Redwood National and State Parks (CA)
Earthquake Causes Tsunami Warning for Park Areas

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14th, about 90 miles off the coastline of Redwood National and State Parks. The shaking from the quake on the coastline was only moderate and no damage has been found, but the severity of the quake triggered a tsunami warning for potential large waves within a half hour.

State and national park rangers evacuated visitors from low-lying campgrounds and beaches and got them to high ground. The earthquake did not produce any tsunami waves, though, and an all clear was given within an hour of the quake.

Gold Bluffs Beach campground is the campground in the parks that is most at risk from the impacts of a tsunami. Ironically, the first evening campfire program of the summer season at Gold Bluffs was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. that evening. The topic of the program was to be tsunamis.
[Submitted by Rick Nolan, Chief of Interpretation]

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (NC)
Follow-up on Operation Piping Plover Protection

Access to the Hatteras Island Spit will be temporarily closed to ORV, pedestrian, boat and all other access beginning this evening at 8 p.m. The closure is due to a threatened piping plover nest with young about to hatch. The NPS escort program will be suspended at that time.

It's anticipated that the hatching will take place within the next few days The closure will remain in place for 35 days, or until such time that the chicks are observed in sustained flight for 15 meters or more, whichever comes first. If the chicks are lost through predation or other factors, the NPS will immediately evaluate the lifting of the closure. These protective measures are taken to help insure a successful fledging season of this threatened bird.

The tidal zone between the sea and the nesting site is a vital feeding area for both the adult and young piping plovers. The last time a piping plover chick fledged from Cape Hatteras National Seashore was in 2003 when a single chick survived long enough to take flight. The last nesting season that was considered successful at the seashore was in 1998, when more than two chicks fledged.

The piping plover was protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 1986. The Atlantic population of the bird was estimated at 1400 breeding pairs in 1991.

The NPS implemented the escort program to the Hatteras Island Spit to allow for access by fisherman and other beach users to the area as long as bird activity allowed.

[Submitted by Bob DeGross, Incident Information Officer]

NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Situation Highlights — Thursday, June 16, 2005

Preparedness Level 1

Ninety-two new fires were reported on Wednesday. Two of these — both in the Great Basin — became large fires. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Kansas.

Weather Forecast

A strong upper low along the West Coast and a high pressure ridge over the Rockies will bring increasing winds and low humidity to portions of the Great Basin and Southwest Areas. Alaska is under an upper level high for more hot and dry weather along with some thunderstorms for most of the state.

Warnings and Watches

No watches or warnings 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

Park	State	Fire	Type	Acres	Percent Contain	Est. Full Contain
Denali National Park & Preserve	AK	BU13 Bear Creek-ref#296	Wildland Fire Use	At time of discovery the fire was 2.5 acres. Since that tim... See below for more...	N/A	N/A
	Full Acreage Report: At time of discovery the fire was 2.5 acres. Since that time, there has not been a size change. Latest Narrative: During a reconnaissance flight via helicopter, AK NPS Western Area Fire Management reported the fire was 45% active in black spruce and burning in a Limited Management Option. As of June 18th the fire was 5% active and smoldering in some black spruce.
Denali National Park & Preserve	AK	BUB9 Highpower Creek - ref#226	Wildland Fire Use	176	N/A	N/A
	Latest Narrative: AK NPS Western Area Fire Management flew the fire on the afternoon of June 16th and observed smoldering and smoke on the SE and NW corners. The remainder of the fire perimeter was quiet.
Denali National Park & Preserve	AK	BUC0 Herron River - ref#227	Wildland Fire Use	21	N/A	N/A
	Latest Narrative: On the afternoon of June 16th, AK NPS Western Area Fire Management completed a reconnaissance of the fire and observed smoldering in 5% of the fire perimeter. There were no open flames.
Denali National Park & Preserve	AK	BUH5 McKinley River - ref#238	Wildland Fire Use	29	N/A	N/A
	Latest Narrative: On the afternoon of June 16th AK NPS Western Area Fire Management flew the fire and observed light smoke rising from the fire perimeter and no open flames.
Denali National Park & Preserve	AK	BUH5 McKinley River - ref#238	Wildland Fire Use	29	N/A	N/A
	Latest Narrative: Due to intermittent, light rain the McKinley River fire has not grown in size. The fire is 5% active, smoldering to the south and generating very light smoke.
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve	AK	BUV2 Stony - ref#268	Wildland Fire	At the time of discovery the acreage was 20. It is possible... See below for more...		Unknown
	Full Acreage Report: At the time of discovery the acreage was 20. It is possible that at this time, June 17th, the fire acreage has increased. Latest Narrative: Alaska DNR/Division of Forestry, the fire suppression agency for Lake Clark, spotted the fire from the air and reported that it was 70% active, spreading to the east, torching and running at the front of the fire. The fire is burning in a Limited Management Option.
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve	AK	BUV2 Stony - ref#268	Wildland Fire	2,000		Unknown
	Latest Narrative: Due to dry and warm weather the past few days, the Stony fire continued to be quite active, having grown 1,980 acres since June 16th. The head of the fire is most active and spotted across the Stony River on June 17th. Heavy clouds and precipitation moved in to the Lake Clark area this morning and has not only slowed the fire activity but has made it difficult to monitor and map the fire today.
Noatak National Preserve	AK	BU2E Goiter-ref#302	Wildland Fire	2,300		October 2005
	Latest Narrative: NPS personnel detected heat from the fire on a MODIS remote sensing fire detection map, http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/, and then BLM/Alaska Fire Service spotted the fire running and backing in the tussocks during a detection flight. The fire is burning in a Limited Management Option and possibly is a candidate for wildland fire use status. A wildland fire use analysis is being completed.
Noatak National Preserve	AK	BU2F Akikukchiak-ref#303	Wildland Fire	250		October 2005
	Latest Narrative: NPS personnel detected heat from the fire on a MODIS remote sensing fire detection map, http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/, and then BLM/Alaska Fire Service spotted the fire running in the tussocks during a detection flight. The fire is burning in a Limited Management Option and possibly is a candidate for wildland fire use status. A wildland fire use analysis is being completed.
Noatak National Preserve	AK	BU2G Aklummayuak-ref#304	Wildland Fire	200		October 2005
	Latest Narrative: NPS personnel detected heat from the fire on a MODIS remote sensing fire detection map, http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/, and then BLM/Alaska Fire Service spotted the fire running and backing in the tussocks during a detection flight. The fire is burning in a Limited Management Option and possibly is a candidate for wildland fire use status. A wildland fire use analysis is being completed.
Noatak National Preserve	AK	BU2H Imelyak - ref#305	Wildland Fire	3,425		October 2005
	Latest Narrative: NPS personnel detected heat from the fire on a MODIS remote sensing fire detection map, http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/, and then BLM/Alaska Fire Service spotted the fire running in the tussocks during a detection flight. The fire is burning in a Limited Management Option and possibly is a candidate for wildland fire use status. A wildland fire use analysis is being completed.
Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve	AK	BT8C Trout Creek - ref#218	Wildland Fire Use	461 acres	N/A	N/A
	Latest Narrative: AK NPS Eastern Area Management Fire monitored the fire on June 16th and found it was 60% active with 3-5 foot flame lengths in the deciduous understory. There was evidence of isolated torching.
Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve	AK	BT8C Trout Creek - ref#218	Wildland Fire Use	676	N/A	N/A
	Latest Narrative: The fire is 5% active, creeping on the West side upper slope near the top of the drainage. The North side showed very little activity.
Lassen Volcanic National Park	CA	Prospect Peak Prescribed Fire	Prescribed Fire Treatment	565 acres were accomplished in Phase One.		July 2005
	Latest Narrative: The Prospect Peak Prescribed Fire is a 3,800 acre treatment, which is the largest prescribed fire in the park's history. Hand ignition began on June 14, to establish a blackline around the eastern perimeter of Phase One. Aerial ignition was used on June 15 to light 500 acres. Hand ignition was used again on June 16 to secure the southwest corner of Phase One, before rain and snow fell later in the day. Phase Two will begin when appropriate weather conditions reopen the prescription window. The project is divided into four phases, based on topography and vegetation. Phase One, on the east side of the burn unit, is in Jeffrey pine. Phase Two, on the west side, is a combination of mixed conifer and lodgepole pine. Phase Three is in the center of diamond-shaped unit, at lower elevation, and is in heavy mixed conifer. Phase Four to the north is in subalpine forest with discontinuos fuel, and rock outcroppings.
Dinosaur National Monument	CO	Bench	Wildland Fire	< 0.1	100	6/16/05
	Latest Narrative: this single tree fire was suppressed. The reasons for suppressing the fire are adjacent landowner concerns and the low potential for spread.
Grand Teton National Park	WY	Science Fire	Wildland Fire	Spot	100	June 16, 2005
	Latest Narrative: A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for several Western Wyoming counties, including Teton County, on the afternoon of June 16. Shortly after 4:00 p.m., two engines responded to a report of smoke and flames following a lightning strike in the area of the Teton Science School. One engine stood down; the interagency engine from Moose arrived on scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. The crew of three hiked to the fire and reported it smoldering in duff at the base of a whitebark pine tree. Because of the fire's location and proximity to the Teton Science School, the fire was suppressed. It was declared contained at 5:59 p.m. and controlled by 7:10 p.m.

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.

National Resource Commitments

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

Law Enforcement and Emergency Services
Final Reminder on Lead Survey

Law Enforcement and Emergency Services in cooperation with the Environmental Management Program (EMP) is seeking your assistance in completing the on-line survey to collect lead release data, lead recycling data, and data on the use of non-leaded ("green") ammunition for calendar year 2004.  The original request went out on March 4, 2005 under Karen Taylor-Goodrich and Sue Masica's signatures.  Please note that this year, we are requiring all NPS units to answer at least the first part of the survey in order to obtain data on which parks have active onsite outdoor firing ranges and which do not.  The on-line survey form is located at http://pfmd2.nps.gov/EMP/lead/ index.cfm

So far, a total of 44% of all NPS units have completed the survey.  Another 9% have registered but have yet to complete the survey form(s).  This is the breakdown by region:

If you have not done so already, please take the time to complete the survey before June 17th.   Those units that indicate that they do not have active outdoor ranges will not be required to complete the survey next year.  If your park operated an active outdoor firing range in CY 2004, please complete and submit both parts of the survey.  Please include use of your firing range by non-NPS personnel in addition to use by NPS personnel in your lead release/green ammunition use calculations.

If you have any questions, please contact Thomas P. Smith, National Park Service, Environmental Management Program, at 202-513-7077.
[Submitted by Dennis Burnett]

Lassen Volcanic National Park (CA)
Mary Martin Selected as New Superintendent

Mary G. Martin, a 36-year veteran of the National Park Service, is the new superintendent of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Martin will replace Marilyn H. Parris, who is transferring to Haleakala National Park in Hawai'i as superintendent.  Martin expects to be at the Mineral Headquarters of Lassen Volcanic by the middle of October.

"I am confident that the communities around Lassen Volcanic will enjoy Mary's keen sense of professionalism, fair play and desire to build partnerships and friendships," said regional director Jonathan Jarvis. "She is one of the finest superintendents I know, with an unerring sense of what is right for the parks."

Martin will transfer from Barstow, California, where she has been superintendent of Mojave National Preserve since 1995, shortly after the park was authorized.  Her ten years as superintendent have been marked by creating park programs where none had existed, mapping boundaries, including wilderness, moving all burros from within park boundaries to the Fund for Animals Ranch in Texas or to Bureau of Land Management round up centers, closing and capping off mines, and accepting donations of former ranches.

"I am fond of high altitude parks," Martin said.  "After ten years in the high desert I was beginning to look for that perfect combination of community, staff, challenge, resource, and altitude to throw my hat in the ring.  Lassen Volcanic National Park presented all the right combinations and I am thrilled to have been selected as superintendent."  She also spends summers with her family camping in the Lassen Volcanic area.

Martin's career has led her from the San Francisco Bay Area to Vermont to Yosemite National Park to Anchorage, Alaska to Washington, D.C. working in human resources for the NPS.  In 1994, when Mojave National Preserve was designated a unit of the National Park System, she was named its first deputy superintendent, becoming the park superintendent within a year.
An avid outdoors person, Martin is a black diamond run skier, a camper, a regular rider in the annual NPS horse unit at the Bishop Mule Days Parade, and enjoys traveling.  She has a BS from California State University-Bakersfield in environmental resource management and a masters in public administration from Golden Gate University.

Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found by clicking here. 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.