INCIDENTS

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Navajo National Monument (AZ)
Death of SCA Elaine Stambaugh

As she was opening the visitor center on the morning of June 26th, seasonal park guide Cassandra Parrish came upon SCA Elaine Stambaugh, 48, lying on the ground. Stambaugh, who had begun working as an SCA volunteer at Natural Bridges NM about four weeks previously, was semi-conscious, but able to tell Parrish that she was short of breath and needed to get to a lower elevation. Parrish enlisted help from other staff members on duty and an ambulance was summoned. Rangers got Stambaugh into a vehicle and headed out to meet the ambulance; just as they met it, she stopped breathing. CPR was begun and continued while en route to Kayenta Clinic, where she was pronounced dead by clinic staff. While at the hospital, the ambulance crew and NPS personnel reported an unusual chemical odor associated with Stambaugh's person. Navajo PD officers, suspecting a toxic substance, ordered the park evacuated and closed to avoid further harm to visitors and staff. Glen Canyon NRA was contacted for assistance. Rangers Sean McNally and Jim Nichols, who are also hazmat specialists, responded and arrived by patrol vehicle, followed by acting chief ranger Steve Luckesen and ranger Greg Kouns, who arrived soon after by helicopter. Navajo PD officers and investigators joined in the ensuing investigation, which revealed that the unusual chemical odors came from a blanket supplied by a visitor and the jell-filled AED pads placed on the patient by the EMT ambulance crew. After identifying the cause of the chemical odors, superintendent Roger Moder reopened the park. The state medical examiner subsequently determined that Stambaugh died from a thrombolic embolism. Her relatives were notified, including Assateague Island NS maintenance mechanic supervisor Bill Ingraham and Assateague Island NS interpretive ranger Liz Davis.
[Submitted by Mike Nattras, Park Ranger]

Denali National Park & Preserve (AK)
Follow-up on Body Discovery

On Friday, June 25th, a climbing party discovered the well-preserved body of a deceased climber at the 17,200-foot camp on the West Buttress route on Mt. McKinley. An investigation confirmed that they were the remains of G.C. of Cody, Wyoming, who died of high altitude pulmonary edema at the 17,200-foot camp on June 19, 1969. G.C., who was 32 years old at the time of his death, was a member of a six-man expedition that began an ascent of Mt. McKinley on June 6, 1969. His teammates decided to bury him at the 17,200-foot camp, as that had reportedly been his wish. G.C.'s identity was confirmed by personal effects found on the body — a watch with a calendar dated June, 1969, and a wedding band matching the description provided by his widow. G.C.'s family asked that he be left on the mountain. Following a review of regulations and related information, the NPS, state police and the medical examiner's office agreed to the request. G.C.'s remains, however, will be re-interred on the plateau near the ranger camp at the 14,200-foot level, where they were lowered subsequent to their discovery. The camp at the 17,200-foot level is too heavily used and has snow that's too shallow and windblown for re-interment at that location.
[Submitted by Maureen McLaughlin, Public Information Officer]

Grand Teton National Park (WY)
Injured Backpackers Rescued from Cascade Canyon

Rangers rescued two injured backpackers from the south fork of Cascade Canyon on the evening of July 4th. W.B., 78, of Windson, California, had been hiking the Teton Crest Trail with his son, 50-year-old D.B., and D.B.'s 16-year-old son, both from Idaho Falls, Idaho. The three men were descending the south fork of Cascade Canyon, about a mile and a half below Hurricane Pass, when all three slipped and fell through an opening in a snowfield. D.B.'s son fell first, landing in running water underneath the snow. He sustained injuries to his face and knocked out several teeth. Then, while attempting to help his son, D.B. fell through the same opening, injuring his left knee. W.B. tried to remove himself to a safer area, but he too slipped on the icy slope, falling into the same hole and hitting his head. W.B. had the party's two ice axes strapped to his backpack, as they had decided not to use them in this area. The B's managed to extricate themselves and their gear from the hole and remove themselves to a safe place where they could set up their tent and put on dry clothes. D.B.'s son then hiked out of Cascade Canyon, reached a visitor with a cell phone near the west shore of Jenny Lake, and contacted the Teton interagency dispatch center. Due to the late hour, the party's location and the potential for serious injury, rangers decided to coordinate a rescue with the park's contract helicopter. The rescue staff monitored local thunderstorms closely and were able to fly six rangers to the scene at dusk. The rangers assessed the two patients, provided emergency medical assistance, and transported them about 500 feet to a helicopter landing zone in the south fork of Cascade Canyon. The helicopter then flew D.B. and W.B. to Lupine Meadows, where a waiting ambulance transported D.B. and his son to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment. A ranger accompanied W.B. to St. John's Medical Center in W.B.'s vehicle. This marks the fourth major search and rescue effort in Grand Teton National Park this year.
[Submitted by Jacki Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]

George Washington Memorial Parkway (MD)
Homicide at Parkway Overlook

During the early hours of June 4th, Park Police officers responded to a 911 call of a body in a parking lot known as the "First Overlook" on the northbound side of the parkway. Investigation revealed that the woman, identified as R.W., 47, of no known address, had succumbed to stab wounds. It appears that she was homeless and living in the nearby Arlington-Rosslyn area. The case is being investigated as a homicide.
[Submitted by Sgt. Scott Fear]

Buffalo National River (AR)
Arrest for Motorcycle Theft

On June 9th, the Searcy County Sheriff's Office received a tip that a stolen motorcycle was located at South Maumee, a primitive camping area along the river near Marshall, Arkansas. Ranger Robert Still met with county deputies at South Maumee and found an abandoned motorcycle with extensive damage located 15 yards off the roadway. A warrants check revealed that it had been stolen from Morrilton, Arkansas. On June 13th, using information from a tip, deputies attempted to contact suspect Z.M. of Morrilton, who was reportedly armed with 9mm and .45 caliber handguns, at a local residence. Z.M. fled out the back door and a foot pursuit ensued, with Z.M. evading capture. On June 15th, another tip was received, this time reporting that Z.M. would be traveling as a passenger through the park. Ranger Dale MacMillan was asked to help three deputies with intercepting the car. That evening, the car was spotted along Highway 65 near Grinder's Ferry river access. MacMillan made a felony stop and ordered the occupants out of the car. Z.M. was found hiding in the back seat of the vehicle after the driver and another passenger were secured. He was not armed. Deputies arrested him, and he is facing multiple state charges.
[Submitted by Lee Buschkowsky, District Ranger, Middle District]

Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL,MS)
Drug and Weapon Arrest

Ranger Ryan Parr stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction in the Naval Live Oaks area on June 18th. The driver, J.M. of North Carolina, seemed very nervous and was evasive in his answers to simple questions. Parr obtained consent to search the vehicle and found cocaine residue on a tray under the front seat. A drug dog from the sheriff's office was brought to the scene. With the dog's aid, Parr found and seized a quantity of cocaine and a semi-automatic handgun. J.M. was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possession of cocaine, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
[Submitted by John Bandurski]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report Highlights — Wednesday, July 7, 2004

Preparedness Level 3

Initial attack was light on Tuesday. Only one of the 168 newly-reported fires escaped initial attack and became a large fire.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Utah.

Warnings and Watches

A RED FLAG WARNING has been posted today for gusty winds and low relative humidity for portions of southern Washoe, Pershing, Churchill, Mineral, Lyon, Storey and Douglas Counties in Nevada.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH has been issued today for the same conditions in southern Humboldt, southern Elko, Lander, Eureka and White Pine Counties in Nevada.

National Resource Commitments

Day	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed
Date	7/1	7/2	7/3	7/4	7/5	7/6	7/7
Crews	184	178	216	199	208	167	158
Engines	325	280	427	331	311	265	208
Helicopters	84	72	79	84	93	77	71
Air Tankers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Overhead	1,049	1,120	1,369	1,459	1,626	1,679	1,611

National/State Team Commitments

Newly listed fires (on this report) appear below in boldface. Fires are sorted by type of team; teams are listed in alphabetical order within each type by the IC's last name.

ST	AGCY	TM	IC	Fire/Location	7/6	7/7	%	Est
AK	State	1	Hart	Boundary Fire Fairbanks Area	312,000	312,000	27	7/24
WA	USFS	1	Lohrey	Pot Peak Fire Ok.-Wenatchee NF	6,550	7,200	35	UNK
AZ	USFS	1	Oltrogge	Nuttall Complex Coronado NF	16,360	20,700	10	UNK
AZ	USFS	1	Whitney	Willow Fire Tonto NF	85,000	90,500	22	UNK
AK	BLM	2	Chrisman	Wolf Creek Fire Upper Yukon Zone	200,000	200,000	0	UNK
AK	BLM	2	Jandt	Solstice Complex Upper Yukon Zone	320,627	325,447	5	UNK
AK	State	2	Kurth	Taylor Complex Tok Area Forestry	489,452	489,452	NR	8/1
CO	BLM	2	Mullenix	McGruder Fire Umcompahgre FO	2,960	2,960	70	7/7
AK	State	2	Stegmier	Camp Creek Fire Fairbanks Area	115,503	115,503	0	7/30
AK	BLM	FU	Cones	Eagle Complex Upper Yukon Zone	453,656	467,507	NR	UNK
WA	USFS	FU	Cook	Freezeout Fire Ok.-Wenatchee NF	150	150	17	UNK

Further Information

This report is meant to present just highlights of the current fire situation. Two other NIFC sites provide much greater detail:

Full NIFC Situation Report (PDF file) — http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf
National Fire News — http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html

Information on NPS Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) and on park fires can be found at:

FAM — http://www.nps.gov/fire
Park fires — http://www.nps.gov/fire/news

Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve (AK)
Deer Creek Fire -- ref #236, A4WX (Wildland Fire)

Fire is located on the southern boundary of the park on BLM land. It is believe the fire has burn into the park. This fire also is threatening the Community of Eagle, AK. (full report)
Crews and dozers constructed and improved lines around the city of Eagle and Eagle Native Village. Acreage increase is due to infrared mapping on 7/3. A total of 140 personnel are assigned to the fire.
Acreage: 91,260 acres
Resources Committed: Smokejumpers, helicopters, Gary Cone's Fire Use Team is managing the Eagle Complex of which this fire is a part.
Estimated containment date: 10/01/2004 [Submitted by Marsha Henderson, marsha_henderson@nps.gov, (907) 455-0650]


Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve (AK)
Edwards Creek -ref#234, A4WG (Wildland Fire)

This fire ignited on BLM land north of the preserve. It since has grown significantly and burned into Yukon-Charley Rivers NPr. (full report)
Two smokejumpers remain assigned to cabin protection. The area received 1/2 inch of rain.
Acreage: Total acreage 43,600 acres. 7,800 (estimate) acres in the preserve. There has been an increase in acreage but due smoke and higher priority fires fire has not been mapped.
Resources Committed: Gary Cone's Fire Use Team is managing the Eagle Complex of which this fire is a part.
Estimated containment date: October 1, 2004 [Submitted by Marsha Henderson, Marsha_Henderson@nps.gov, 907-455-0650]


Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve (AK)
Woodchopper Creek Fire - ref #331, A5ZE (Wildland Fire)

Fire was discovered at 3 acres. Fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain. (full report)
Six smokejumpers are providing cabin protection for the Coal Creek area. Sprinklers have been set up at Coal Creek, the dredge, and Slavens. Smokejumper will be at Coal Creek through Saturday.
Acreage: 3,984
Resources Committed: 12 smokejumpers,Gary Cone's Fire Use Team is managing the Eagle Complex of which this fire is a part.
Estimated containment date: 10/01/2004 [Submitted by Marsha Henderson, marsha_henderson@nps.gov, 907-455-0650]

Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.

Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.