NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, May 8, 2009
INCIDENTS
Death Valley NP
Barker Ranch Destroyed In Fire
The Barker Ranch, famous as the location where Charlie Manson was arrested, burned earlier this week. The park learned about the fire through a chat room report on a local web page and sent a ranger to investigate. The time and cause of the fire is not yet known, but the park has determined that visitors were there on Sunday, May 3rd, that it was in good condition at that time (the park had a restoration crew on site about a month ago), and that other visitors found it burned out on Tuesday, May 5th. An investigation is being launched. A follow-up report will be posted when it becomes available. [Terry Baldino]
Yukon-Charley NP
NPS Continues Eagle Flood Response
The water levels along the Yukon River in Eagle, Alaska, have dropped since they rose again Wednesday evening and the flood warning for the community has been cancelled. The NPS incident management team, comprised of employees from Eagle and Fairbanks, continued with the cleanup of NPS facilities in Eagle and began checking facilities in the preserve to determine the extent of damage. Yesterday's priorities included flying to check on the status of residents along the river, distributing supplies and equipment, and assessing the condition of public use cabins, historic structures, and other park resources downriver from Eagle. All of the preserve residents contacted were high and dry, and some park facilities may have escaped the river's wrath. Slaven's Roadhouse appears to be undamaged, but the Glenn Creek public use cabin may have sustained some structural damage. These assessments will be ongoing in coming days. The status and well-being of the Eagle-based employees continues to be the NPS's highest priority, and the Service will continue to assist them and the state's emergency response efforts in the Eagle community. Two park employees have lost their homes and are in temporary living situations. A cabin owned by another park employee sustained damage, and the seasonal employee living there has been displaced. Fairbanks Administrative Center employees in Fairbanks are organizing donations of supplies that will be brought into Eagle during the next few days. The smell of fuel permeates the community of Eagle, as many tanks have spilled or were ruptured by the ice. A state emergency command team is on site, and today they were assessing the hazardous materials situation. It was determined this afternoon that the community well has been contaminated with bacteria, and arrangements are being made to bring in additional potable water. The park office in Eagle has its own well, and the staff will send in samples to determine its status. The NPS incident management team will demobilize at the end of the day on Friday, but the Fairbanks Administrative Center will continue to provide extra staff and other assistance to the Eagle operation for the foreseeable future. The Alaska Fire Service helicopter that has been utilized for rescue efforts and hauling supplies and equipment since the flood event began late Sunday was released yesterday. The park has established a special account for the NPS employees in Alaska and elsewhere who wish to donate money to assist the Eagle NPS employees who have lost their homes and other possessions. Checks made out to the “National Park Service” can be sent to Monica Cross, Fairbanks Administrative Center, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99508. The Red Cross is taking donations for flood relief in Eagle and other locations. Donations can be made to the Fairbanks office, 725 26th Avenue or by calling (907) 456-5937. Images from the flood event and further information on Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve is available on-line at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/yuch_" www.nps.gov/yuch . [Kris Fister, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
National Partnership Office - The National Park Foundation has announced a new grant opportunity for national parks through its park stewards program. The deadline for submitting applications is May 15th.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7627" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7627
PWRO - On the week of April 19th, interpreters participated in a podcast training course at Pacific West Regional Office in Oakland and spent a day at San Francisco Maritime videographing historic ships and scenery and recording interviews, songs and ambient sounds.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7653" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7653
US Park Police - Captain Jason Wu will be promoted to major and command the San Francisco Field Office.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2338" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2338
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by the NPS and its partners across the nation. Added this week - three new commercial services monthly program chats, a telnet training course on visitor injury prevention strategies, and a training course on dealing with conflict in conservation.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=vieweventscalendararticle&type=Conferences&id=1752" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=vieweventscalendararticle&type=Conferences&id=1752
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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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