NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, May 28, 2009
INCIDENTS
Haleakala NP
Horseman Dies In Riding Accident
On Monday, May 25th, long-time Maui resident E.W., 65, was killed in an accident on the Halemau'u Trail. E.W. and his horse fell approximately 100 feet from the switchbacked trail while en route to a backcountry cabin. E.W.'s horse was also killed in the fall. Visitors called 911 after members of E.W.'s party saw him lying unresponsive on a small ledge. Backcountry rangers on patrol were diverted to the area and others hiked in from the frontcountry. Maui Fire Department's Air Rescue One and Engine 13 also responded, but firefighters were unable to reach the victim by helicopter due to the weather. One visitor from the party was flown out of the backcountry after she hurt her ankle trying to reach E.W.. Rangers Dave Hahn and Peter Reitchel were able to traverse steep scree slopes and several cliff faces and confirm that E.W. was dead. They were unable to recover the body that day due to its location and the onset of darkness. Rangers remained overnight in the area and assisted Maui Fire Department with the recovery of E.W. at first light the next day. Firefighters reached the body via helicopter short haul and were able to extract E.W. and several of his personal effects. [Bruce Applin, Chief Ranger]
Mount Rainier NP
Rangers Rescue Two People In Separate Same-Day Incidents
Rangers rescued a climber and a skier in separate rescue operations on Sunday, May 24th. On Sunday morning, a climbing guide near the summit of the mountain slid into a steam vent and fell 15 to 20 feet. Climbers with her reported that she had injured ribs on her left side, was experiencing difficulty breathing, and had a reduced level of consciousness. Ranger Chris Olson and two employees from one of the park's guide concessioners headed out from Camp Muir with a litter and gear for a technical lowering; rangers David Gottlieb and Jeremy Shank departed Camp Schurman with an oxygen kit. Rangers Philippe Wheelock and Rachel Mueller, having just climbed Fuhrer's Finger, were also directed to the scene. The climber was extricated from the vent by her climbing partners, who were part of a commercially guided climb. Her injuries turned out to be less severe than first reported. Northwest Helicopters, from Olympia, Washington, provided an MD-530 helicopter, which picked up ranger Phil Edmonds at the park's helibase with a medical kit and took him to the summit, where they were able to land on the crater rim. The climber was then flown off the mountain and transferred to an ambulance for transport to the hospital. Acting climbing program manager Stefan Lofgren was IC on this rescue. Then, at 6:30 p.m., park dispatch received a 911 cell phone call from a skier who reported that he'd fallen and injured himself below the Nisqually Chute. After a more detailed interview, rangers determined that he was actually on the Wilson Glacier at 8,150-foot level. The man, who'd been skiing down the glacier, had suffered a broken ankle with visible deformity. Rangers Tom Payne and Phil Edmonds responded on skis from Paradise with a litter. Rangers Philippe Wheelock and Rachel Mueller skied to the scene from where they were camped above them on Wapowety Cleaver. This team skied the litter down the glacier to lower Pebble Creek. They were met by rangers Dan Camiccia, Caitlan Schauer, Sarah Pigeon, and Paul Marrinan, who helped raise the injured skier and litter up to Glacier Vista, where the carryout was continued back to Paradise. All arrived back at Paradise shortly after midnight. [R. Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]
Petrified Forest NP
Fire Brigade Responds To Out-Of-Park Fire
Park maintenance employee Polly Barela reported seeing smoke near the south end of the park late on the morning of May 8th. Ranger Mike Johnson followed up and determined that the smoke was coming from a house in a residential area just outside the park's boundary. Park dispatch reported the fire to local agencies, and the park's structural fire brigade also responded. The park engine was on scene 10 minutes after an engine from Holbrook arrived. By the time they arrived on scene, the building had been fully consumed and the fire was dying down. Both engine crews engaged in suppression, cleanup and overhaul operations. It was reported that there were five people in the building at the time and that all escaped, with just one suffering minor injuries. [Greg Caffey, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
Badlands NP - For the fourth consecutive year, Badlands National Park has partnered with state and local agencies to present an alcohol and drug awareness program to students in local communities. Representatives from more than 20 agencies and a dozen local businesses participated in this year's events.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7743" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7743
Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - The 2009 version of Reference Manual 9 is now available online. RM-9 supplements Director's Order 9 in providing policy and direction for the Service's law enforcement program.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7739" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7739
Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - Karen Ross, law enforcement security assistant in the Washington Office, is retiring on June 3rd, bringing to a close a nearly 40-year-long federal career.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=7742" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=7742
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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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