- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 2, 1989
- Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1989
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Friday, June 2, 1989
INCIDENTS
89-90 - Lake Mead - Follow-up on Fatal Shooting by Park Rangers
The Board of Inquiry on the fatal shooting of D.N. at Devil's Cove
on May 13th (see the 5/16 morning report) has ruled that park rangers Don
McBee and Join Peterson acted within their authority and that the shooting
was a justifiable homicide. (Lowell White, ARD/Cps, WRO, via CompuServe
message to RAD/WASO).
89-114 - Shenandoah - Suicide and Technical Recovery
On the 27th, rangers found an unattended vehicle owned by W.O.,
53, at Crescent Rock overlook. The registration was checked through NCIC
and it was learned that there was a lookout posted for him as a possible
suicide. A search of the area was conducted, and W.O.'s body was found
on a ledge below the overlook. A 6-1/2 hour long technical recovery effort
was required to retrieve his body. (CompuServe message from R7D/MAR0).
89-115 - Chickamauga and Chattanooga - Suicide
The body of R.W., 35, of Ootewah, Tennessee, was found in his car
on Vittetoe Road on the afternoon of the 30th. R.W. had obtained an
industrial CO2 canister and had opened it in his closed vehicle. Rangers
employed CPR in an attempt to revive him, but were unsuccessful. (Telephone
message from RAD/SERO).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION
a) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
* Window Fire - Big Bend - 300 acres:
This lightning-caused fire began in the park on the 31st and has not yet
been controlled. The fire has burned one small structure and is a potential
threat to others. A helicopter and a Type II crew have been committed.
* Black Gap Fire - Big Bend - unknown acres:
This fire was also started by lightning on the 31st. A Type II crew is
working on the fire. No further information is currently available.
b) OTHER AGENCY
* Miami Canal Fire - State of Florida - 48,000 acres:
There's no estimate as to when the fire will be contained, nor any further
information on it.
* Coward Lake Fire - State of Georgia and USFWS - 1,200 acres:
Dry conditions could cause returns. Containment is expected this evening.
* West Fire - St. John WIS, - 400 acres:
The fire has been contained.
2) FIRE ACTIVITY - 137 fires for 35,963 acres reported on Thursday.
3) ANALYSIS - Extreme conditions continue in the southwest, with isolate:!
lightning reported in New Mexico. Prepositioning of resources to that area
is currently in progress.
4) PROGNOSIS - Fire activity is expected to continue in the southwest and
southeast. No relief from current conditions is forecasted. No resource
shortages are anticipated.
5) NOTES - The NPS Wildland Fire Situation Report has been completed for the
period from May 13th to the 31st:
- Fire Danger:
ARO Low
MAR Low-Mod
MHR Low-High Very High: Scott's Bluff NE
NCR Low-Mod
MAR Low-Mod
PNR Low
HMR Low-High Extreme: Bryce Canyon UT, Mesa Verde CO
SER Low-High Very High: Everglades FL
SWR Low-High Extreme; many areas in AZ, NM, TX
Very High: many areas in AZ and NM
WRO Low-High Extreme: Chiricahua AS, Grand Canyon AZ, Saguaro AZ
Very High: War In The Pacific GU
- Wildfire Occurrence:
Region Park # Fires # Acres
Midwest Indiana Dunes IN 2 1
Southeast Big Cypress FL 7 14,584
Cape Hatteras NO 1 0.1
Everglades FL 7 100,027
Southwest Big Bend 3 300
Guadalupe Mtns 1 100
Lake Meredith TX 1 0.1
Wupatki AZ 2 16
---- ---
Total 24 115,028.2
- Prescribed Natural Fire Occurrence:
No prescribed natural fires are being allowed, pending review and revision
of area fire management plans.
- Prescribed Burn Occurrence:
Midwest Voyageurs MN 1 324
- National Situation:
Major wildfire activity during the latter half of May continued to be
dominated by large fires burning in south Florida. The largest of those was
the Ingraham Fire at Everglades, a lightning-ignited blaze that burned
'8,800 acres in the Shark Valley Slough before being controlled. A Type II
Interagency Incident Management Team and the southern NPS administrative
payment team were both used on the fire. At Big Cypress, a 14,000 acre
blaze was accidentally ignited by a vehicle in a closed area. Also at Big
Cypress, a small human-caused fire burned 77 chickees in the Miccosukkee
Indian Village before being controlled at 8 acres. Aggressive control
tactics, prior burns, and use of single-engine air tankers all were helpful
in controlling the Florida fires. The Arrowhead Interagency Hotshot Crew
was dispatched, to the Everglades, and then moved; on to a OSFWS fire in
Georgia.
Fire restrictions are in effect all over the Southwest, as extreme drought
conditions continue there. The Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew has been
prepositioned there.
At Hawaii Volcanoes National Parle, an active lava flow has moved to within
100 feet of the eastern park boundary and is being monitored.
Fire danger continues to be very high to extreme at NPS areas in Florida,
Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
- Fire Occurrence, Year-To-Date:
Fire Type # Fires # Acres
Wildfires 115 124,500
Natural Cuts 11 50
Prescribed Natural Fires 0 ---
Prescribed Burns 45 30,655
False Alarms 21 ---
Mutual Aid by NPS 38 3,928
Support Actions 39 ---
Natural Outs 11 50
Prescribed Natural Fires 0 ---
Prescribed Burns 45 30,655
False Alarms 21 ---
Mutual Aid by NPS 38 3,928
Support Actions 39 ---
(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 6/2/89; NPS wildland fire report and
supplemental information on BIBE fires by fax from Judi Zuckert, BFM,
Boise).
OFFICE NOTES
1) SPECIAL NOTICE: As noted on the Wednesday morning report, ALL flags
should be at half staff due to the death of Rep. Claude Pepper. The White
House has advised us that they should remain at half staff until sunset on
Monday, June 5th.
2) NPS-60, the aviation management guideline, has been printed by GPO and
forwarded to regional offices for distribution to the field. Please note
that the table of contents was printed between pages one and two; other than
that, the document is in its proper form.
3) The recommendations of the interagency Fire Management Policy Review Team
were released yesterday, and the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior
have directed their agencies to suppress all natural fires in national parks
and wilderness areas until individual fire management plans for the areas
are determined to be in compliance with review team recommendations. The
Service has been under such a restriction since the Director ordered it last
August. The two Secretaries also reiterated that all wildland fires will be
declared either prescribed fires or wildfires, and that all wildfires will
be fought with appropriate suppression action. After the prescribed natural
fire program is reauthorized by the Director, responsible line officers will
be required to certify in writing daily that prescribed natural fires are
within prescriptions and that adequate resources are available to ensure
that each prescribed fire v.'ill remain within prescribed boundaries and
conditions throughout the next 24 hours, given reasonably foreseeable
weather conditions and fire behavior. If these conditions cannot be met,
the fire will be declared a wildfire and suppressed. A memo will be
transmitted to the field in the near future with the full report and summary
of public comments.
STAFF STATUS
Kreis on lieu day.
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