Morning Report Excerpts
August 1 - 15, 2000
00-440 - Zion NP (UT) - Multiple Injury EMS Response
On the afternoon of July 31st, over 40 members of an American Trails
West tour group were picnicking on the grassy area in front of Zion
Lodge when a strong down canyon wind snapped the trunk of a 30-inch
diameter cottonwood tree, which then fell over onto several members of
the group. Four teenagers were transported to Dixie Regional Medical
Center for treatment of suspected C-spine and other injuries. No
serious injuries were found, however, and the four were treated and
released. Nineteen people, three ambulances and sundry emergency
response vehicles from the park and two neighboring agencies
responded. Kevin Killian was IC. [Chuck Passak, Chief of Operations,
ZION, 7/31]
00-441 - Whiskeytown NRA (CA) - PWC Accident with Injury
The third reported personal watercraft accident on Whiskeytown Lake
this year occurred on the evening of July 30th. Preliminary
investigation indicates that two PWC's were on a parallel course when
the lead vessel abruptly turned into the path of the second PWC.
Witnesses report that the operator of the second PWC was looking
backward at the time. Gabriel Brown, 22, was flown by helicopter to
Redding Medical Center with abdominal injuries. He was treated there
and subsequently released. His mother Cristina Brown, 42, who was
operating the second PWC, was not injured, but her PWC suffered major
damage and was in danger of sinking when recovered from the lake.
[Alan Foster, CR, WHIS, 7/31]
00-442 - Gateway NRA (NJ/NY) - Copyright Infringement Arrest
On July 30th, USPP officers discovered an illegal vendor selling
compact discs at Riis Park. Further investigation led to the discovery
that the CD's were bootlegged copies. The vendor was arrested and
charged with vending and copyright infringement violations. Over 1,100
CD's with a street value of $5,700 were seized. [Lt. John Mariglianao,
GATE, 7/31]
00-445 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Lightning Strike with Multiple Injuries
Park dispatch received a 911 call at 10:45 p.m. on August 1st
reporting that lightning had hit a large lodgepole pine between two
campsites at Bridge Bay and that 13 campers had been injured. A ranger
in the area was on scene within minutes. Three of eight people in
tents at the campsite located closest to the lightning strike were
transported to Lake Hospital and treated for minor injuries; two of
five campers who had been sitting by their campfire at a second site
were treated at the scene and refused additional medical attention.
One said that he was knocked off his feet by the strike. All 13
reported that they felt electricity from the lightning run through
their bodies. The entire rear and side windows of a vehicle parked
near one of the campsites were blown out, and a 40-foot section of the
tree landed inches away from a tent occupied by three visitors.
Additional debris from the strike was scattered in a 50-foot radius
around the point where the lightning hit. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/2]
00-448 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Double Drowning
Park dispatch received a cell phone call at 9:30 p.m. on August 2nd
reporting the possible drowning of two brothers in the San Juan Arm of
Lake Powell. The boys, Dillon and Logan Dixey, ages seven and ten,
were swimming at the rear of a houseboat, underneath the rear
platform, when they disappeared. The boat's generator was running at
the time and carbon monoxide poisoning may have been a factor in their
deaths. Due to inclement weather, no helicopter service was available,
so a three-hour boat ride in stormy weather was required to get
rangers, park divers and a county deputy to the scene. [Cindy
Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 8/3]
00-449 - Timpanogos Cave NM (UT) - Park Closure
The park was closed on the afternoon of July 30th due to the proximity
of the Oak Hill Fire. The human-caused blaze traveled up a west-facing
slope over rugged terrain and spotted into American Fork Canyon, where
the park is located. Highway 92 south of the fire through American
Fork Canyon remains closed, and a Forest Service campground two miles
from the park has been evacuated. At the time of the report
(Wednesday), the fire had moved within 500 yards of the park's
northwest boundary. Superintendent Kit Mullen has delegated fire
management authority to a Type I team assigned to the Wasatch Complex,
a group of five fires currently burning in the Uinta National Forest.
The park's fire crew has been working on hazard fuel reduction around
park structures; interpretive rangers have been assigned to assist the
Forest Service and Utah Department of Transportation with road
closures and manning on-site information stations. Chief of
interpretation Suzanne Flory is the public information officer for the
fire. Administrative personnel have been supporting park operations
with assistance from maintenance staff. The park will remain closed
until further notice. [Kathleen Gonder, AO, GOSP, 8/2, for TICA, whose
server is down]
00-450 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Boating Accident with Fatality
At 8:30 a.m. on the morning of July 22nd, a 45-foot concession jet
boat from Canyon Jetboat Service struck a submerged sandbar while
traveling up the Colorado River. Two of the three passengers were
thrown forward and received injuries. The vessel operator fired four
smoke flares in his attempts to signal overhead aircraft for help. One
passenger complained of chest pains, had difficulty breathing, and
stopped breathing entirely 90 minutes later. He also had no pulse. The
vessel operator and another passenger performed CPR for over an hour.
The operator was finally able to signal another boat to send for help.
An Arizona DPS helicopter responded at 11:20 a.m., and rangers Thane
Weigand and Larry Stafford from Lake Mead and Chris Mengel from Grand
Canyon headed there by boat. A paramedic from the DPS helicopter
pronounced the man dead at the scene. The other injured passenger was
taken by helicopter to the hospital in Kingman for medical treatment
and evaluation. The vessel and deceased were removed from the sandbar.
The accident site was in remote part of the park. All those on scene
had extreme communications difficulties and were unable to radio out
for additional resources on numerous occasions. [Chris Mengel, IC,
GRCA, 8/4]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
BASE Jumping Regulations Ruling - The Ninth Circuit has upheld several
important regulations that are employed against BASE jumpers who
illegally jump from heights within NPS areas. The court agreed with
the Tenth Circuit in holding that the rectangular shaped ram-air
aeroplastic wings employed by BASE jumpers are "parachutes," in spite
of the sophistication of the device and its ability to operate like a
hang glider. The defendant BASE jumpers had argued that the device
qualified as powerless flight and accordingly could not be prohibited
by 36 C.F.R. section 2.17(a)(3). The court also agreed with the Tenth
Circuit that the term "delivery" used in section 2.17(a)(3) includes
self-delivery, or "moving oneself from one area to another," which
would apply to a single individual who BASE jumps. The court also
noted that the NPS has authority to enforce these regulations.
Although the Federal Aviation Administration has jurisdiction to
"develop plans and policy for the use of the navigable airspace and
assign by regulation or order the use of the airspace necessary to
ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace," the
FAA does not have exclusive jurisdiction in NPS areas and nothing
precludes the NPS from regulating landings within NPS areas. Most
important, the court also affirmed the conviction of a defendant for
disorderly conduct under section 2.34(a)(4) for recklessly creating a
risk of harm to himself, other BASE jumpers and to members of the
public by "creating or maintaining a hazardous or physically offensive
condition." "The safety threat implicated in BASE jumping is most
often the potential harm to the jumper due to the fatalities and
injuries characterizing the extreme sport. We do not, however,
discount the safety risks in BASE jumping to members of the public,
particularly in areas where people are likely to congregate... We
therefore affirm the district court's determination that BASE jumping
can create a risk of harm to the public and defer to the courts'
evidentiary findings." United States v. Albers, No. 99-10071 (9th
Cir. 7/17/00). See also earlier appellate case relating to seizures by
rangers on houseboat in United States v. Albers, 136 F.3d 670 (9th
Cir. 1998). For more information on this case or other court
decisions, contact NPS legal instructor Don Usher at FLETC via cc:Mail
at NP-WASO.
CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Condors
Condor management has taken a new and deadly turn at Grand Canyon.
Condors released north of the park and monitored by the Peregrine Fund
have frequented the south rim and awed visitors. Evidence is now
showing that recent fatalities among at least four of the condors were
a result of lead poisoning. The lead has been traced to shotgun
pellets, probably ingested when the scavengers' found an animal killed
by a shotgun. An attempt is being made to capture and field test all
condors for lead poisoning. Those found with high levels will be
treated for removal of lead. Hunters are being asked to remove
portions of animals with lead in them. Rangers have been issued
special copper rounds for dispatching injured animals. Condors were
first released in Arizona in 1996, and their continued success in the
wild is at risk. [Nancy Muleady Mecham, PR, GRCA]
00-449 - Timpanogos Cave NM (UT) - Follow-up on Park Closure
The park was closed on the afternoon of July 30th due to the proximity
of the Oak Hill Fire. The human-caused blaze traveled up a west-facing
slope over rugged terrain and spotted into American Fork Canyon, where
the park is located. The fire has since burned about 900 acres to the
northwest of the park and is 15% contained. It's spreading slowly to
the north and northwest, away from the park, and has not spotted
significantly. When the fire approached the park in the early hours of
July 31st, the computer server and critical files were removed from
the administration office. The server was placed back on line late on
August 3rd and communications with the park have been fully restored.
The Oak Hill Fire is being managed as part of the Wasatch Complex.
Red-carded park staff were formed into a crew and required to remain
in the park around the clock. The Type I team managing the complex
advised park staff to reduce fuel around park buildings, which was
done. The road in lower American Fork Canyon and the park were closed,
but both have reopened. A map of the fire can be found at
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/uinta/fire/wasatchcomplex/maps.html; details
on the fire are also available at that site. [Kit Mullen, TICA, 8/6]
00-456 - Zion NP (UT) - Falling Fatality
Georg Sender, 63, of Illertissen, Germany, died from head injuries
when he fell 10 to 15 feet while hiking off-trail near the top of
Angel's Landing on August 2nd. Several EMT's and a Swiss emergency
room physician were nearby and provided immediate medical assistance,
including CPR. The latter was terminated after 45 minutes after
consultation with the physician on scene and medical control at Dixie
Regional Medical Center. A hiker in the vicinity used his cell phone
to call for help, and park personnel were dispatched to the scene; an
NPS trail crew working nearby was first to arrive. The body was
removed by helicopter. Counselors were on scene to provide assistance
to witnesses and family and conduct a CISD debriefing for responders.
Sender was traveling with Rotel Tours of Germany. Seventeen park
personnel and a BLM contract helicopter were involved. Chuck Passeck
was IC. [Tom Haraden, Acting CI, ZION, 8/2]
00-457 - Acadia NP (ME) - Falling Fatality
A Maryland man died on the afternoon of Friday, August 4th, after
falling an estimated 200 feet from one of the park's trails. Burt
Marks, 51, of Gaithersburg, was hiking on the Beehive trail with a
friend when he apparently took a misstep and fell. Rangers performed
CPR but the efforts were soon discontinued due to the severity of
Marks' injuries. Marks had been visiting the park with his hiking
partner and their wives. The wives were not with the two men at the
time of the accident. The incident remains under investigation. This
is the second fatality on park trails this week. [David Buccello, CR,
ACAD, 8/6]
00-458 - Lake Mead NRA/Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Aircraft Accident
On July 22nd, Lake Mead NRA rangers Thane Weigand and Marc Burt and
Grand Canyon NP ranger Chris Mengel responded to a report of an
aircraft emergency landing near Pearce Ferry. The twin-engine Piper
Navajo tour plane from Boulder City had lost one of its engines over
Grand Canyon. The pilot attempted to fly to emergency landing strips
in the area, but the plane continued to lose altitude over the next 40
miles of travel and he was unable to climb to the altitude of any of
those strips. He therefore landed on a beach across from the South
Cove launch ramp. Neither the pilot nor any of his nine passengers was
injured. The aircraft will be removed in a salvage operation. [Thane
Weigand, IC, LAME, 8/4]
Zion NP (UT) - A lightning storm on the evening of August 3rd ignited
eleven wildfires in the park - the majority of them discovered during
a reconnaissance flight the next day. The largest is called the Cable
Mountain Fire and has burned about 50 acres so far. Over 55
firefighters are being used to contain it. Two others are also burning
but are small in size. All others have died out. The weather continues
to be hot and dry, with temperatures at or above 105 degrees.
Day/Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2000 ALMANAC
On this date in 1911, President William Howard Taft traveled to
Paradise Valley in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. His
touring car had to be dragged the final distance from Narada Falls by
a mule team.
00-460 - Mount Rushmore NM (SD) - Rabid Bat Bite
A 15-year-old male employee of NPS concessioner AmFac Recreational
Services was bitten by a bat in the concession dining room on August
2nd. The bat reportedly flew into the dining room late on the evening
of August 1st and was seen there again on the 2nd. It fell to the
floor that afternoon; when the employee picked it up to remove it, the
bat bit him, then died. The body was sent to the state epidemiologist
and tested positive for the rabies virus. The boy is now undergoing
rabies treatment. The dining room was temporarily closed on August
5th, the day the park was notified of the findings, so that a search
for additional bats could be conducted by a local bat expert. None was
found. The dining room reopened on the morning of the 6th. This is the
second incident of a person being bitten by a rabid bat in the Black
Hills area this summer. The state epidemiologist has asked the park
for assistance in informing the public about the hazards of handling
bats or any other wildlife. [Mike Pflaum, CR, MORU, 8/7]
00-462 - Glacier NP (MT) - Rescue
Ed Prach, 75, of Whitefish, Montana, fell while climbing in the Logan
Pass area on the afternoon of July 27th, sustaining head lacerations,
multiple fractures to both legs, and a ruptured kidney. Prach was
climbing with five others in the saddle between Reynolds and Heavy
Runner Mountains when he evidently lost his footing, fell 15 to 20
feet over a rock ledge, then rolled another 100 feet down a steep snow
field. Prach's companions climbed down to him and stabilized his
injuries; some of them then hiked out to the Logan Pass VC and
notified the park. Park staff in the vicinity hiked to the area and
treated Prach. Other park personnel, including park medics, were flown
to the scene along with requisite rescue gear. Because of the steep
terrain, Prach had to be belayed about 200 feet down a slope to the
nearest safe landing zone. He was flown by helicopter to Kalispell
Regional Hospital, where he was last reported to be in critical
condition. [Public Affairs, GLAC, 7/28]
00-467 - Glacier NP (MT) - Death of Concession Employee
Concession employee Christopher Wolk, 26, of Astoria, New York, died
yesterday morning as a result of massive head trauma sustained in an
accident that occurred late on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 8th.
Wolk was swimming with other concession employees just below a
waterfall in Swiftcurrent Creek when a 20-pound rock fell about 50
feet and struck him in the head. Rangers were notified by other
swimmers and responded quickly. They had to employ technical climbing
methods to reach Wolk and raise him from the creek. He was then flown
by air ambulance to a hospital in Great Falls, where he succumbed to
his injuries. [Public Affairs, GLAC, 8/9]
00-470 - Katmai NP (AK) - Search in Progress; Fatality
Concession employees advised rangers of an overdue party on the
afternoon of August 8th. The couple had departed from Brooks Camp the
previous day on a two-hour canoe trip. An air search was begun
immediately, and a swamped and beached canoe was found within 15
minutes on Naknek Lake across from Brooks Camp. Rangers found the body
of Atsushi Sugiura entangled with the canoe, his life jacket still on.
Efforts are currently focused on the search for his wife, Naomi. A
life jacket and other personal effects were found washed up on a beach
nearby. Twenty NPS personnel are assigned to the incident. Ranger Ed
Dunlavey is IC. [Chris Pergiel, CR, KATM, 8/8]
00-471 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Pursuit
Ranger Helen McNutt was on her way from Cades Cove to Maryville,
Tennessee, on the evening of August 9th when she came upon a three-car
accident about five miles from the park entrance. Since there were no
other emergency vehicles on scene, she stopped to render assistance.
An older model Dodge van pulled away almost immediately. Bystanders
shouted to McNutt that the van driver was the cause of the accident
and that he was drunk. After determining that there were no serous
injuries, McNutt began to follow the van, which was being driven on a
flat tire. An unmarked Blount County Sheriff's Office vehicle took
control of the pursuit through Townsend, but McNutt took over the lead
position when the van entered the park. Top speed during the pursuit
was between 35 and 40 mph. By this time, the flat tire had been
destroyed and the van was riding on the wheel rim. Heavy smoke was
coming from the front end and sparks were evident as the rim gouged
the road surface. The driver was riding the centerline of Laurel Creek
Road. Fearing an accident, McNutt made the decision to ram the van,
which was forced off the road into a pullout. The two occupants were
arrested. The driver will be charged initially by the county; federal
charges will follow. The female passenger will be charged by the
county for public intoxication. [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 8/10]
00-472 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue; Weapons Violation
Rangers heard gunshots and a person yelling for help on the cliff
bands above Yosemite Chapel around 8 p.m. on August 2nd. When they
began shining lights on the cliffs, additional shots were fired. They
took cover and employed a PA system to make contact with a man spotted
on the cliff, subsequently identified as Jonathan Haft, 22, of Beverly
Hills. Haft employed the flash on his camera to respond to the
rangers. He indicated that he was injured and that he'd reached his
present location by climbing down the cliff from Four Mile Trail, but
provided conflicting answers to other questions. Further investigation
and rescue efforts were delayed by darkness and resumed in the
morning. A telescope was used to locate Haft, who was wearing
camouflage clothing and carrying a daypack and semi-automatic handgun.
Rangers used the PA to instruct him to disassemble the handgun,
separate the parts, place the daypack out of reach, and place his
hands on his head. Haft complied with these commands. Rangers Keith
Lober, Steve Yu and Michael Nash then heli-rappelled to the site,
secured Haft's weapon, and escorted him on foot to the valley floor.
Haft told them that he'd gotten stuck while attempting to climb
directly to Glacier Point to get back to his car. He was charged for
weapons violations and for disorderly conduct by creating a hazardous
condition. [Dan Horner, YOSE, 8/8]
00-476 - Mount Rushmore NM (SD) - Special Event: Motorcycle Rally
The annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was held in Sturgis, South Dakota,
and the Black Hills area from August 7th through August 13th. This
year's rally was promoted heavily as the 60th anniversary/millennium
rally. Preliminary estimates by local officials are that over 500,000
people attended, making it the largest crowd in the history of the
event. NPS units in the region - Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Devils
Tower, Wind Cave, and Jewel Cave - were all significantly impacted by
rally-related traffic and visitors. The Midwest Region special events
team was based at Mount Rushmore and provided support to Badlands,
Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore. An estimated 113,000 bikers visited
Mount Rushmore during the rally period, a total 40 percent higher than
the previous highest total in 1999. On Tuesday, August 8th,
approximately 19,500 vehicles entered Mount Rushmore, the highest one
day vehicle total in the history of the park. Motorcycle traffic was
heavy from August 4th through August 13th. Mount Rushmore rangers
and the Midwest SET managed the extremely heavy traffic, responded to
approximately 14 motorcycle accidents, handled 15 illegal drug cases,
and responded to numerous EMS assists, minor law enforcement
incidents, and visitor assists. Rangers observed over 200 outlaw
biker gang members or associates from over 30 different gangs wearing
"colors". This event has developed into one of the nation's largest
events, with bikers spread throughout the Black Hills region for up to
ten days each year. [Mike Pflaum, CR, MORU, 8/12]
00-477 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Pursuit; MVA
On August 12th, an employee at the park's south entrance station
reported that a truck had gone through the gate at a high rate of
speed and without paying the entrance fee. Ranger Kent Delbon
attempted to stop the truck a few miles within the park's boundary,
but the driver of the truck turned around and attempted to flee.
Delbon followed for a quarter of a mile, then backed off when he
determined that the driver was evidently impaired. The truck hit a
signpost on a median just north of the entrance station, then collided
with one of the entrance station booths, flipping the truck onto its
side and causing structural damage to the entrance station. Four NPS
fee staff employees were inside the booth at the time of the collision
but were unharmed. The truck began leaking fuel, but responding units
controlled and absorbed the spill. The two occupants of the truck
were rapidly extricated and taken to Flagstaff Medical Center. Alcohol
is believed to have been a contributing factor. An investigation is
underway. [Rosie Peragine, IC, GRCA, 8/14]
00-478 - Denali NP (AK) - Rescue
On August 8th, Muriell Lecaplain, 30, of Lyon, France, obtained a
backcountry pass from the park with the objective of spending two
weeks on Muldrow Glacier. Four days later, the Rescue Coordinator
Center (RCC) in Anchorage received an emergency signal from
Lecaplain's personal locator beacon (PLB). Rangers on board an NPS
contract helicopter searched for her that evening, but were unable to
spot her. The search resumed on the morning of August 13th. Lecaplain
was located by the crew on an Air National Guard helicopter that
afternoon and flown to Alaska Regional Hospital for treatment of an
injured arm and hypothermia. Although Lecaplain was almost invisible
on the glacier, the ANG crew was able to nail down her exact location
with the electronic equipment they had onboard their Pavehawk
helicopter. The type of PLB she was carrying must be activated by the
person using it in order for the rescue signal to be sent out. The
signal is picked up by satellite and relayed to the RCC. It also
displays the name of the individual who is in need of rescue. [Jane
Tranel, IO, DENA, 8/13]
00-479 - Zion NP (UT) - Rescue
Six members of the park's SAR team hiked into Orderville Canyon on the
evening of July 25th in response to a report of a 43-year-old visitor
with an ankle injury. Jack Reno of Clovis, California, had been
canyoneering with two friends when he rolled his ankle and suffered a
severe fracture. His companions left him behind and hiked
three-and-a-half miles to report the accident. While waiting for help
to arrive, Reno crawled about a quarter mile down the canyon. Four
members of the SAR team spent the night with him and were joined in
the morning by six more team members. Reno was carried out on a litter
through several deep pools in The Narrows on the North Fork of the
Virgin River, then floated by raft about two miles to Riverside Walk.
He was evacuated by ambulance to a hospital and treated for his
injury. Cindi Purcell was IC. [Dispatch, ZION, 7/31]
00-480 - Arches NP/Canyonlands NP (UT) - Search
On August 1st, a 13-year-old boy from Woodstock, Illinois, was
mountain biking on a backcountry trail outside of Moab (and directly
across the Colorado River from Arches NP) with his father and other
members of a youth group. He biked ahead of his group, took a wrong
turn, and became lost in very rugged desert canyon terrain. An initial
search was conducted that night by county SAR team members; it proved
fruitless, so a major search was begun the following day. The NPS was
asked to assist and contributed 18 employees to the effort. The
incident involved well over 100 people from numerous local, county,
federal, private and volunteer organizations and received significant
regional media attention. Arches and Canyonlands employees worked as
trackers, ground searchers, dog team members, aerial searches, and
support staff in plans, logistics and communications. Ranger Gary
Haynes was the plans section chief. Environmental conditions were a
major consideration, with daytime temperatures reaching 110 degrees,
steep canyons, and rough and rocky terrain. The search continued until
mid-day on August 5th, when trackers found the boy's body about
two-and-a-half miles from his abandoned bicycle. There were no
injuries or heat-related illnesses during the operation despite the
prevailing conditions. [Jim Webster, CR, ARCH, 8/7]
00-482 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Attempted Suicide; Rescue
On August 11th, dispatch received a call from park visitors who had
seen a man jump off the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near Mather
Point. They also reported that the man was still alive and lying below
the rim. Rangers responded to the scene within minutes and found a
31-year-old man from Odessa, Texas, lying in a group of trees
approximately 150 feet below the rim. Ranger Matt Vandzura quickly
rappelled to the patient and determined that he was suffering from a
hemo-pneumothorax, partial avulsed foot, flail chest, and numerous
other fractures. Vandzura was able to relieve the pressure of the
pneumothorax through a needle thoracotomy. Ranger Nancy Mecham
assisted in stabilizing the patient. Vandzura and the patient were
lifted from the scene via helicopter short haul. The patient was then
flown to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he has undergone surgery
on his foot and is in stable condition. [Kent Delbon, IC/Shift
Supervisor, South Rim, GRCA, 8/13]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Update on Cerro Grande Board of Inquiry - In June, Director Stanton
appointed a board of inquiry to investigate whether personnel actions
should be taken in regard to the way the Cerro Grande prescribed fire
was conducted. The board was unable to complete its report by July
31st as planned. The board was unable to interview several people
because they are out fighting fires. They may not be available for
interviews until much later in the fire season. The Forest Service
member of the board was also called back to Montana on emergency fire
management duties. It's there uncertain when the report will be
completed. If the report proposes any personnel actions, then its
findings will not be made public until the affected employees have
completed their right to review and respond to any proposed personnel
actions. At that point, an official decision will be announced and the
board's report will be released. [Public Affairs, WASO]
