NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, July 28, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Olympic NP
NPS Firefighter Killed On Iron Complex Fire
Andrew Palmer, an 18-year-old National Park Service firefighter based in Olympic National Park, was killed Friday while clearing trees in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northern California.
Director Bomar has ordered that all flags throughout the National Park System - except for those on the National Mall - be lowered to half staff and remain at half staff until the funeral. Employees should also wear black ribbons on their badges, if available, and may wear black mourning devices if in civilian clothes.
Director Bomar issued the following statement on behalf of the 20,000 men and women of the National Park Service.
"The collective hearts of the National Park Service go out to Andrew's family. While the loss of any member of the NPS team is a sad event, Andrew's life was only beginning. He was filled with the energy and passion of youth, and he sought to give back to our nation by protecting the land from the ravages of fire. He took on a difficult job, and served our nation well, in the finest tradition of the National Park Service. His courage and spirit will live on in all of us, and will inspire us to do all we can to preserve the special places in our nation."
Olympic National Park staff have been deeply saddened by the tragedy. Superintendent Karen Gustin added her sentiments to the director's: “We mourn Andy's death and offer our support and deepest condolences to his family.”
Palmer's four-person engine crew was dispatched last Tuesday, July 22nd, to the Eagle Fire, part of the Iron Complex in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Last Friday was their first day on the fire line. Palmer was fatally injured when he was struck by a falling tree.
An accident investigation team is being assembled and will be co-led by National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service personnel. More information will be released as it becomes available.
The rest of Palmer's crew returned to Olympic National Park earlier on Saturday. A critical incident stress management team is now in the park to provide support and assistance to the park's fire crew and staff.
Condolences should be sent to Bob and Janet Palmer, 1536 Washington Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. A fund will be established by the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Andrew's name. The foundation is on-line at HYPERLINK "http://wffoundation.org/_" http://wffoundation.org/.
Additional information on the funeral and on the date for flags to be returned to full staff will appear in future editions.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Woman Assaulted At Parkway Overlook
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on the morning of July 21st, a 23-year-old woman was assaulted by an unknown man at the Shenandoah Valley overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. According to her statements, she was listening to music in her vehicle when the man opened the driver's side door and attempted to pull her out. During the ensuing struggle, the man grabbed her throat, punched her several times in the face, and attempted to pull off her pants. The woman successfully fought off her attacker, though, and was able to flee in her car. She drove herself to Augusta Medical Center; staff there notified the Augusta County Sheriff's Office. Augusta County officers and a canine tracking team searched the area around the overlook, but were unable to find the man. Rangers from both Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park responded and joined the effort, also without success. The man was described as a white male, 35 to 45 years old, about 5'6” tall, weighing 170 to 180 pounds, with brown hair covering his ears. He also had several days growth of facial hair and was wearing a ball cap. Augusta County Sheriff's Office officers, Blue Ridge Parkway rangers, Shenandoah rangers and National Park Service special agents are cooperating in this ongoing investigation. [Kurt W. Speers, Ridge District Ranger]
Delaware Water Gap NRA
New Jersey Man Drowns In Delaware River
The body of 37-year-old M.S. of Hillside, New Jersey, was recovered from the waters of the Delaware River just before 8 p.m. on Saturday July 26th. Park dispatch was notified of a swimmer in distress near the canoe launch at the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center just after 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Rangers were on the scene within minutes. Personnel from the New Jersey State Police, the Portland Hook and Ladder dive team, Bushkill Fire Company's underwater search and recovery unit and Worthington State Forest also responded. The body was recovered in eight feet of water about 50 yards off the New Jersey shoreline by the park's dive team. M.S. was not wearing a lifejacket. The Delaware River is currently flowing at approximately three feet above normal summer levels due to recent rains. The river is muddy and visibility is nearly zero. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Specialist]
Colorado NM
Suicide At Cold Shivers Point
A 21-year-old man from Grand Junction hung himself below a juniper tree near Cold Shivers Point on the afternoon of July 23rd. A ranger was patrolling Rim Rock Drive that afternoon when he came upon an unoccupied vehicle parked at the point. The ranger performed a quick search of the area and found the victim about 100 yards from the parking lot. An entrance station receipt in the vehicle revealed that he'd driven into the park about twenty minutes earlier. [Phil Akers, 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:
National Capital Region - Joseph M. Lawler, regional director for National Capital Region, will retire on August 1st after 33 years of service to the National Park Service.
Women's Rights NHP - Over 500 people attended a commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the first women's rights convention at Women's Rights National Historical Park on July 19th and 20th.
National Capital Region - Stanley M. Cofield, 58, who spent 33 years as a ranger and supervisor with the National Park Service, died on July 14th at his home in Washington.
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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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