- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 4, 1992
- Date: Thurs, 4 Jun 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Thursday, June 4, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-233 - Denali (Alaska) - Follow-up on Climbing Fatalities
The four Canadian climbers who were killed on Mt. McKinley on May 31st were
attempting to traverse the top of the Messner Couloir when the fall
occurred. Body recovery by ground team was ruled out because of the
extremely unstable snow conditions discovered by ranger Daryl Miller's team
on Monday when it went to the site to confirm the deaths. Recovery was
accomplished by the park's Lama helicopter employing a short-haul line and
hook. [cc:Mail message from John Quinley, PA/ARO, 6/3]
92-238 - Big Bend (Texas) - Drug Arrest
On the evening of May 30th, rangers received information that a fugitive
from a drug trafficking warrant who was hiding in Boquillas, Mexico, would
be arriving in the park shortly. When the rangers located and approached
her, she falsely identified herself. When her true identity and the warrant
were confirmed, she attempted to escape but was taken into custody. The
rangers found a pile of personal belongings 100 yards from her, but she
denied they were hers. While unsuccessfully searching the apparently
abandoned belongings for the owner's identification, they found a brick of
marijuana. The fugitive was subsequently taken into custody by a Brewster
County deputy. Two more fugitives from drug trafficking warrants remain
with their children in Boquillas. [Assistant CR, BIBE, via telefax from Jim
Radney, RLES, RAD/SWRO, 6/1]
92-239 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Fuel Spill
On the afternoon of May 28th, the park was notified that a tractor-trailer
traveling north on I-65 with a ruptured fuel line had discharged an
estimated 60 gallons of diesel fuel into the park's groundwater recharge
basin. The truck then stopped at a service station in Park City, where
approximately 20 more gallons were spilled. Because of quick response by
the Park City volunteer fire department and park staff, all fuel spilled at
the service station was captured with absorbent material. If not for the
rapid action, the fuel would have entered an adjacent sinkhole and flowed
into the park's cave system. Previous research has shown that hazardous
materials or pollutants entering the groundwater at this sinkhole could
enter the park within a few hours and could reach visited portions of the
cave system in less than a day. This is the second sizable spill at the
same location in the past nine months. [Telefax from Marcella Gibson,
RAD/SERO, 5/29]
92-240 - Clara Barton Parkway (Maryland) - MVA with Fatality
A woman driving a Volvo with diplomatic tags was heading west on the parkway
on May 27th when she swerved to avoid a goose that was walking on the right
lane of the parkway. She lost control of the car, went over the embankment
on the right side of the roadway, and collided broadside with a tree. The
woman was killed. Park Police officers are investigating. Release of the
victim's name has not been authorized. [USPP information release, via
telefax from Marvin Ellison, RLES, RAD/NCRO, 5/29]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level 1
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/3 6/4 Status
CA CDF Lassen Modoc RU * Day - T2 250 500 CN 6/3
Siskiyou RU * Garvey - 350 CN 6/4
AZ BIA Pima Agency Old Yellow - 200 NEC
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 -
* Yellowstone - Mammoth has received 65% of the normal precipitation to
date. Although the park is greening up, 1000-hour fuels are still
reported to be very dry.
* Lassen Volcanic - The Day Fire is burning north of the park. Fire indices
around the park range from moderate to very high.
4) ANALYSIS - Continued initial attack activity. Air tanker activity is
occurring in California's north zone and in the Southwest.
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages expected.
[NPS Wildland Fire Summary, 6/4; NIFCC Intelligence Section, xxxx EDT, 6/4]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Ozark (Missouri) - Archeological Discovery
Archeologists conducting mitigation surveys for the historic restoration
repairs of Alley Spring Roller Mill have discovered ancient artifacts a
meter below the ground surface and 20 centimeters below the foundation. In
addition to numerous historic artifacts, including an 1895 nickel found
close to the surface, the site has revealed Dalton projectile points and
quartzite stone tools which are 7,000 to 9,000 years old at one level and an
older, beautifully crafted Clovis point at a lower level. These discoveries
indicate that the Alley Spring area has been a drawing point for human
activity for over 10,000 years. Archeological work will be continuing at
the site throughout the summer. [Tim Blank, OZAR]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at NCR chief rangers' conference, Williamsburg, VA
(6/1-6/5)
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Marriott at NCR chief rangers'
conference, Williamsburg, VA (6/1-6/5); Lee at health and fitness workshop,
USPP, Washington, DC (6/4) and FICM meeting, Washington, DC (6/5).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd at I520/I620 cadre meeting, Marana, AZ
(6/1-6/3); Erskine and Botti on administrative/personnel visit, Seattle, WA
(6/2); Norum at joint meeting with USFS on natural fire practice/policy
planning, Washington, DC (6/1-6/4); Gale chairing I-520/620 cadre meeting,
Marana, AZ (6/1-6/5); Berg conducting FIREPRO audits, Lassen Volcanic and
Lava Beds, CA (6/1-6/5); Broyles at "RX 90 Burn Boss" faculty meeting,
Harrisonburg, VA (6/1-6/5); Clark instructing S-290 and qualifications with
BLM, Reno, NV (6/1-6/5).
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