without the authorization of the National Park Service. The internal review of the draft study by the National Park Service has not yet been completed. Once that review has been completed and any additions or revisions are incorporated, it will be transmitted to the field. Please disregard the message from Clemson University at this time.
[Submitted by Don Coelho, Chief, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Fire and Aviation Management
GS-0401-15/15 National Fire Management Officer
Dates: 03/07/2005 - 04/05/2005
The person in this position serves as a principal staff leader on a national level as expert program manager for Servicewide wildland fire management activities related to the following duties:
Coordinates all wildland fire management staff activities of the Fire Management Program Center in concert with general policies and direction. Directly supervises four GS-14 fire management program leaders (fire program planning, fire operations, fire science and ecology, training, qualifications and business management); four GS-13 fire management program leaders (ROSS implementation team leader, communications and education, fire information resources management and Lessons Learned Center manager); one administrative officer; and additional staff members. Serves as NPS fire director at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). Provides operational oversight of and involvement in the NIFC interagency agreement on behalf of the NPS. Reviews the agreements annually and makes recommendations for revisions and refinements. Represents the Service on the national Multi-Agency Coordination Group (MAC) activities, which prioritizes the allocations or reallocation of firefighting resources during major national wildfire activity. Retains the written delegation of authority from the NPS director to reallocate resources committed to NPS fires, when necessary, to support high priority incidents within or outside NPS jurisdiction nationwide. Insures that appropriate logistical support is provided to NPS all-risk incidents. Provides oversight and counsel for the fire management policy implementation and its associated NEPA compliance. Responsible for developing and coordinating NPS wildland fire management policy, procedures and standards and provides recommendations to the chief, Division of Fire and Aviation Management, regarding Servicewide adoption. Represents the Service on various agency and interagency committees including the NIFC governing board. Works closely with the national fire directors of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Association of State Foresters to ensure NPS concerns and interests are considered and accommodated in the formulation and implementation of interagency fire management policy and standards. Cooperates with other land management agencies to render advice and counsel for ongoing and long-range fire management problems.
[Submitted by Sue Vap, sue_vap@nps.gov, 208-387-5225] 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 Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.