- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, July 11, 1989
- Date: Tues, 11 Jul 1989
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Tuesday, July 11, 1989
INCIDENTS
89-176 - Natchez Trace - Motor Vehicle Accident with Fatalities
Early on the morning of July 7th, G.I., 22, of Corinth, Mississippi,
and T.T., 22, of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, were heading north from
Jackson State University on the Natchez Trace. Their vehicle became
airborne after it entered an area closed for construction near Highway 32,
then hit some trees in the median, caught fire and burned. Both G.I. and
T.T. were killed. Indications are that neither was wearing a seatbelt.
All "Road Closed Ahead" signs warning signs were in place, and all warning
lights were operating in the construction area. (Gene Phillips, Deputy CR,
NATR, via CompuServe message to RAD/SERO and RAD/WASO).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION
Planning Level IV.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire Acres Contain
AZ NPS Grand Canyon NP Muav - T1 1,700 7/11
USFS Tonto NF Horton - T2 200 7/12
USFS Tonto NF Jack - T1 500 None
USFS Kaibab NF Wounded - T2 60 Yes
USFS Prescott NF Pine Mountain 1,000 7/12
USFS Gila NF Divide - T1 10,025 Yes
USFS Coronado NF Fagan - T2 8,010 Yes
BLM/FWS Yuma/Havasu NWR Planet 600 None
State - Wright 400 7/10
State - Alamosa 500 None
State - Wagner 1,500 None
NM NPS El Malpais NM Collapse 2,900 Yes
NPS El Malpais NM Soya - T2 2,500 7/12
NPS Big Bend NP Bailey 150 7/10
BIA San Carlos Old Summit - T2 3,261 Yes
BIA Ft. Apache CC Canyon - T2 613 Yes
CO NPS Mesa Verde HP Long Mesa - T2 2,500 7/14
USFS Arap.-Roos. NF Number 6 1,450 7/12
USFS Arap.-Roos. NF Sunnyside - T1 2,279 7/12
BLM Craig Barcus 300 Yes
BLM Grand Junction Demaree - T2 700 None
WY USFS Bridger-Teton NF Ann's - T1 3,477 Yes
NB USFS Nebraska NF Ft. Robsn. - T2 54,000 None
UT BLM Moab Dimnd. Pk. - T2 12,500 Yes
NV BLM Battle Mountain Walters 2,870 7/11
BLM Las Vegas Mormon Peak 1,000 7/12
BLM Winnemucca Buckskin 210 Yes
CA USFS Cleveland NF Thing 4,000 None
State Monterey CDF Molera 2,800 None
USFS Plumas NF Rack - T1 3,500 7/12
State Lassen-Modoc CDF Eagle 4,600 Yes
OR USFS Fremont NF Spring Skyline 1,097 Yes
USFS Fremont NF Ennis Butte 850 Yes
AK BLM/BIA Anchorage Crook. Crk. - T2 8,500 7/11
BLM Anchorage Swng. Dome - T2 27,120 7/11
NOTES:
- Agencies - All BLM areas are districts; CDF is California Department of
Forestry.
- Areas - T1 and T2 indicate assigned Type I and Type II Teams.
- Contain - Containment dates are estimates; "none" means no estimate;
"yes" means the fire has been contained.
3) SIGNIFICANT FIRES
a) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
* Long Mesa Fire - Mesa Verde:
The fire was relatively quiet on Monday due to cooler temperatures
and higher humidity. The fire has burned to the rim on the north
end of the mesa, but has not spread to the east where visitor
facilities and major archeological sites are located. Air tankers
worked along the northern flank yesterday, and most burning occurred
within the fire's perimeter. Visitors may be allowed back into the main
areas of the park on Chapin Mesa today. It's now estimated that the fire
will be contained by Friday.
* Collapse and Hoya Fires - El Malpais:
The Collapse Fire, which burned 2,900 acres within the park and 1,400
acres of adjoining BLM land, has now been contained, and should be fully
controlled by Wednesday. There was little activity on the fire yesterday,
and resources have been shifted to the Hoya Fire, which has now burned
2,500 acres. Erratic downdraft winds from cumulus clouds are occurring on
a daily basis, making access to the fire difficult. The fire situation in
the Southwest has delayed arrival of sufficient resources to contain the
fire, but it is now thought that the fire should be contained by Wednesday
and controlled by Friday.
* Chiva Fire - Saguaro:
The fire has been contained at 9,200 acres. Most of the crews on the fire
are to be demobilized today, and management of the fire will be turned
back to the park on Wednesday. Two crews, a helicopter and some overhead
personnel will continue to work on the fire.
* Muav Fire - Grand Canyon:
Management of this fire was taken over by a Type I Team on Sunday evening,
and eight crews were assigned to the fire. Hand lines are being
constructed now that more crews are available, but a D-4 bulldozer is also
being employed in the Kaibab National Forest to prevent fire spread. A
Vertol helicopter is being used for bucket work on the extremely steep
slopes within the fire's perimeter. The fire should be contained today,
and under control by 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
b) OTHER AGENCIES
* Planet Fire - Yuma District, BM/Havasu NWE:
The fire is threatening trailers on the Planet Ranch.
* Number Six Fire - Arapaho-Roosevelt NF:
Efforts are being directed at holding the fire to the west side of the
North Fork of the Poudre River in order to keep the fire out of a
subdivision.
* Sunnyside Fire - Arapaho-Roosevelt NF:
Forty-two structures, most of them residences, have been destroyed.
Some highways have been closed, and evacuations are continuing.
* Thing Fire - Cleveland NF/San Diego Resource Unit, CDF:
FAA installations, recreational developments and the Sawtooth
Wilderness Study Area are threatened by the fire.
* Molera Fire - San Benito-Monterey Resource Unit, CDF:
A tree fell on six inmates assigned to a CDF crew, killing one and
injuring the others to varying degrees.
* Rack Fire - Plumas NF:
Rapid fire spread has been caused by extreme conditions and spotting.
4) FIRE ACTIVITY - 336 fires for 38,906 acres in last 24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - Precipitation in the Southwest has moderated activity there.
Some demobilization of resources is underway. Extensive lightning
activity throughout the remainder of the West has resulted in new
ignitions.
6) PROGNOSIS - Competition for resources is expected to decrease, with
initial attack forces still in high demand.
7) NOTES - As of yesterday, the NPS had 233 firefighters and 181 overhead
personnel (a total of 414 people) involved in wildfire operations.
(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 7/11/89; information on NPS fires
from Judi Zuckert, BFM/Boise).
OFFICE NOTES
1) We regret to inform you that Dick Wilburn, Chief of the Branch of Loss
Control Management (Safety) in WASO, died suddenly of an apparent heart
attack last night. We will forward more details as soon as they become
available.
STAFF STATUS
Ringgold and Loach on AL; Hodapp on travel.
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