RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Thursday, May 4, 1989
INCIDENTS
89-60 - Everglades - Follow-up on Outbreak of Fatal Disease
In early April, Public Health Service doctors and Dade County
epidemiologists began investigating the cause of an outbreak of serious
intestinal disorders in the Miccosukkee permit area in the park. The
outbreak took the life of one six-year-old girl and left nearly 30 others in
local hospitals. Several public drinking facilities in the park were closed
at that time as a precaution. The disease has since been identified as
shigella, a bacterial infection spread by poor sanitation. The exact source
has not been isolated, but it's been determined that the majority of the
illnesses occurred in two families who were drinking from the same polluted
well. Other cases may eventually be linked to restaurants within the
village. The water within the park was tested and found to be sound. There
have been no new cases reported during the last ten days. (Scott Erickson,
CR, EVER).
89-81 - Big Bend - Drug Arrests
On May 1st, Border Patrol agents stopped a car on Highway 170 just north of
Big Bend on suspicion of drug trafficking through the park. During a search
of the vehicle, the agents found just over 19 pounds of marijuana valued at
$15,440. The driver, L.Z.L., was arrested. On the morning of
May 3rd, Customs agents stopped a pick-up truck inside the park near the
Highway 118 entrance for the same reason. The agents found 22 pounds of
marijuana valued at $17,600 in the truck. Three individuals were taken into
custody. The two incidents appear to be related. Both stops were based on
information the park keeps on border crossings and on observations made by a
park ranger regarding suspicious activities. (Charlie Peterson, Acting CR,
BIBE).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION
a) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
* Spring Creek Fire - Gateway - 5 - 6 acres:
A final contract is being prepared for suppression action. The Type I team
which had been assigned to the fire was demobilized yesterday.
b) OTHER AGENCY
* Pin Hook Fire - State of Florida/NF's in Florida - 13,500 acres:
The fire has been contained.
2) FIRE ACTIVITY - 149 fires for 2,130 acres reported on Wednesday; the
year-to-date total is 18,099 fires for 420,083 acres.
3) ANALYSIS - No significant fire activity reported.
4) PROGNOSIS - Extreme indices coupled with high temperatures could result
in significant activity in the southwest. No resource shortages are anticipated.
(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 1630 MDT, 5/3/89).
OFFICE NOTES
1) We have only received 15 nominations for the aviation managers' course to
be held in Boise June 12 - 16. The course is intended for park and regional
aviation coordinators, and is being entirely funded out of a central FIREPRO
account. The closing date was May 1st, but it has been extended. Send a
one page nomination to your regional training specialist. For further
information, call me at FTS 343-4188. (Butch Farabee, RAD/WASO).
2) Clarification: Nominations for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
workshop to be held at Albright from June 19th to the 30th should be
submitted in accordance with procedures and deadlines established by the
respective regional training offices. The information given in Tuesday's
morning report regarding nominations pertained to regional training offices,
not individual submittals. (Ann Baugh, AEDC).
STAFF STATUS
Dabney en route to Western Region chief rangers' meeting, Healy on AL.
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: FTS 343-4874/6039 or 202-343-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 343-5977 or 202-343-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER