- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, August 1, 1989
- Date: Tues, 1 Aug 1989
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Tuesday, August 1, 1989
INCIDENTS
89-199 - Yosemite - Search, Visitor Fatality
At 4 p.m. on the 28th, W.B., a 28-year-old marathon runner from
Whittier, California, was reported overdue from a hike to Mirror Lake. An
extensive search was begun utilizing search dogs, helicopters and technical
climbers. At 3 p.m. on the 30th, W.B.'s body was found below North Dome
Gully and was recovered by helicopter later that day. It appears that
W.B. attempted to take a short cut by descending the precipitous gully
and fell fifty feet to his death. (Roger Rudolph, CR, YOSE, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).
89-200 - Joshua Tree - Drug Arrests
Following an undercover operation which was conducted on April 22nd, rangers
made four arrests of individuals on drug charges. Two of the four were
cited, booked and released. The remaining two, L.W. and D.J.,
were each charged with three felony counts - possession of a
controlled substance, possession for sales of a controlled substance, and
sales of a controlled substance. Each was also charged with being under the
influence, a misdemeanor. The two have been arrested in the park on
numerous occasions in the past for drug and weapons infractions. They have been
bound over to Barstow Superior Court for a trial in August. (Paul Henry,
CR, JOTR, via telefax to RAD/WRO and RAD/WASO).
89-201 - Colonial - Serious Injury to Bicyclists
On the afternoon of July 30th, a car driven by M.K. of Gloucester
Point, Virginia, struck two bicyclists who were heading in the same
direction in the same lane of Colonial Parkway. The cyclists, C. and
D.W., aged 38 and 39, were thrown some distance from their bikes.
Both are currently in the ICU at Riverside Hospital and listed in critical
condition. C.W. suffered fractures of the right tibia and fibula,
both clavicles and the pubic bone, two spinal compressions and serious
lacerations of the face and left arm; D.W. is conscious but
confused, and is scheduled for neurological tests. Investigation is
underway and charges are pending. (Dick Young, Acting CR, COLO, via
CompuServe message to RAD/WASO and RAD/MARO).
89-202 - Biscayne - Drowning
On the 29th, M.S., 32, of Hialeah, Florida, was snorkeling for
lobsters two miles east of Soldier Key when he apparently drowned. M.S.'s
friends began CPR, which was continued without luck by Florida Marine Patrol
personnel. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Mercy Hospital in Miami.
(Wayne Landrum, CR, BISC, via telefax to RAD/SERO and RAD/WASO).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION
Planning Level IV. The following report is a summary of the key
points made by the director of the Interagency Fire Center at last
night's briefing:
- The current commitment is the heaviest in five years, and is "far
worse" than the situation that occurred in Yellowstone and elsewhere
last summer. Most resources have been exhausted due to the vast number
of fires over wide areas and the fact that many are threatening
communities. At present, there are unfilled orders for 150 crews and
80 helicopters. No contract helicopters are available. As of 8 p.m.,
approximately 823 crews and 2,442 overhead personnel - a total of over
20,000 people - had been committed to fires. [The NPS has so far
mobilized 221 firefighters, 40 hotshot crew members and 56 overhead
personnel]. Between two and four more battalions will be requested
from the Army. Canadian assistance will not be available due to
extreme fires in that country.
- No improvement is expected in the foreseeable future. All areas
not impacted by fire activity are asked to accelerate the sharing
of overhead crews and other resources.
- All remaining resources will be allocated based upon national
priorities. All geographic areas are to provide NIFCC with a
list of resources available for assignment. Miscellaneous overhead
should be identified by position and numbers available. This report
is due at MEFCC by 10:00 MDT daily.
- All overhead positions except Type I command and general staff and
specialty positions will have to be filled internally.
- Geographic areas requesting overhead or crews from NIFCC should
include verification by the agency head (regional foresters, state
directors, etc.) that all qualified personnel not essential to
initial attack have been allocated to existing fires.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire Acres Contain
MT USFS Nez Perce NF Jnsn. Butte - T2 4,200 None
BLM Miles City *Forest - T2 300 None
ID USFS Boise NF Lowman - T1 10,000 None
USFS Boise NF Warm Lake - T1 11,000 None
USFS Boise NF Idaho City - T2 3,500 None
USFS Payette NF Partridge - T1 6,000 None
USFS Payette NF Steamboat - T1 3,520 None
USFS Payette NF Game Creek 400 None
USFS Sawtooth NF McPhearson 1,550 None
USFS Salmon NF Powerline - T1 1,000 None
BLM Boise Deer Creek 6,772 Yes
BLM Boise Bush Creek 1,200 Yes
BLM Burley *Ogden 300 7/31
BLM Idaho Falls *Bear Trap 1,800 Yes
BLM Shoshone *Wendell NE 400 None
BLM Shoshone *184MP80SW 1,000 None
BLM Shoshone *Richfield S 500 None
State - Fleming - T2 5,000 8/2
State - Eagle Nest 1,380 8/5
OR USFS Malheur NF Glacier - T1 8,630 None
USFS Wall.-Whit. NF Dooley Mt. - T1 18,000 None
USFS Wall.-Whit. NF Tanner Gulch - T1 2,850 None
USFS Wall.-Whit. NF Enterprise - T1 26,000 None
USFS Wall.-Whit. NF Emmet - T2 780 None
USFS Wall.-Whit. NF Pine - T2 450 None
USFS Wall.-Whit. NF Monument Rock - T2 4,500 None
State - Bridgeport 350 None
CA USFS/ Sierra NF/Fresno
CDF Kings RU Powerhouse - T1 7,220 None
USFS Cleveland NF Vail - T1 6,000+ None
USFS Sierra NF Balch - T1 1,200 None
USFS Angeles NF Pacy 1,000 Yes
WA USFS Okanogan NF Lodgepole - T2 853 8/1
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) FIRE NARRATIVES
a) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE:
* No significant fires.
b) OTHER AGENCIES:
* Boise NF:
The Lowman Complex fires continue to threaten structures along the South
Fork of the Payette River up to ten miles east of Lowman. Efforts are
focusing on lining and foaming structures, and more evacuations are in
progress. Structural protection plans were implemented yesterday on
the Warm Lake Complex fires; homes and lodges are not immediately
threatened, however. At least four fires between 30 and 3,000 acres
remain unstaffed. The southern flank of the Idaho City Complex has
been dozered to protect Idaho City.
* Payette NF:
The Partridge Complex now includes the Elk Meadows fire. The fire has
now spotted north of the Salmon River into the Nez Perce NF. An
evacuation plan has been developed for Warren, which is located three
miles from the Steamboat fire.
* Wallowa-Whitman NF:
The Dooley Mountain fire is burning five miles south of Baker; all
roads in the area have been closed and evacuations are continuing.
There was spotting ahead of the main fire front on the Tanner Gulch
Complex, which is currently two miles from the LaGrande watershed.
Crews on the Monument Rock fire were pulled off the lines yesterday
afternoon due to the rapid spread of the fire. The Emmet Complex
fires are burning in grass, brush and stringers of timber on steep terrain
west of Riggins, Idaho. The fire is not yet threatening private
property.
* Cleveland NF:
The fire is a potential threat to Mount Palomar Observatory.
* Canada:
There are no communities in immediate danger and residents of many towns
are returning home. Although light winds and high humidities have again
provided favorable working conditions, between 100 and 200 starts are
being recorded daily.
4) FIRE ACTIVITY - 178 fires for 12,540 acres in last 24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - Extensive mobilization of resources is continuing with all
geographic areas being tapped for assistance. Problem fires are
occurring in California, Oregon and Idaho. Containment targets are
being delayed on most fires as a result of volatile burning conditions.
A RED FLAG WARNING has been posted for wind and low humidity in
Nevada; RED FLAG WATCHES have been posted for dry thunderstorms in
northeast Oregon, Idaho and western Montana.
6) PROGNOSIS - Large-scale resource mobilization is continuing, with
both civilian and military involvement accelerating.
7) NOTES - NIFCC continues to have problems with reporting of fires on
ICS 209's. This report is due in to NIFCC no later than midnight on
fires of over 100 acres until the fire is declared controlled.
(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 8/1/89).
STAFF STATUS
All hands on board.
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