RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Wednesday, June 12, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-211 - Coulee Dam (Washington) - Probable Drowning
Around noon on the 9th, W.T., 30, of Chewelah,
Washington, and several companions decided to go swimming in the
Kettle River near Kamloops Bridge. One member of the group
jumped from the bridge then swam to shore; W.T. followed, hit
the water in a "belly flop" position, and disappeared. Witnesses
saw him resurface, but he was face down and wasn't moving.
Before the first jumper could reach him, W.T. sank beneath the
surface. Further attempts to locate him were unsuccessful.
Rangers and local authorities began a search for his body which
was still underway at the time of the report. The search is
being hampered by strong river currents and near zero visibility
under water. [CompuServe message from RAD/PNRO, 6/11]
91-212 - Yosemite (California) - Drowning
A.M., a 29-year-old Italian citizen enrolled as a
graduate student at Stanford University, was standing in a pool
near Chilnualna Falls in Wawona on the 8th when he slipped on
the rocks, fell approximately 55 feet through the cascades of
the creek, and sustained severe head injuries. His body was
recovered a short time later, but it has not yet been determined
whether he drowned or died from the injuries he received. The
Italian consulate was notified. [Dan Card, YOSE, via CompuServe
message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 6/11]
91-213 - Yosemite (California) - Drowning
While swimming with friends in a pool in the South Fork of the
Merced River a mile above Swinging Bridge on the 8th, C.M.
apparently got caught by the river's current and pulled
under. His body was sighted further downstream later in the day,
but has not yet been recovered. At the time of the report,
divers were about to begin another effort to retrieve his
remains. [Dan Card, YOSE, via CompuServe message from Carl
Christensen, RAD/WRO, 6/11]
91-214 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Drowning
Four-year-old D.J. of Las Vegas was playing in the
shallow waters of the lake when he stepped off a ledge into
deeper water and drowned. Family members reported the incident
to the park dispatcher; ranger units arrived shortly thereafter
and recovered the body. [Dispatch, LAME, via CompuServe message
from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 6/11]
91-215 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Assist on Train Derailment
Around noon on June 5th, a train derailed in Cave City, about
ten miles southwest of the park and at the edge of the park's
groundwater recharge basin. Seven or eight of the 30 rail cars
that left the tracks contained hazardous materials, including
one filled with liquid ammonia nitrate. One of the cars caught
fire in the accident. The park provided a fire pumper and
threeman crew to assist at the scene; the state's disaster and
emergency services office has also asked the park's safety
officer to serve as the incident safety officer, and has
requested the assistance of the park's hydrologist to monitor
groundwater for potential contamination. (Telefax from Marla
Davis, MACA, 6/5]
91-216 - Badlands (South Dakota) - Storm Damage
A storm with heavy rains, winds in excess of 50 mph, and hail up
to an inch in diameter tracked through the Cedar Pass area of
the park on June 9th. Hail and wind damaged vehicle windshields
and building windows; perforated, flipped and/or blew away popup
campers and tents; dimpled vehicles and knocked off their chrome
ornaments; propelled a dumpster into an employee's vehicle and
damaged it; defoliated trees; stripped paint from fences; and
bruised hikers. Damage is estimated at $10,000. A similar
storm two weeks ago inflicted $5,400 in damages. [Irv Mortenson,
Superintendent, BADL, via telefax from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMR,
6/11]
91-217 - Guadalupe Mountains (Texas) - Suicide
Rangers discovered a man's body near the park visitor center at
the Bear Canyon Trail junction early in June. Rangers and local
county deputies are investigating the death, and the FBI has
been notified. An autopsy will be conducted within the next few
days. Evidence found at the scene indicates that the death was
a suicide. [Bob Valen, GUMO, via CompuServe message from Sue
Abell, RAD/SWRO, 6/11]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION Preparedness Level II
One geographic area experiencing high fire danger. Numerous
Class A, B, and C fires occurring and a potential exists for
escapes to larger (project) fires. Minimal mobilization of
resources from other geographic areas occurring. The potential
exists for mobilizing additional resources from other geographic
areas.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/11 6/12 Status
AK BLM Anchorage District B225 T2 1,500 2,630 CN 6/12
FWS Yukon Delta NWR B242 3,500 3,500 None
NOTES:
Fires - Asterisk indicates newly reported fire (on this report).
T1 and T2 indicate assigned Type I and Type II Teams.
Status - The following abbreviations are employed:
* NR No report received * MS Modified suppression strategy
* CN Contained * MN Being monitored
* CL Controlled * None No estimate of containment
* CS Confinement strategy
3) ANALYSIS - Initial attack activity continues in Alaska. The
weather there remains warm and dry.
4) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages anticipated.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0539 MDT, 6/12]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Marriott and Schamp at
critical incident stress review team meeting, Arlington, VA
(6/11-6/14); Coffey on annual leave (6/13-6/14); Martin on annual
leave (6/13-6/14); Halainen on annual leave (6/14)
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Norum at meeting of NWCG prescribed
fire and fire effects working team, Fairbanks, AK (6/9-6/15).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog: 1/650