RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Friday, September 27, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-243 - Indiana Dunes (Indiana) - Followup on Explosion
On the morning of June 24th, a bomb exploded near one of the
supports of a bridge on the West Beach Access Road, and an
investigation into the incident was subsequently begun by
rangers and ATF agents. Evidence collected by rangers included
a portion of the device, which appeared to be a brown, plastic
medicine container. ATF recently advised the park that they
were able to obtain a partial name, address, prescription number
and the name of the pharmacy from that piece of evidence, and
that they are pursuing that lead. [Joni Jones, INDU, via
CompuServe message from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 9/25]
91-513 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Death of Employee
Jon Erickson, a supervisory interpretive ranger at Hawaii
Volcanoes and the park's public information officer, died of a
heart attack on the evening of Tuesday, September 24th. He had
left work early that day after reporting that he was feeling ill
with unspecified symptoms. He was taking a shower at home
during the evening and apparently suffered a heart attack. His
wife later found him there. No information is yet available
concerning funeral arrangements or other details. Jon was in
his mid40's. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from
Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 9/26]
91-514 - Indiana Dunes (Indiana) - Homicide
B.H. of Gary, Indiana, was shot and killed off the new
West Beach Access Road on September 21st. Gary police officers
later apprehended J.G., also of that city, while J.G.
was driving Hunter's vehicle. J.G. later confessed to the
crime and named C.M. as an accomplice. J.G. told
police that he and C.M. went to B.H.'s home and asked him to
drive them to a road near West Beach. When they arrived on the
access road, J.G. told B.H. to stop the vehicle and get out.
He then shot B.H. five times, reloaded and shot him five more
times. B.H. died of multiple gunshot wounds. The area is
under concurrent jurisdiction, and Gary police are handling the
prosecution. [Joni Jones, INDU, via telefax from Tom Thompson,
RAD/MWRO, 9/25]
91-515 - Cape Hatteras (North Carolina) - Drowning
B.W., 44, of Washington, D.C., drowned off the
village of Hatteras on the afternoon of the 25th. His wife,
C.R.W., 44, was pulling him toward the shore by a
piece of clothing when he disappeared beneath the water. His
body was recovered a short time later. CPR was unsuccessful.
[Telefax from Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 9/26]
91-516 - Denali (Alaska) - Illegal Hunting
A team of rangers led by Tom Habecker and a U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service special agent helicoptered to three illegal
hunting camps in the remote southwest end of the park on
September 23rd and seized several illegally taken animals. The
team members first stopped at spike camps being operated by
hunting guides J.M. and G.P., both of whom
have state permits to guide and hunt outside the park. G.P.
also has a federal permit to guide and hunt in the national
preserve. During the contacts with the guides and their clients,
one of whom is a member of the Austrian parliament, an illegally
taken moose was seized. Information was also gathered on other
unlawful activities. The team returned to the area on the 25th
after being weathered out for a day. Upon approach, they were
advised that an ELT signal had been picked up by the RCC at
Elmendorf AFB and plotted to their vicinity. The source of the
ELT turned out to be a damaged aircraft owned by G.P., who had
attempted to land near a third, previously unknown camp. An
assistant guide and client were contacted in the camp and the
subsequent investigation lead to the seizure of another
illegally taken moose and a caribou. The investigation is
continuing, and several charges are pending. The park reports
that the interagency cooperation between NPS and FWS has been
very fruitful, and that both agencies will be working toward
more cooperative enforcement actions in 1992. [Telefax from
Carrie Stroble, RAD/ARO, 9/26]
91-517 - Wrangell-St. Elias (Alaska) - Commercial Fishing Violations
On September 16th, Alaska state troopers and rangers from the
Yakutat District apprehended four individuals who were engaged
in illegal commercial fishing within the preserve. Although
ANILCA allows the exercise of valid commercial fishing rights
and privileges, the suspects failed to follow state requirements
which dictate how and when commercial fishing may occur. The
team conducted a three-day-long stakeout on the Malaspina
Forelands, a remote area of the preserve. The four individuals
received several citations for violations of state commercial
fishing regulations which govern the methods and means of taking.
Approximately 1,500 pounds of fish, valued at about $1,000, were
confiscated. This is the tenth case of illegal commercial
fishing which has occurred in the Yakutat District of both
Wrangell-St. Elias and Glacier Bay this year. These cases have
been jointly investigated by troopers and rangers. [Rick
Mossman, DR, WRST/GLBA, and Jay Wells, CR, WRST, via telefax
from Carrie Stroble, RAD/ARO, 9/26]
[More pending incidents on Monday's morning report...]
FIRE ACTIVITY
Yosemite (California)
Frog Fire - As of yesterday morning, the fire had burned 1,920
acres. It had been contained along its west flank. The north
flank was moving toward a trail which would hold it, the east
flank was backing into Falls Creek, and the southeast flank was
moving toward rocks near Hetch Hetchy. Smoke was reported to
have diminished greatly. There are three, 20person crews on the
fire.
Ill Fire - As of yesterday morning, the fire had burned 2,000
acres and was 80% contained. Firefighting efforts yesterday
focused on completion of a line near Mt. Starr King, where most
of the fire activity was occurring. Smoke has diminished in
Yosemite Valley. Full containment was estimated for 6:00 p.m.
yesterday evening, and demobilization is scheduled to begin
today. Over 500 firefighters worked on the blaze, including 20
hand crews from the NPS, Forest Service, CDF, California Youth
Authority and California Department of Corrections. Air support
was provided by seven helicopters and eight air tankers. Cost
to date is placed at just under $300,000.
[Telefax from Mike Finley, Superintendent, YOSE, 9/26]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady in Grand Teton (9/23-9/27).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Coffey and Sisto with
rights-of-way work group in WASO (9/23-9/27); Lee and Martin at
health and fitness work group meeting in Arlington, VA
(9/25-9/27); Halainen in Nashville, TN, for FY 91 uniform
contract closeout (9/24-9/26).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Hurd at NWCG meeting, San Bernadino,
CA (9/25-9/28); Spruill in SWR for aviation evaluation (9/23-9/26);
Gale at U.S.S. Arizona for 50th anniversary preparations
(9/16-9/27); Farrel in NCR and WASO for meetings (9/17-9/27);
Broyles at NWCG fireline safety committee meeting, San Bernadino,
CA (9/24-9/27).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: All Offices FTS 2684874/6039 or 2022084874/6039
Telefax: Branch of R&VP FTS 2686756 or 2022086756
Branch of Fire FTS 2685977 or 2022085977
CompuServe: Branch of R&VP WASO-RANGER
Branch of Fire WASO-FIRE-WO
SEAdog: All Offices 1/650