NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, July 11, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Rocky Mountain NP
Three Visitors Injured By Lightning Strike
A group of eight visitors from Texas - a family of seven with a friend - were hiking on the Glacier Gorge trail near Mills Lake early on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8th, when a thunderstorm passed over the area. Lightning hit nearby and three of them - two men and a woman - were thrown to the ground. All three received minor burns from the lightning and sustained additional injuries when they hit the ground. Another visitor called park dispatch via cell phone and reported the incident. As rangers headed to the area, the three injured visitors hiked down to the trailhead. They were treated there by rangers and medical personnel from the Estes Park Medical Center, but declined further medical care. [Kyle Patterson, PAO]
Fire Island NS
Swimmer Rescued From Rip Tide
The park received a 911 call on the afternoon of Sunday, July 6th, reporting that a person was caught in the rip tide at Ocean Ridge, a small hamlet about a half mile west of the NPS area at Watch Hill with an unguarded beach. Rangers Bernie Felix, Rich Fhaner, Jason Flynn and Conan Pelc responded along with seasonal lifeguards Victoria Olivotti and James Lever. The lifeguards helped the 78-year-old man out of the ocean to a standing ovation from beachgoers. The man had gone out for a swim when he'd gotten caught in the rip tide. He was near exhaustion, with an elevated heart rate, but otherwise in good condition and good spirits. Due to the numerous incidents that were occurring at the same time, local authorities were unable to respond or assist. Rip tides were extreme at the time due to tide and sea conditions. Without the rapid, professional response by all concerned, an otherwise quiet evening could have had a less then favorable result for the victim and his family. [Jay Lippert, Chief Ranger]
Dinosaur NM
River Rafter Revived After Diving Accident
D.M., 30, of Vernal, Utah, was injured Sunday, July 6th, when he dove into the Green River during a rafting trip through the park. Group members noticed D.M. floating face-down in the water but thought he was playing a joke on his friends. After a few minutes, they pulled him from the water and found that he was unresponsive and not breathing. Park employees Serena Dennis and Jim Linville were working a short distance away and heard calls for help. Upon arriving at the scene, Dennis, a wilderness first responder, and Linville, a Routt County emergency medical technician, revived and stabilized D.M.. With assistance from employees of park concessioners Outward Bound and Holiday Expeditions, Dennis and Linville transported D.M. eight miles downriver to an ambulance at the Split Mountain boat ramp. D.M. was taken to Ashley Valley Regional Medical Center, where he was airlifted to Salt Lake City. [Melissa Cobern, Chief Ranger]
Richmond NBP
Fraud Conviction And Sentencing
In October, 2006, interpretive rangers stationed at the Chimborazo Medical Museum contacted protection rangers and advised them that a man was attempting to make repeated returns of merchandise that he'd allegedly purchased - but for which he could not produce any receipts. Surveillance was set up at the site and rangers identified the man as R.P. While running an NCIC check on him, R.P. fled on foot, reached his car, and left the area. An arrest warrant was obtained and he was later taken into custody by officers from the Albemarle County Sheriff's Department. On July 1st, R.P. was convicted of theft of government property and fleeing to elude police. He was sentenced to one year in prison, banned from all National Park sites in the states of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia for five years, and ordered to pay restitution for all monies he received in his fraudulent returns. R.P. has an extensive criminal history of theft and drug convictions. [Tim Mauch, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
Other stories can be read on InsideNPS at one or the other of these two sites:
NPS readers - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS readers - HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/
Please note that both publications carry a combined NIFC/NPS fire report. That is generally posted around 8 a.m. Eastern.
Among the stories in today's edition are the following:
Servicewide - The NPS has developed and made available a website to aid visitors with disabilities and special needs to find accessible trails, programs, activities, and other features at national park units nationwide.
Muir Woods NM - On May l9th, visitors were given a free fee day at Muir Woods National Monument to join in the dedication of Cathedral Grove as a permanent place of peace and quiet. This is the first such dedication in a national park.
Harpers Ferry NHP - After 29 years as the superintendent of Harpers Ferry NHP, superintendent Donald W. Campbell has decided to retire.
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by both the National Park Service and its partners across the nation. Today's additions include an FBI regional training course at Albright, advanced resource protection and advanced firearms instructor training courses in California, a course on preparing instructors for interactive television at Mather and NCTC, and several upcoming TEL station broadcasts.
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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