- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, May 20, 1992
- Date: Wed, 20 May 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Wednesday, May 20, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-198 - Joshua Tree (California) - Follow-up on Plane Wreckage
An Air Force investigative team has determined that the wreckage at Joshua
Tree is a very old, Navy-owned single-seat F4 Phantom. The Navy has been
contacted, but has no record of a plane lost near the park. Other bones
were found and have been sent to a forensic anthropologist in the San
Bernadino sheriff's office. [cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO,
5/19]
92-203 - Southeast Regional Office (Georgia) - Employee Fatality
Steven F. Milton, 47, the regional appraiser for Southeast Region, was
killed on Monday, May 18th, in a head-on collision while en route to Blue
Ridge Parkway. Karol A. Neville, 38, an appraisal assistant in SERO and the
only other person travelling with Milton, was injured and is presently in
serious but stable condition in Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte, NC.
Their vehicle was struck by another vehicle which crossed the center line of
the highway and hit them head-on. The occupants of that car were a local
couple; the husband, 64, was killed, and the wife is in a hospital. No
further details are currently available. [Telephone report from Bill
Sturgeon, RAD/SERO, 5/20]
92-204 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Job Corps Bus Accident with Injuries
On the afternoon of May 16th, a bus carrying 11 students from the Great Onyx
Job Corps Center went off the road about eight miles north of the park and
overturned. All 11 students and the driver were taken by ambulance to two
local hospitals, where they were examined, treated for minor injuries and
later released. According to the driver, the bus went off the road to the
right and began to fishtail. The driver was unable to regain control, and
the bus subsequently rolled over. The group was returning to the center
after a visit to the park. The accident was investigated by Edmonson County
sheriff's deputies; Mammoth Cave rangers assisted. [Telefax from Steve
Alscher, RAD/SERO, 5/19]
92-205 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Explosives Recovered
A team of Navy Seals recovered 35 sticks of nitroglycerin-based dynamite
from the lake in an area known as The Cliffs on the evening of Monday, May
18th. Upon discovery of the explosives, the park evacuated a portion of the
nearby shoreline, restricted boat traffic in the area, and requested the
assistance of the Navy team because of their expertise in diving and dealing
with explosives. The Navy divers spent about two hours retrieving the
dynamite from the lake; it was then taken to Nellis Air Force Base for
disposal. The dynamite was apparently stolen from a construction site in
Utah and brought to the Las Vegas area by a man hoping to sell it to gangs.
[Karen Whitney, LAME, via cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/19]
92-206 - Yosemite (California) - Multiple Incidents
During the past weekend, Yosemite rangers were involved in the following
incidents:
* Seven SAR incidents, including four technical rescues and four helicopter
operations. One incident on El Capitan's "Big Wall" required a lowering
operation; a second at the base of Vernal Falls involved a seriously
injured, combative falling victim who later tested HIV positive; a third
on Four Mile Trail involved the extrication of two "ledged out" youths who
were rescued in very reduced light conditions.
* Seven EMS responses, including four ALS cases and a "Code Blue" incident
involving successful CPR on a three-year-old child.
* Two mental cases requiring transport to outside medical facilities.
* The initiation of a child molestation investigation.
* Five motor vehicle accidents.
* Five DUI, four under the influence of alcohol, and two controlled
substance arrests.
* One arrest on a wanted persons warrant.
Rangers also had to deal with the opening of the Tioga Pass Road and the
weekend-long presence of "Emergency: Code Three" filming crews in the park.
[Jim Tucker, YOSE, via cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/19]
FIRE ACTIVITY
No fire report today.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at climbing management meeting, Denver, CO (5/18-5/20).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at semi-automatic weapon
testing, FLETC, Glynco, GA (5/18-5/20); Schamp at same session (5/18-5/22);
Coffey on annual leave (5/18-5/22); Sisto at climbing management meeting,
Denver, CO (5/18-5/20).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Spruill at aviation management seminar, San
Francisco, CA (5/17-5/22); Gale at meeting developing Type II all-risk
management training scenarios, Phoenix, AZ (5/17-5/22); Broyles at NFPA
wildland fire conference, New Orleans, LA (5/17-5/22); Farrel at NFPA annual
meeting and site visit to Jean Lafitte, New Orleans, LA (5/16-5/23);
Mattingly coordinating Alpine IHC activities, Rapid City, SD (5/7-5/20);
Norum on annual leave (5/17-5/30).
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