- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, July 27, 1989
- Date: Thurs, 27 Jul 1989
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Thursday, July 27, 1989
INCIDENTS
89-192 - Yosemite - Follow-up on Paraplegic Ascent of El Capitan
Climbers Dike Corbett and Mark Wellman, a 29-year-old paraplegic ranger,
reached the summit of El Capitan yesterday afternoon, seven days and four
hours after they began their ascent. Wellman is the first paraplegic to
conquer El Capitan. The climb took en estimated 7,000 pull-ups, each of
which advanced him only a half foot. A nationwide television audience saw
them reach the top, and the Senate later passed a resolution commending them
for their "extraordinary feat of bravery and stoutheartedness." (Associated
Press).
89-197 - Baltimore-Washington Parkway - MVA with Fatality
At 5:30 a.m. on the 26th, Park Police officers were notified of a possible
motor vehicle accident off the parkway near Good Luck Road. Upon arrival,
they found the involved vehicle just north of Riverdale Road and in the
weeded area off the northbound lanes. The body of an unidentified female
was found on the ground next to the wreckage. According to witnesses, the
vehicle was being operated in a reckless manner and was traveling at a high
rate of speed when it left the roadway and struck a tree. (CompuServe
message from Dave Blackburn, RAD/NCRO).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION
Planning level III.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire Acres Contain
CO NPS Dinosaur NM *Pearl Park 218 7/27
OR USFS Malheur NF *Glacier - T1 1,000 None
BLM Vale *Phipps Creek 300 7/27
BLM Vale *Tub Mountain 600 7/27
BLM Vale *Wildhorse 1,800 None
BLM Vale *ABC Misc. 590 None
ID USFS Nez Perce NF Jnsn. Butte - T2 2,100 7/29
USFS Nez Perce NF Cape Horn - T2 320 7/27
USFS Boise NF Red Mountain - T2 160 None
USFS Nez Perce NF *Silver Dome - T1 40 None
BLM Boise *LB-M?85 2,000 None
BLM Boise *Syrup Creek 300 None
BLM Boise *Nichols 500 None
BLM Boise *Black Mesa 400 None
BLM Boise *Decker 100 None
NV State - *Chicken Creek 200 None
WA USFS Okanogan NF Lodgepole - T2 200 None
NOTES:
- Agencies - All BLM areas are districts; CDF is California Department of
Forestry.
- Fires - Asterisk indicates new fire.
- 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
* Glacier Complex Fires - Malheur NF:
The complex consists of at least a dozen fires burning mostly in the
Strawberry Wilderness. Heavy fuels, rough terrain and poor access are
hampering control efforts. Reinhart's Type I Team is managing the
fires.
* Lodgepole Fire - Okanogan NF:
Heavy fuels of about 200 tons per acre are causing control problems.
4) FIRE ACTIVITY - 220 fires for 1,397 acres in last 24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - Extensive dry lightning has caused multiple ignitions in
eastern Oregon, Idaho and western Montana. Some of these have escaped
initial attack. A. major internal mobilization is underway in the
Northwest, northern Rockies and Great Basin. Smokejumpers and air
tankers are in critical demand. Some resources are being mobilized
from Alaska to the Lower 48.
6) PROGNOSIS - Fire activity is expected to increase in the Northwest,
Great Basin and Northern Rockies due to continuing lightning and
detection of holdover fires.
(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 7/27/89).
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Denali - Two dramatic instances of wolf predation were witnessed by park
staff and visitors on tour and shuttle buses over the weekend. On the 22nd,
several wolves killed a bull caribou on the East Fork of the Toklat River
around mile post 45 on the park road. On the 23rd, twelve wolves attacked a
sow grizzly with three yearling cubs on the south side of Sable Pass at mile
post 40 on the park road. Several younger wolves held the sow and one cub
at bay while the rest of the pack, led by the alpha male, gave chase and
killed the two remaining yearlings. (Tom Griffiths, CR, DENA).
OFFICE NOTES
1) The Office of the Secretary has notified us that all American flags are
to be lowered to half staff today in honor of Korean War dead.
STAFF STATUS
Hodapp on travel, Butts at fire meeting in Boston.
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