RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION MORNING REPORT Attention: Directorate Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC Ranger Activities Division Information Network Day/Date: Friday, November 22, 1991 INCIDENTS 91-630 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Arson Arrests At about 2:00 p.m. on the afternoon of November 20th, rangers responded to a fire on Highland Mountain. Two park engine crews, a park wildland fire crew, and crews and engines from the state and two local volunteer fire departments were able to contain the fire, which was caused by an arsonist who burned a vehicle at that location. While fighting this blaze, firefighters were called to respond to four more starts near Glade Creek. At the same time, crews at Grandview Park spotted several arsonists setting fires on the Mill Creek Road. Enforcement rangers immediately set up road blocks to prevent them from leaving the area. Following a joint investigation by rangers and FBI agents, three suspects were detained; two of them, J.W.V. and R.M., both of Beaver, West Virginia, were arrested on four counts of wildland arson, conspiracy to commit arson, and driving while intoxicated. The state will also prosecute the pair on all four arson counts. Over 200 acres of park land were burned by the fires. [Telefax from Lizzie Watts, NERI, 11/21] 91-631 - Ocmulgee (Georgia) - MVA with Fatality D.K.J. of Macon, Georgia, was killed when his vehicle left Emery Highway and struck a concrete utility pole in the park just before 2:00 a.m. on November 16th. The vehicle was believed to have been moving in excess of 80 mph at the time of the accident. Alcohol was involved. Macon police investigated the incident. [Telefax from Steve Alscher, LES, RAD/SERO, 11/21] OPERATIONAL NOTES 1) NOTE: The telephone numbers for the Branch of Fire and Aviation in WASO will change effective sometime today. You can reach Elmer Hurd, Bill Spruill or Helen Kelly by calling FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573. STAFF STATUS Division Chief: Brady on annual leave (11/18-11/22). Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin instructing at safety for line managers course, Beckley, WV (11/18-11/20); Kreis at regional fee coordinator meeting, WASO (11/19-11/22). Branch of Fire and Aviation: Norum at meeting of prescribed fire and fire effects working team, Charleston, WV (11/17-11/22); Gale serving as incident commander for 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, HI (11/25-12/9); Botti at Western Region FMO meeting, Yosemite, CA (11/18-11/22); Broyles at training working team meeting, White River, AZ (11/7-11/22). Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities