NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, December 22, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Glen Canyon NRA
Major Fire Burns Numerous Boats At Marina
A fire that broke out at the Halls Crossing Marina on the night of Thursday, December 18th, destroyed up to 20 vessels, but firefighters were able to save another 130 boats. At least three vessels are known to have sunk. As of midday on Friday, no casualties had been reported, but fire investigators were still checking the burned area. Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting flames coming from covered slips at the marina just before midnight on Thursday. Rangers and concession employees quickly responded via both land and water. Because of the small number of employees present at this time of the year, additional park staff were flown in from other areas to help fight the blaze, including personnel from Natural Bridges NM and from park headquarters in Page. Fire personnel used the Park Service fire boat both to fight the fire and to tow burning vessels out of from their slips in the marina. Other burning vessels were cut loose and pushed away from the slips by firefighters on the docks. The fire was controlled by 3 a.m. “We are saddened by the loss of the boats and other facilities, but commend our NPS staff and everyone else who responded so quickly to this emergency for saving so many other vessels,” said superintendent Stan Austin. “People don't realize the challenges our staff face in a remote area like Halls Crossing, which is a two-hour drive from Blanding, Utah, and nearly five hours from park headquarters in Page. Without the dedication and expertise of our fire responders, this fire would have been even more devastating.” Although there was extensive damage to the marina facilities, no firefighters were injured. Park Service investigators, along with investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Utah State Fire Marshal's office, are investigating. [Patrick O'Driscoll, Public Affairs Officer]
Gateway NRA
Man's Body Discovered By Visitor
On Sunday, December 14th, a visitor placed a 911 call to report the discovery of a body in the Spring Creek section of the park (Spring Creek is a remote natural area located near Howard Beach in Queens). Park Police officers and detectives from NYPD responded. They found the body of a man about 60 years old, thought to be homeless. The NYC medical examiner believes that death was caused by exposure, but will conduct an autopsy. The USPP and the NYPD are jointly investigating the case. [Brian Feeney, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. The internal, NPS-only version of InsideNPS can be found at: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index . The public version, called NPS Digest, can be found at: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/
Risk Management - The Division of Risk Management has released a draft of Director's Order 50C on the Service's public risk management program for a 60-day review.
Natural Resource Stewardship and Science - Elizabeth “Beth” Johnson has been named deputy associate director for natural resource stewardship and science in the Washington Office.
Alaska Region - Daryl Miller, who's been a ranger at Denali since 1991, will retire on December 31st.
Southeast Region - Stennis R. Young has been selected as the new superintendent of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Young is currently assistant superintendent at Natchez Trace Parkway.
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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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