- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, May 28, 1992
- Date: Thurs, 28 May 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Thursday, May 28, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-224 - Death Valley (California) - Aircraft Accident
At 7:50 a.m. on the morning of May 26th, W.E., an incidental pilot
from Devils Postpile, was bringing Alden Nash of Sequoia-Kings Canyon to
Death Valley to pick up a vehicle when he reportedly attempted a down-wind
landing, overshot the end of the runway, and travelled another 180 feet
before nosing into the dirt. The plane's right wing was dented, the
propeller was damaged, and the landing gear may have been damaged. There
were no injuries. OAS and the FAA have been notified; at present, OAS is
not investigating the incident. [Mark Maciha/Merna Winters, DEVA, via
telefax from Phil Ward, RAD/WRO, 5/27]
92-225 - Hot Springs (Arkansas) - Shooting
On the evening of May 22nd, a 32-year-old woman was driving south on Gulpha
Gorge Road near Sleepy Valley Road when she came upon a man lying near the
shoulder of the road. When she stopped and approached him to offer
assistance, he jumped up and ran towards her, catching her near the car
door. As they struggled, he produced a semi-automatic handgun and fired two
shots as she re-entered her vehicle, hitting her in the upper right thigh.
He then fled into the woods. The victim drove to a friend's home nearby;
she was subsequently driven to a local hospital, where she was treated and
released. Ranger Terry Gross and Hot Springs officers interviewed her at
the hospital. She was able to describe her assailant, and a search for him
was begun. Although it was fruitless, the investigation continues. The FBI
has been notified and is cooperating in the investigation along with Hot
Springs police. The car was towed to the park ranger station to be
processed for evidence. [Terry Gross, HOSP, via telefax from Jim Radney,
RLES, RAD/MWRO, 5/27]
92-226 - Point Reyes (California) - Arson
On the morning of May 26th, the park received a report of a fire on Coast
Trail, near Double Point and approximately one mile south of Wildcat Beach.
Subsequent investigation revealed that J.L., 23, a former trail crew
member, had apparently used keys that he'd obtained during his employment in
the park to open the Palomarin gate and drive several miles into the
wilderness area, where his vehicle either caught fire or he set it on fire.
About a quarter acre burned before the fire was extinguished. J.L. then
went to the Kule Loklo replica Indian village and set the dance house on
fire. Four units from the park and Marin County responded to the fire, but
the structure was totally destroyed. District Ranger Steve Wolfe found
J. near the scene and arrested him for two counts of felony arson.
[Steve Wolfe, PORE, via telefax from Phil Ward, RAD/WRO, 5/27]
92-227 - Yosemite (California) - EMS Rescue
At 2:18 a.m. on May 15th, the El Portal ambulance crew received a report
that two-year-old J.T. had experienced a cardiac arrest, and that
his mother had begun CPR on him. Ranger Mark Harvey was first on scene, and
continued to provide ventilations once he determined the child had a pulse.
Park medics (cardiac) Joe Coho and Chris Cruz and EMT's Jim and Lynn Wilson
arrived on scene with the El Portal ambulance shortly thereafter and began
advanced cardiac life support measures. The patient was asthmatic, having
febrile seizures, and suffering respiratory arrest. When Riggs ambulance
arrived on scene for support and ground transport to Mariposa, J.T. was
taken to J.C. Fremont Hospital. While en route, Cruz, Coho, paramedic Les
Wenger and EMT Debbie Wenger continued resuscitation efforts, and Les Wenger
was able to nasally intubate the boy. J.T. began to respond to
treatment and began to breathe spontaneously when at the hospital. He was
then flown to Valley Children's Hospital. Doctors there report that the boy
had viral encephalitis and a right local lesion on the brain. He is
expected to fully recover. [Dispatch, YOSE, via Carol Leggat, RAD/WRO,
5/27]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level 1
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 5/27 5/28 Status
OR State State #031 200 200 CND
FL USFS Apalachicola NF Post Office Bay-T2 7,400 7,400 CN 5/30
State State Fish Lake 1,350 2,000 CN 5/28
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
NPS reports not available today.
4) ANALYSIS - Initial attack activity continues. Crews are being moved
within the south.
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages expected.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 5/28]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - Species Reintroduction
The park is considering a proposal to test reintroduction techniques for a
threatened tiger beetle, cicindela dorsalis dorsalis. This species is
currently found at only one site north of Maryland, but was known to occur
historically on beaches within the park. Preliminary results from
experimental relocations around Chesapeake Bay suggest that similar
techniques would be successful on historic sites in the park. Existing
habitat protection should be sufficient to protect the beetle. A sibling
species, cicindela hirticollis, is considered an indicator of suitable
habitat and thrives at historic dorsalis sites within the park. [Dennis
Burnett, CACO]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Midwest Region is working on establishing a horse unit in one of their
parks and would like to hear from any park with a front country horse patrol
operation. Call John Townsend at 402-221-3475.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at ranger futures meeting, Harpers Ferry, WV (5/26-5/27)
and on annual leave (5/29).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin on annual leave (5/26-5/29);
Coffey on annual leave (5/26-5/29); Lee on annual leave (5/26-5/27).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd at structural fire plan training, Boston,
MA (5/29); Farrel at structural fire plan training, Boston, MA (5/26-5/29);
Erskine on pre-season fire reviews, Yellowstone, Glacier, and Missoula, MT
(5/26-5/29); 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