- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 18, 1992
- Date: Thurs, 18 Jaun 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 18, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-273 - Buffalo (Arkansas) - Follow-up on Drowning
Search teams found the body of L.W., 20, of Little Rock, Arkansas, on
the afternoon of Tuesday, June 16th. L.W. and his brother R. were
canoeing on the river on the 13th when their canoe capsized in the Shine-eye
Shoal about a mile below the Highway 65 river access. The search effort
involved as many as 34 people and three air-scenting search dog teams.
Divers from the park and county sheriff's office were first used on Tuesday
after river levels dropped and water visibility improved. The body was
found by a local boat operator with an NPS observer at a point just over two
miles downstream from the location of the incident. [John Linahan, SUPT,
BUFF, 6/17]
92-284 - Golden Gate (California) - Cliff Rescue
On the afternoon of June 15th, 15-year-old J.T. became stranded on
rocks at Tennessee Point in Marin Headlands. Rangers Simons and Smith
responded along with rescuers in the Ocean District's Zodiac and from the
Presidio fire station at Fort Cronkhite. J.T. was located 200 feet down
the cliff on a steep scree slope, but was not seriously injured and in no
immediate danger. Smith rapelled down to the victim, tied J.T. into the
rescue system, then descended with him to the beach below, where both were
picked up by the Zodiac and subsequently transported to the ranger office.
J.T. suffered cuts and abrasions on the left leg which he incurred while
sliding down the steep scree slope. [Norm Simons, GOGA, 6/17]
92-285 - Big South Fork (Tennessee) - Marijuana Eradication
Rangers employing a fixed-wing aircraft from Cape Hatteras spotted numerous
seed trays containing small marijuana plants in the park. They later drove
to the site and found 1,025 plants in the seed trays and another 198 plants
in two nearby gardens. All of these were eradicated. Seventeen other
gardens have been located to date either in the park or near the park's
boundary. [John Cannon, CR, BISO, 6/17]
92-286 - C&O Canal (Maryland) - Accidental Death of Concession Employee
Rangers received a radio report from a local county fire and rescue duty
officer that their units were responding to an incident in which a person
had fallen at Swain's Lock and received a head injury. Upon arrival,
rangers found medics treating V.S., 76, for a fractured skull and
internal bleeding into the brain. She was unresponsive but breathing on her
own and was taken to a local hospital. Early the following morning, V.S.
died of her injuries. According to investigators, V.S. fell down the front
stairs to the lockhouse and struck her head on the concrete sidewalk.
Virginia Swain was the mother of concessioner F.S. The S.
family has been associated with the canal since its construction in the
1830s. Members of the family help build the canal and served as lock
tenders at both S.'s Lock and Seven Locks. They currently live in the
lockhouse and operate a canoe concession facility. [Tom Nash, CHOH, 6/17]
92-287 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Falling Fatality
A.H., 14, of Roosevelt, Utah, fell to his death while free climbing
in the sandstone cliffs 77 miles north of Glen Canyon Dam on the afternoon
of June 16th. A.H. and his family were on a houseboat on Lake Powell near
the Rincon when he and school friend M.B. decided to climb to the
mesa above the lake. After climbing to the rim, they started back down,
with M.B. in the lead. A.H. stepped out on a rock which broke loose;
he fell 50 feet, landing face down and sustaining internal injuries and a
probable broken neck. Family members, including an aunt who is a doctor,
came to his aid. Rangers and a Classic Lifeguard III helicopter were
dispatched to the incident. A.H.'s aunt pronounced him dead at the scene.
A.H.'s mother is an FBI agent, his father is a police officer in Roosevelt,
Utah, and his grandfather is head of the Utah Highway Patrol. This is the
park's second accidental death this year. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/17]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level I
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/17 6/18 Status
AK State Tok Area 213225 - T2 26,800 30,927 DM
213235 1,000 1,000 NEC
Tanana Zone 231239 - T2 1,200 1,200 NEC
CA USFS Angeles NF * Prairie - 1,400 NEC
BLM Cal. Desert Dist. * Rimrock - 150 CND
MI USFS Huron-Manistee NF * Luzerne - T2 - 350 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 DM - Demob in progress
3) NICC FIRE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS -
* Angeles NF - The Prairie Fire is located in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness
and is threatening spotted owl habitat.
* Huron-Manistee NF - The Luzerne Fire has forced the partial evacuation of
the town of the same name. Tornadoes are occurring in the area.
4) NPS FIRE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS -
* Yellowstone - Mammoth received another inch of rain on Tuesday for a total
of three inches so far this month.
* Lava Beds - Engine 11 remains out of park on the Aspen Crater Fire.
* Yosemite - The Southland Fire was discovered on the morning of the 17th
and a crew has been dispatched to suppress it. The fire is reported to
be less than an acre.
4) ANALYSIS - Moist, cool air has arrived in Alaska.
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages expected.
[NPS Wildland Fire Summary, 6/18; NIFCC Intelligence Section, 6/18]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at oil spill response
meeting, Key Largo, FL (6/17-6/19); Marriott at meeting, El Paso, TX
(6/16-6/19); Lee on annual leave (6/19); Coffey on detail to WASO Wildlife and
Vegetation.
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd on annual leave (6/18); Spruill at
aviation overview, Everglades and Big Cypress, FL (6/15-6/19); Erskine on
annual leave (6/8-6/19); Mattingly instructing S-230, Hawaii Volcanoes, HI
(6/14-6/22); Bristol at InciNet steering committee meeting, Sacramento, CA
(6/15-6/19).
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