NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Friday, August 28, 2009

INCIDENTS

Jean Lafitte NHP&P

Missing Interpretive Ranger Found Dead In Pisgah NF

Park interpretive ranger D.F. was reported missing to protection rangers and Slidell PD on Tuesday, August 18th. A search of the area was immediately conducted, his vehicle was reported missing on NCIC, and missing person flyers were sent out. On August 25th, Forest Service employees found his body inside a parked vehicle on a rural Pisgah National Forest road in Transylvania County in North Carolina. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of death. It's being conducted by the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, Forest Service special agents, and Southeast Region special agent in charge John Mattox. D.F. had worked at Jean Lafitte as a park interpreter since September, 1997. Prior to that, he worked at El Morro NM, San Juan NHS and Petroglyph NM. Condolences may be sent to the park c/o Cidney Webster. [John Hughes, Chief Ranger]

Yosemite NP

Ahwahnee Hotel To Reopen Following Rock Falls

After several small rock falls occurred in Yosemite Valley directly above the Ahwahnee Hotel on Wednesday, the hotel was temporarily closed for precautionary measures. The rock falls came from the Royal Arches, a rock formation directly above the hotel. Several small rocks landed in the parking lot causing minor damage to three vehicles. No structural damage or injuries were reported. A geologic assessment of the area was conducted yesterday, after which a decision was made to reopen the Ahwahnee at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon - provided there are no further rock falls. Visitors with reservations at the Ahwahnee tonight should call DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. Central Reservations at 801-559-5000. [Scott Gediman, Kari Cobb, Public Affairs Officers]

Death Valley NP

Rangers Assist At Multiple Fatality Accident Just Outside Park

On Saturday, August 22nd, rangers were dispatched to a rollover accident with multiple injuries on California Highway 190 just outside the park's east boundary. Five rangers and a park VIP responded with two park ambulances and the park's crash truck. Upon arrival, they found a total of seven victims, all of them passengers in a van that had drifted off the road and rolled multiple times. All were young French nationals who were part of an organized tour group traveling with two other similar 15-passenger vans from Las Vegas. Several of them had been ejected from the van. One, a 17-year-old girl, was dead on arrival. Two who were critically injured were medevaced to Las Vegas hospitals. One of them, a 16-year-old girl who had also been ejected, was declared dead at UMC Trauma Center. The third, believed to be a 15-year-old boy, is reported to be in critical condition with multi-system trauma. The remaining four victims were transported by ground ambulances from the park, Amargosa Valley Fire and Rescue and Tecopa Fire and Rescue to hospitals in Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada. The driver, 32-year-old N.S., told investigators that she had fallen asleep, which resulted in the van veering off the road and rolling multiple times. Excessive speed also appears to have been a factor. The California Highway Patrol is investigating. CHP anticipates bringing in an accident reconstruction team. N.S. will probably be charged with vehicular manslaughter. For online news account of the incident go to the following link: HYPERLINK "http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090824/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_us_bus_crash" http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090824/ap_on_re_eu/ eu_france_us_bus_crash [Brent Pennington, Chief Ranger]

Grand Teton NP

Injured Climber Rescued From Death Canyon

Rangers, assisted by the crew of a Teton interagency helicopter, rescued an injured 23-year-old man from a climbing route in Death Canyon on Tuesday, August 25th. The climber and his partner were ascending the first pitch on a route called “Caveat Emptor” when they pulled off several rocks, causing them to fall 30 to 40 feet. Although both climbers were wearing helmets at the time of the incident, one received injuries to his face and shoulder and required evacuation by helicopter. Two off-duty guides from Exum Mountaineering were climbing in the vicinity at the time of the accident and were able to reach the injured man and make an emergency cell phone call to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center to alert park personnel of the situation. Rangers responded to the scene on foot and by helicopter and provided emergency medical care to the injured climber. With the assistance of the two Exum guides, rangers lowered the injured climber to a ledge below a route called “The Snaz,” where he was then airlifted via short-haul to a landing zone near the Death Canyon patrol cabin. A park ambulance then transported the injured man to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. Rangers salute the Exum Mountain guides for their quick response and assistance during this rescue operation. Other climbers - both professional and amateur - are frequently the first persons on the scene of a backcountry accident; the information they provide to responding rangers, and the assistance they offer, are often instrumental in the positive outcome of a rescue effort. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]

HYPERLINK "http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=4991" http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=4991

Gateway NRA

Fire Damages Miller Field Ranger Station

On the evening of Saturday, August 22nd, a Park Police officer discovered a fire in the public restrooms that are attached to the Miller Field Ranger Station. The fire caused extensive damage to the restrooms, and FDNY believes that it was caused by either arson or an electrical problem. An investigation is underway. The rangers station and restrooms have been closed so that a damage assessment can be made and repairs completed. It will probably be closed until early fall. During that time, the ranger staff will establish a public contact station in the Miller Field Swamp White Oak building on the west side of the field. Portable toilets will be put in place to temporarily replace the closed restrooms. [Brian Feeney, Public Affairs Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:

Northeast Region - A celebration was recently held of the official designation of the new Baltimore National Heritage Area in a law signed by President Obama this past March. As part of the event, the heritage area unveiled its new logo, new water taxi landing signs, and new waysides funded by the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.

Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by the NPS and its partners across the nation. Added to this week's listing are three new FLETC classes, a workshop on high reliability organizing in fire management in Florida, and three backcountry tactics and tracking courses in New Mexico.

To see these and other stories posted on InsideNPS (or NPS Digest, its public version), click on one or the other of the following links (please note that not all stories in the former appear in the latter): NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index ; non-NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/

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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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