- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, May 8, 1992
- Date: Fri, 8 May 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Friday, May 8, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-100 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Follow-up on Drug Arrests
On March 31st, rangers and other members of a local task force intercepted
an aircraft in the Katherine District and arrested the pilot and five other
people on charges of possession of about 15 pounds of marijuana. During the
subsequent investigation, rangers found five pounds of methamphetamine in
another compartment on the aircraft. [Dale Antonich, CR, LAME, via cc:Mail
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/7]
92-173 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Assault
At approximately 7:45 p.m. on April 30th, rangers contacted an intoxicated
and disorderly 37-year-old white male in the Pub Bar who was upset about the
verdict in the Rodney King case and was expressing himself with loud
profanities and obscenities. He had also threatened the bartender and had
refused to leave the bar. The man was cited for disorderly conduct and
ordered to stay out of all bars on the South Rim for the remainder of the
evening. Later that evening, rangers were dispatched to a fight in progress
at the Victor Hall employee dorm in which a gun was reportedly involved.
Ranger Don Miller, who was first on scene, found that the assailant was the
same man who'd been involved in the bar incident. When Miller confronted
him, the man attempted to assault him, but was subdued with the assistance
of a number of bystanders. Backup rangers arrived and the subject was taken
into custody. He continued to threaten and attempt to assault the rangers
throughout booking and during transport to the county jail. Investigation
revealed that the subject had confronted a black male he did not know, began
shouting racial insults, and eventually grabbed the victim by the throat
while threatening to kill him with a firearm. The assault and threats
continued for several minutes until the victim was able to free himself.
The assailant has a criminal history which includes assault. He was booked
into the Coconino County jail on four charges, including assault and
resisting arrest. The park law enforcement office has contacted the U.S.
Attorney regarding the filing of a felony civil rights complaint. [cc:Mail
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/7]
92-174 - Capitol Reef (Utah) - Employee Death
Just before 5 p.m. on May 6th, P.C.M., 59, an 18-year employee of
the park's maintenance division, was heading home from work when he suddenly
pulled over to the side of the road. A fellow employee who was following
P.C.M. pulled in behind him; when he approached P.C.M. to see what had
happened, he found that P.C.M. was unconscious and breathing with
difficulty. Rangers were summoned and began CPR. Advanced life support
measures were continued during the 75-mile trip to the nearest hospital, but
doctors pronounced P.C.M. dead upon arrival at that facility. P.C.M.
apparently died of a heart attack. [Telephone report from Jim Reilly,
RAD/RMRO, 5/8]
92-175 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Burglary Arrests
A 23-year-old male concession employee was arrested on April 28th by rangers
John Piastuck and Dan Banta following a two-day investigation of a dormitory
burglary and theft. The rangers also recovered $2,100 in cash taken in the
burglary. The subject was transported to the county jail in Flagstaff.
This was the fifth time he'd been arrested by rangers. On April 8th, the
Kolb Studio on the South Rim was burglarized. Investigation by rangers
Tammy Luplow and John Hale led to the arrest of a 20-year-old concession
employee. The matching of shoe prints found at the scene with the suspect's
shoes was a significant aspect of the case. The subject was charged with
criminal trespass and theft. [cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO,
5/7]
92-176 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Multiple Incidents
During the last week of April, rangers were involved in a number of
significant incidents, including:
* a motor vehicle accident in which the injured drive had to be extricated
and transported via helicopter to a medical facility;
* a quick response and successful rescue of a young man in full cardiac
arrest who was pulled from the lake;
* another possible gang-related car burning;
* eleven arrested for incidents in which the principals were under the
influence;
* five drug-related arrests or citations;
* four assaults;
* one medical response for a methamphetamine drug overdoes;
* nineteen EMS incidents;
* two burglaries; and
* three vandalism cases.
As noted earlier this week, park firefighters and EMS personnel were also
put on alert to respond to the riot in Las Vegas last Thursday and Friday,
but were not called out. [Dale Antonich, CR, LAME, via cc:Mail message from
Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/7]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level 1
No large fire activity nationally. Most geographic areas have low to
moderate fire danger. Little or no commitment of national resources.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 5/7 5/8 Status
MT State State *Wapiti - 160 CN 5/8
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
CL - Controlled MN - Being monitored
CS - Confinement strategy NEC - No estimate of containment
CN (date) - Expected date CND - Contained
of containment
3) FIRE NARRATIVES
* Saguaro (Arizona) - The Sycamore Fire, a lightning holdover, is the park's
first fire this year. Six firefighters have been assigned to it.
* Lava Beds (California) - Fire danger is reported to be very high. The
park experienced a great deal of lightning activity on the 6th and
expected more yesterday. The final acreage for the Hovey Point Fire has
been placed at 108 acres.
* Sequoia-Kings Canyon (California) - The park had more lightning and heavy
rain on the 6th. Plans to demob the Cahoon Fire were postponed due to
bad weather. Some lightning holdover fires are possible, but no
problems were anticipated.
* Yosemite (California) - The additional NPS crew arrived yesterday
morning and was to be staged in various locations to help provide
coverage. Wednesday's suppression actions were successful in containing
the fires during the first burn period.
4) ANALYSIS - Initial attack activity continues.
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages are anticipated.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0532 MDT, 5/8; NPS NWFS, 5/8]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Crater Lake (Oregon) - Winter Snow Pack
The dry and relatively mild winter has had a dramatic effect on snow levels
in the park. Normal snow depths on May 1st are over 112 inches, but this
year there was only 16 inches of snow. The previous record low snowfall in
the park was in the winter of 1976-1977; with two more months to go in the
"snow year", the park is still nine inches shy of the 1976-1977 total.
These conditions have allowed the park to open its summer facilities and
roads earlier than usual. The Rim Village VC opened on May 1st, a month
ahead of schedule. [Leslie Spurlock, CRLA]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin and Henry at conference on
threats to wilderness system, Portland, OR (5/4-5/8); Coffey at meeting in
Richmond, VA (5/4-5/8).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Norum at prescribed fire analyst course cadre
meeting, NARTC, Marana, AZ (5/4-5/8); Botti at training course and meetings
on budget, WASO (5/4-5/8); Broyles representing NPS at NWCG working team
meeting, Acadia, ME (5/4-5/8); Clark at interagency prevention course, San
Bernadino, CA (5/4-5/8); Mattingly coordinating Alpine IHC season start-up,
WICA, Hot Springs, SD (5/7-5/20).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573
Telefax: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO
cc:Mail Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation