RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Friday, June 16, 1989
INCIDENTS
89-134 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Aircraft Accident with Fatalities
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 11th, park rangers were advised that a
Scenic Air Tours flight from Hilo to Kahalui with 11 people on board had
disappeared while flying over the park. On Monday, an emergency locator
signal was picked up from the Waipeo - Waimanu Valley area outside of the
park's boundaries. This area contains steep and highly-vegetated canyons
with water falls over 1,000 feet high at the headwalls. Heavy rains over
the island prevented aircraft from locating the crash scene. Early on
Tuesday morning, the DBA helicopter which is stationed in the park
transported park rangers Jeffery Judd and Scott Lopez to the area to assist
in the search; ranger John Machado drove there with a fuel trailer and SAR
equipment. The crash site was located on the headwall of Waimanu valley,
about half way up its 2,000-foot height. The aircraft had burned and its
remains were hanging from vegetation and rocks on the highly-vegetated cliff
face. Fire department and military units were unable to reach the site and
asked that the rangers evaluate the scene. After an appraisal of the
accident site and some phone consultation with ranger Bob Howard in
Yosemite, a plan was developed that involved long-line insertion of recovery
personnel with a Hughs 500D helicopter. T.H., the pilot of the
Hughs, is considered to be the best tactical pilot in the islands, and was a
key person in the development of marijuana air eradication methods in the
early 80's. The three rangers and two other rescuers were long-lined into
an area adjacent to the crash site; they stabilized the scene with fixed
climbing ropes and spent the rest of the day recovering remains with a water
rescue net. Heavy rains fell during the night, making the crash site
extremely hazardous. On Wednesday, the team fixed cables around the
aircraft and airlifted parts out by helicopter. Three victims were still in
the plane at day's end, however, and recovery coordinators plan to long-line
the rangers into the site again to remove their bodies as soon as weather
permits. The fuselage will be left in place. (Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via
CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
89-135 - Hawaii Volcanoes - Volcanic Eruption
Two fingers of a lava flow are threatening park facilities. One is
approaching the archaeologically significant site of Kailiili and will
overcome it unless the flow is diverted. The flow may also cross the road
leading to the Wahaula Visitor Center, which will isolate but not threaten
the building. The second finger is threatening the Kalapana maintenance
area, but should not reach the facility for at least 30 days, if at all.
(Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from PvAD/WRO).
89-136 - New River - Vice Presidential Visit
On June 10th, Vice President Quayle and his family rafted the lower gorged
of the New River within the park. Park rangers assisted the Secret Service
in planning water-related activities and possible Whitewater SAR and EMS
operations; they also assisted in providing site security in the launching
area. During the trip, rangers and Secret Service agents on park watercraft
provided the vanguard and rear guard for the Vice President's party. The
park's 20-foot motorized raft was employed to carry specialized equipment,
including weapons and White House communications equipment, and to serve as
a platform for possible SAR operations. At the conclusion of the trip, Vice
President Quayle spoke to several rangers and thanked them for their
assistance; he also said that he would like to come back in the fall and run
the Gauley River, which is a new national park area. During the Vice
President's visit, the park also permitted and managed a political
demonstration associated with the visit. (Bill Blake, CR, NERI, via telefax
to RAD/MARO and RAD/WASO).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION (Planning Level I)
a) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
No significant fires reported.
b) OTHER AGENCY
* Bautista Fire - San Bernadino NF (California) - 500 acres:
Heavy brush and steep terrain are hampering control efforts. Estimated
containment: 6/16.
* Rugged Fire - Tonto NF (Arizona) - 150 acres:
The fire is burning mainly in brush. Limited access and winds are causing
control problems. Estimated containment: 6/16.
2) FIRE ACTIVITY - 188 fires for 4,302 acres in last 24 hours.
3) ANALYSIS - Hot and dry conditions prevail throughout the Great Basin and
the southwest. Lightning activity last night in the southwest generated
several new starts.
4) PROGNOSIS - Current conditions are expected to continue, and holdover
fires are expected in the southwest. No resource shortages anticipated.
(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 6/16/89).
STAFF STATUS
Farabee in Tucson, Healy in Shenandoah, Kreis on lieu day.
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities