NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

INCIDENTS

Yellowstone NP

Two Suffer Thermal Burns In Separate Incidents

Two park visitors suffered thermal burns in separate incidents this past Friday and Saturday. A 50-year old visitor from Spain was burned on Friday, August 12th, after stepping through a thin crust in a thermal area while walking around Potts Basin near West Thumb. The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. The woman and her family were touring the park when they stopped at Potts Basin. The entire family was off-trail in a closed area, walking around, when the woman stepped through a thin crust into hot water. She received second degree burns to her left foot and ankle. Family members hiked out of the area and drove to the registration desk at Grant Village to report the incident and seek medical attention. Park EMS staff immediately responded, stabilized the victim's injuries, and transported her by ambulance to St. John's Hospital in Jackson, Wyoming. On Saturday afternoon, a 49-year old park visitor from New Hampshire was burned after stepping into a hot muddy area while walking off-trail near Lone Star Geyser in the Old Faithful area. The man and his family were touring the park when they stopped at Lone Star Geyser. The entire family was off-trail, walking around the area, when the man stepped into some hot mud. He received second degree burns to the top of his left foot up and around his left ankle and lower calf. Family members hiked out of the area and drove to the Old Faithful Ranger Station to report the incident and seek medical attention. Park EMS staff again responded, treated him, and took him to the same hospital. These were the second and third visitors to receive thermal burns during the 2005 summer season. The park has again issued reminders to visitors that, for their own safety, it is important to stay on boardwalks and designated trails while viewing all thermal features in the park. Scalding water underlies thin, breakable crusts; many geyser eruptions are unpredictable; and thermal features are near or above boiling temperatures. Boardwalks and trails help protect park visitors and prevent damage to delicate formations. [Cheryl Matthews, Public Affairs Officer]

Denali NP&P

Ground Search for Missing Backpacker Scaled Back

The park has scaled back the ground search for missing backpacker R.H. The wide-spread ground search in the Kantishna Hills area was suspended at the end of Sunday, but limited searching will continue by using specialized resources targeted at investigating specific clues. The investigation will go on at the same level as has taken place throughout the incident, following up on leads and clues gleaned from the field search and from interviews with family and friends. The decision to change the focus of the search was reached after reviewing how thoroughly the areas closest to the abandoned campsite and the reasonable access routes in and out of the area had been searched. Sunday's efforts focused on searching any portion of the area not already thoroughly covered. Additionally, four kayakers floated down Moose Creek, checking along the shoreline and in deep pools. Clues they reported included a disposable camera, a sock and footprints on the shore. These and other clues are being investigated, but nothing that can be specifically linked to R.H. has been located. A search assignment that will continue in the future is the investigation of all habitable structures with food resources located in the major creek or river drainages leading away from the area. These drainages, each containing a number of cabins, will be checked all the way to the park boundary, a distance of 20 to 30 miles from the campsite. The ground search for the 34-year old Anchorage resident was begun on August 8th after it was determined that an abandoned tent reported to the park three days previously belonged to the same person who had not turned in the bear-resistant food canister issued to backcountry users. R.H. had taken a camper bus into the park on July 10th and was due out on July 18th. He was not reported missing until NPS investigators checked with relatives for permission to search his Anchorage apartment. The park has expressed its deep appreciation for the support and assistance provided by the myriad agencies, organizations, and businesses who contributed a variety of services and supplies to the search effort. [Kris Fister, Public Affairs Officer]

Blue Ridge Parkway

Marijuana Eradication Operation

On July 21st and 22nd, rangers Jon Murphy and Pete Schula participated in a multi-agency marijuana eradication operation along with officers from the Virginia State Police and Patrick County Sheriff's Department. Six plots were found in the Rock Castle Gorge area of the park. A total of 8,816 plants were removed. The investigation continues. [John Garrison, Chief Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

NIFC remains at PL 3. Initial attack was light yesterday; all new fires were caught and suppressed. A red flag warning is posted today for northwest Montana.

Individual fire entries for today for the National Park Service can be obtained at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/fire/news" http://www.nps.gov/fire/news . The full NIFC Incident Management Situation Report for today can be obtained at HYPERLINK "http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf" http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Risk Management Division
CPSC and Kawasaki Motors Corp ATV Recall

In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., of Irvine , California , announced on July 27th that it is recalling approximately 155,000 model year 2001 through 2005 Prairie and Brute Force all terrain vehicles. As a consequence of a significant impact to the front wheel of the ATV during operation, the affected ATVs may experience the ball joint separating from the steering knuckle, leading to loss of steering control and the possibility of an accident resulting in injury or death. Consumers with the affected vehicles are cautioned not to operate them, and to contact an authorized Kawasaki ATV retailer for repairs.

Kawasaki is aware of 39 warranty claims and 3 personal injury claims related to ball joint separation.

The affected ATVs are 2001 through 2005 model year Prairie 300, Prairie 300 4X4, Prairie 360, Prairie 360 4X4, Prairie 400, Prairie 400 4X4, Prairie 650 4X4, Prairie 700 4X4, and Brute Force 650 4X4 models. These ATVs were sold by Kawasaki dealers nationwide beginning in 2000. Suggested retail prices ranged from approximately $4,400 to $7,400.

Kawasaki is notifying all of the sales-registered owners by direct mail. Owners of the affected models should immediately stop riding the ATVs and contact an authorized Kawasaki ATV dealer to make arrangements for repair. Repair will consist of replacement of the ball joints and steering knuckles on Prairie 300, 300 4X4, 400, and 400 4X4 models, and replacement of ball joints, steering knuckles, and lower "A" arm for all other models. Consumers can contact Kawasaki for more information at (866) 802 9381 between 8:30 AM and 4:45 PM Pacific time, Monday through Friday.

HYPERLINK "http://www.kawasaki.com/Default.asp?strContentURL=site/VIVehicleInformation/VIChooseVehicle.asp?intCatalogID=2&intParts=0" Click here to find out if your vehicle is affected (Note: VIN/HIN required to search for outstanding recalls) [Contact Information - CDR Edward Perez USPHS, Edward_Perez@nps.gov, 202-513-7214]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Alumni News

Passing of Dick Cunningham

Dick Cunningham, who worked for the National Park Service for almost 30 years, died on July 27th in his home of esophageal cancer. He was 69. Cunningham was born June 11, 1936 in Quincy, Ill. He spent most of his childhood in Illinois and Missouri. His family moved to Miami when Cunningham was in college and he finished his last two years at the University of Miami. Right after college, Cunningham began doing research on the bald eagle for the National Audubon Society. In 1959, he was introduced to his future bride by a mutual friend. The couple dated for a year before marrying.

In 1963 he began working for the National Park Service and worked in Everglades National Park and the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona. He also did a seven-year stint in San Francisco as the chief interpreter for the Western Region. When he retired in 1994, the couple moved to Miami, where Dick Cunningham volunteered for the Everglades National Park and the Audubon Society.

His wife said he loved to lecture about birds and he wrote three books. His lastest, which is not yet published, is a collaboration between Dick Cunningham, Bass and Bill Robertson. The book, which will be titled Birds of Everglades National Park, will have an American flamingo on the cover. ''I promised him that it will get published,'' said Bass. ``It will.''

Celina Cunningham said that when her husband wasn't doing something bird related or at his church teaching bible study, he could be found in his favorite recliner watching sports or reading. In addition to his wife, Cunningham is survived by daughters Carol Crown and Deanna Sumski. [Miami Herald]

JOBS

Nothing today.

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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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