- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, July 6, 1990
- Date: Fri, 6 Jul 1990
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Friday, July 6, 1990
INCIDENTS
90-178 - Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - Assault on Ranger
At about 10 p.m. on July 4th, commissioned seasonal rangers
Russell Keyes and Jerry Baker were checking on illegal fireworks
in a beach parking lot when they became involved in a
confrontation with V.M. of Wellfleet, Massachusetts.
V.M., who was intoxicated and very belligerent, shoved Keyes,
then tried to hit him. Keyes and V.M. ended up on the ground,
at which point V.M. attempted to remove Keyes' service
revolver. While Baker and Keyes attempted to control V.M. and
get cuffs on him, E.R., V.M.'s companion, jumped
on Keyes' back and drove his head through the side window of a
Chevy S10 Blazer. A second woman, H.S., struck Keyes
across the face after V.M. was handcuffed and being led away.
Both V.M. and H.S. have lengthy histories of assault and
battery. V.M. is being charged with assault on a Federal
officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and fireworks
violations; E.R. and H.S. are being charged with assault on a
Federal officer, interfering with agency functions and
disorderly conduct. The U.S. Attorney's Office will prosecute
the trio in District Court in Boston. (CompuServe message from
Dennis Burnett, DR, CACO, 7/5).
90-179 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Drowning
On July 4th, J.H., 27, of Shonto, Arizona, drowned while
swimming near the Wahweap picnic area. J.H. raced a friend to
a buoy about 75 yards off shore; on the return swim, he began
having trouble about 15 yards from shore. J.H.'s friend swam
to his assistance, but was unable to keep a grip on J.H. as he
struggled to stay afloat. NPS divers recovered the body within
the hour. CPR was attempted, and J.H. was flown by helicopter
to Page, where he was pronounced dead. Alcohol was involved.
(Telefaxed report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/5).
90-180 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Sinking of NPS Vessel
At about 2 p.m. on June 28th, A.T. was piloting a park
maintenance boat from Dangling Rope to Wahweap when the boat ran
into large wakes caused by tour boats near mile marker 19. The
vessel, a 28-foot Monarch boat which is shaped like a landing
barge, was heavily laden with cargo and began taking water over
the port bow. The unlashed cargo of air compressors and pipe
shifted and the boat rolled over. A.T. was wearing a PFD and
was able to escape from the craft without injury. A visitor
picked her up from the water. NPS crews recovered the vessel,
but the cargo, which was being brought down for a survey, was
lost in about 300 feet of water. The estimated value of the
lost equipment is $2,000. (Telefaxed report from Larry Clark,
CR, GLCA, 7/5).
90-181 - Big Bend (Texas) - Animal Incident
According to a July 3rd story in the Houston Chronicle, a
mountain lion attacked a dog at a campsite in the Basin area on
June 27th. The dog's owner, K.P. of Houston, said
that she jumped out of her tent and "tried to beat (the lion) to
death" with a pair of flip-flops. Two neighboring campers scared
the lion with a flare, and pulled the dog from its jaws. The
dog reportedly suffered gashes on its head and stomach. A park
spokesman said that park staff had been tracking the 60-pound
lion, but had not publicized its whereabouts because it didn't
pose a danger to humans. The lion was subsequently captured and
moved to another area. It is being monitored by radio collar.
(Kelly Rucker, Houston Chronicle, via WASO Public Affairs, 7/5).
90-182 - Harpers Ferry (West Virginia) - Drowning
On the afternoon of the 4th, S.M., 26, of Potomac,
Maryland, was picnicking with four other adults and her
five-year-old son on the ruins of Dam Number Three on the Potomac
above Harpers Ferry. At about 4 p.m., S.M. and J.M.,
also 26, decided to go wading in the turbulent water flowing
through a breach in the dam. According to one account, S.M.
yelled "Let's go for a swim", then jumped into the rapids. She
was immediately pulled under by the hydraulic current, surfaced
briefly, then disappeared from sight. Her body was found five
hours later, trapped beneath a log in the hydraulic. In
response to later questioning, J.M. mentioned that he had
nearly drowned in the same spot two years earlier. Alcohol is
believed to be a contributing factor in the incident.
(CompuServe message from Bob Mackreth, Acting CR, HAFE, 7/5).
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) PREPAREDNESS LEVEL III
Two or more geographic areas experiencing incidents requiring
a major commitment of national resources. High number of fires
becoming Class D and larger. Additional resources are being ordered and
mobilized through NICC. Type 1 teams are committed in two or more areas,
or 300 crews are committed nationally.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire Acres Status
CO USFS Gunnison Alpine Plateau 180+ None
BLM Craig Hammond 250 CN 7/4
Fairfield 100 CN 7/4
WY NPS Yellowstone *Unnamed
AZ USFS Tonto Dude T1 (3) 28,480 CL 7/10
Coronado Maverick 800 CN 7/10
BIA Fort Apache Stago T2 1,700 CN 7/8
NM BIA San Carlos Guard 150+ CN 7/4
NM State Long 920 Yes
FL NPS Everglades Foot 1,000 Yes
AK FWS Yukon Flats A121 T2 30,000 None
Kanuti *A185 720 None
NPS Denali *Kantishna (A148) 16,500 MN
AK Tok Area A156 T2 14,000 None
Southwest Area *Crooked Creek 1,600 None
*004011 600 None
Tanana Zone *A225 150 None
BLM Tanana Zone *A200 1,000 None
Galena Zone *A184 100 None
Priv. Tanana Zone *A186 100 None
Native Tanana Zone *A218 MN
Army *A132 1,100 None
NOTES:
Fires - Asterisk indicates newly reported fire (on this report).
T1 and T2 indicate assigned Type I and Type II Teams.
Status - Containment/control dates are estimates; CN means
contain, CL means control, MN means the fire is being
monitored; "none" means no estimate; "yes" means the fire has
been contained.
Agencies - All BLM areas are districts; CDF is California
Department of Forestry.
3) NARRATIVES
Kantishna Fire (Denali) - The fire is burning approximately
12 miles north of the roadhouse at Kantishna and is currently being
monitored. The fuel source is primarily black spruce. Numerous dry
lightning strikes and gusty winds were expected in the park yesterday.
Unnamed Fire (Yellowstone) - UPI reports that a wildfire in the park
burned 75 to 100 acres yesterday on Mount Washburn. Two smokejumpers
reportedly parachuted to the fire Thursday before thick smoke made
further jumps too dangerous. Another five firefighters were to have
reached the blaze before dark, and "all available" park firefighters
were to be mobilized at first light this morning.
4) FIRE ACTIVITY
National parks report the following this morning:
* Grand Teton - The park had several starts on July 2nd; all but
one have been controlled.
* Mesa Verde - A holdover fire was discovered on the afternoon of
the 4th. Initial attack by a sevenperson crew and helicopter
brought about quick containment.
* Cape Hatteras - A fire started by fireworks was attached and
suppressed on the 4th.
* Chick/Chatt - A fireworks fire started on the 5th and should be
declared out today.
* Cumberland Island - The park went to Manning Class 5 yesterday.
* Great Smokies - The Dome Fire began on the 5th. It was reported
to be 90% contained at seven acres yesterday and should be
declared out today.
* Lake Meredith - The park had six fireworkscaused fires on the
4th for a total of about 15 acres. All are controlled.
5) NPS FIRE DANGERS The following parks are experiencing high to
extreme fire danger this morning:
High Very High Extreme
Grand Teton Bryce Canyon Cumberland Island
Yellowstone Mesa Verde Death Valley
Cape Cod Walnut Canyon Joshua Tree
Indiana Dunes Great Basin
Scotts Bluff
Bandelier
Lake Meredith
Hawaii Volcanoes
Lava Beds
Pinnacles
Sequoia/Kings
Santa Monica
Saguaro
6) ANALYSIS - Extreme conditions coupled with intense lightning activity
have generated numerous large fires in Alaska. One Type I and two
Type II overhead teams, ten Type I crews and miscellaneous aircraft
and overhead have been ordered for Alaskan fires.
An area command has been established in Fairbanks under Rick Gale
from the NPS Branch of Fire Management. The MultiAgency
Coordinating Group (MAC) has been mobilized.
The National Park Service has 140 firefighters and 70 overhead
personnel committed to fires nationally.
7) PROGNOSIS - Not available this morning.
(Telefaxed report from Ken Hay, Branch of Fire, Boise, 1130 MDT,
7/5; NPS National Wildland Fire Summary, 0430 MDT, 7/6; Fire
Management Situation Report, 0530 MDT, 7/5; NICC Intelligence
Section, Daily Situation Report, 1630 MDT, 7/5; Forest Service
Washington Office Morning Fire Report, 7/5).
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dabney on AL (7/26).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Loach on AL (6/18-7/9);
Henry on SL.
Branch of Fire: Hurd meeting with branch staff in Boise (7/27/5).
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)