- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, May 29, 1992
- Date: Fri, 29 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 29, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-228 - Saguaro (Arizona) - Employee Heart Attack
Heavy equipment operator Don Reid, 52, suffered a heart attack while
performing general maintenance work at the Signal Hill picnic area on May
27th. Rangers and local fire department paramedics responded and
transported Reid to Northwest Hospital, where he is currently reported to be
in stable condition in the intensive care unit. [Bryan Swift, SAGU, via
cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/28]
92-229 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Employee Injury
Ranger Bill Vandergraff was injured while on a backcountry patrol along the
Old Bright Angel trail north of Roaring Springs on the afternoon of May
20th. A large boulder, which weighed an estimated 200 pounds, shifted and
caused Vandergraff to fall into Bright Angel Creek, then rolled onto him and
pinned him in the creek. Vandergraff was alone and unable to use his radio
because of water damage, but was eventually able to extricate himself and
hike approximately three miles to Cottonwood Ranger Station. He was flown
to the park clinic the next day and treated for muscle and ligament injuries
and a mild case of hypothermia. He is doing well and is expected to recover
fully. [Dispatch, GRCA, via cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO,
5/28]
92-230 - Natchez Trace (Mississippi/Tennessee/Alabama) - Drug Arrests
On May 19th, ranger Robert Winkles made a routine vehicle stop near Tupelo
on a car carrying a push mower and a garden tiller in its trunk. During the
stop, Winkles observed a .30 caliber carbine with three magazines lying in
the back seat of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the
seizure of 15 pounds of marijuana and a .25 caliber automatic, which was
found under the front seat. A subsequent investigation conducted with the
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics lead to the arrest of four people and the
seizure of three vehicles and over $34,000 in cash. [Telefax from Gordon
Wissinger, CR, NATR, 5/28]
92-231 - Petrified Forest (Arizona) - ARPA Investigation
Following a tip regarding on-going archeological site looting in and around
the park, a helicopter reconnaissance of the area was conducted during the
first week of May. Archeologists and law enforcement officers from the NPS,
Bureau of Land Management, Navajo County sheriff's department, Navajo
nation, and state lands department participated in the operation. They
inspected 19 major areas within a 3,600-square-mile area centered around the
park. Although hundreds of sites were checked and extensive damage was
observed and documented, no on-going illegal activity was discovered. The
operation was funded by WASO and coordinated by Petrified Forest district
ranger Hugh Dougher. [Hugh Dougher, PEFO, via cc:Mail message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/28]
92-232 - Natchez Trace (Mississippi/Florida) - Search in Progress
On the afternoon of May 27th, 12-year-old G.K., who lives just east
of the park's Naval Live Oaks area, failed to return home after a visit to a
local convenience store. Her family went out looking for her and found her
abandoned bicycle on a road bordering the park. The park and local
authorities were notified, and hasty searches were conducted by volunteers
and local dog units along trails and other areas adjacent to the park. They
proved fruitless. After further unproductive searches yesterday morning,
the case evolved into a possible abduction. Aerial searches were conducted
by Navy helicopters and an extensive grid search was conducted in the
eastern quarter of the Naval Live Oaks area and elsewhere during the
afternoon by about 200 volunteers and personnel from the Pensacola Naval Air
Station. The focus now is on a search for possible evidence related to
J.T.'s disappearance. The Santa Rosa sheriff's office has taken over the
search, and will regroup this morning to determine what actions to take
next. Seven rangers participated in the search; ranger Daryl Rhodes is
representing Gulf Islands on the IC team. [Telefax from Gene Phillips, CR,
GUIS, 5/28]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level 1
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 5/28 5/29 Status
FL USFS Apalachicola NF Post Office Bay-T2 7,400 7,400 CN 5/30
State State Fish Lake 1,350 2,000 CND
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.
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages expected.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0732 EDT, 5/29]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady 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 at NASAR meeting (5/26-5/29).
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