- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, September 13, 1989
- Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1989
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Wednesday, September 13, 1989
INCIDENTS
89-273 - Everglades (Florida) - Structural Fire
At 8:30 p.m. on the 11th, a fire broke out in an unoccupied seasonal trailer
in the Pine Island residential area. The park's fire brigade responded, but
the trailer was fully involved when they arrived. The trailer and its
contents - mostly furnishings - were totally destroyed. No appraisal has
yet been made of the value of the property lost. A Metro Dade fire
investigator has determined that the fire was probably caused by faulty
wiring. (Telephone report from Steve Smith, RAD/SERO).
89-274 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Drowning
On the evening of the 11th, D.D., 39, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was
attempting to simultaneously swim and pull a small sail boat to a trailer at
the marina launch ramp when he suddenly began yelling for help and went
under. Rangers searched the lake's waters for him and found and recovered
his body. Cause of death is not known, but is presumed to be drowning.
(Telephone report from Ann Betus, RAD/WRO).
89-275 - Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - Surf Rescues
On September 8th, a 13-foot Boston Whaler with two adults aboard capsized in
unusually heavy surf from Hurricane Gabrielle about 150 yards off Coast
Guard Beach. The two occupants, who were both wearing life preservers,
attempted to stay with the boat, but the heavy surf made this difficult so
they attempted to head for shore. Ranger Jeff West, who had observed the
incident, saw that one of the pair was having trouble staying afloat,
entered the water in uniform, and pulled him to shore. It was later learned
that the man did not know how to swim. Three days later, a lone adult
swimmer got into trouble in heavy surf off Nauset Light Beach and began
calling for help. Three park visitors went to his aide, but the victim
became panicky and would not let them touch him so they instead attempted to
coax him to shore. Ranger West and maintenance foreman Jamie Bell, both in
uniform, entered the water with a rescue buoy and swam approximately 25
yards to the victim. West and Bell each grabbed one of his arms and pulled
him to shore through six- to eight-foot breakers. Note: The park's
lifeguard operation ended for the season on September 3rd. (CompuServe
message from Dennis Burnett, DR, CACO).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION: Planning Level II.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire Acres Contain
CA USFS Shasta-Trinity NF *Dee 300 None
3) FIRE ACTIVITY - 51 fires for 255 acres in last 24 hours.
4) ANALYSIS - Very high indices continue to be reported in California,
and portions of the Great Basin and Southwest. A RED FLAG WARNING
has been posted for gusty east winds and low relative humidities in
western Washington and western Oregon.
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages anticipated.
6) NOTES - The Service's wildland fire situation report for the period from
August 31st to September 6th has been completed:
- Fire Danger:
ARO Low
MAR Low
MWR Low-High Very High: Scotts Bluff NE
NCR Low
NAR Low
PNR Low-Mod
RMR Low-High Very High: Bryce Canyon, Zion UT
Extreme: Dinosaur CO
SER Low-Mod
SWR Low-Mod
WRO Low-High Very High: Redwood, Yosemite CA
Extreme: Great Basin NV, Lava Beds, Pinnacles,
Sequoia-Kings Canyon CA
- Wildfire Occurrence:
Region Park # Fires # Acres
Rocky Mtn Dinosaur CO 4 3
Yellowstone WY 2 0.2
Western Grand Canyon AZ 1 0.1
Redwood CA 1 0.1
Saguaro AZ 1 0.2
Sequoia-Kings CA 2 1
Yosemite CA 4 4
---- ------
Total 15 8.6
- Prescribed Natural Fire Occurrence:
No prescribed natural fires are being conducted pending revision
and approval of area fire management plans.
- Prescribed Burn Occurrence:
Southeast Everglades FL 1+ 1 carry-over 500
---- ------
Total 2 500
- National Situation:
Once again, very few fires were reported for this time of year, either
on park-administered lands or other lands. Fire danger has been
increasing in California, Nevada, and Utah, with great potential for
fires there during the remainder of the western fire season.
The ongoing volcanic eruption at Hawaii Volcanoes is depositing lava in
a westerly flow, and igniting small fires within the area previously
blacklined.
Very little personnel movement was reported during the week. Eight
firefighters and two overhead from Yellowstone were dispatched to a
fire on the Custer National Forest in Montana. The Arrowhead
Interagency Hotshot Crew responded to a fire on the Sequoia National
Forest in California.
- Fire Occurrence, Year-To-Date:
Fire Type # Fires # Acres
Wildfires 639 171,000
Natural Outs 57 2,101
Prescribed Natural Fires 0 ---
Prescribed Burns 88 41,055
False Alarms 51 ---
Mutual Aid by NPS 119 26,874
Support Actions 308 ---
(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 9/13/89; NPS National Wildland Fire
Situation Report prepared by Judi Zuckert, BFM/Boise).
TRANSMITTALS
Memorandum: "Recreation Fee Coordinator Training - November 28-30, 1989",
signed September 11th by Jack Morehead, Associate Director, Operations, and
sent yesterday to all regional directors. Contains detailed information on
the training course.
STAFF STATUS
Dabney in Lowell, Ringgold on SL, Farabee on detail, Hodapp at wilderness
conference, Butts in Boise.
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
SEAdog: 1/650 (Phone:343-6014; BAUD:2400)