- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 19, 1992
- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Friday, June 19, 1992
INCIDENTS
91-602 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Follow-up on Weapons Arrest
On November 3, 1991, members of the regional SET team assigned to the park
to enforce area closures due to extreme fire danger arrested J.B., 31,
of Raleigh, north Carolina, on weapons and drug possession charges. Along
with a small amount of marijuana, rangers found three fully-loaded weapons
in J.B.'s vehicle - a 9 mm Luger machine pistol, a Model 60 Marlin rifle,
and a 16-gauge sawed-off shotgun. J.B., a member of a local transient
climbing community, had been contacted on numerous occasions during the
previous two years by New River rangers. On June 16th, following a joint
investigation by rangers and ATF agents, J.B. was indicted on one count of
possession of a sawed-off shotgun and one count of possession of a firearm
without a serial number. J.B. previously pled guilty to one count of
misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. [Chris Schraeder, CI,
NERI, 6/18]
92-288 - C&O Canal (Maryland) - Rescue
On the afternoon of June 16th, G.M., 22, T.G., 24, and
T.Y., 22, decided to attempt to swim, wade and rock hop across the
Potomac River to the Maryland shore just above Great Falls. The three made
it across a fairly shallow section of the river, but became stranded on a
rock in the river's main channel, where the water was moving very swiftly.
They then decided to form a chain and attempt to wade and swim to the
Virginia shoreline. G.M. and T.G. entered the river and were immediately
swept downstream by the strong currents; T.Y. was able to hold onto the
rock and pull himself back on it. T.G. reached a rock about 100 yards
downstream and held onto it, but G.M. was swept another 50 yards further
down the river before he was able to grab a wet rock - the last remaining
rock before the Maryland falls. The latter events were witnessed by a
ranger in Great Falls Park, who advised C&O Canal rangers, who then
responded along with local fire and rescue units and a Park Police
helicopter. Two boats were positioned at the base of the falls in case
anyone went over. A rescue net and winch were employed to raise the three
men from the rocks to the helicopter. They were then taken to shore and
treated on scene for hypothermia. Each was then issued a citation for
entering the river. The men said that they hadn't seen any of the danger
signs warning about river hazards. No alcohol or drugs were involved. [Tom
Nash, CHOH, 6/16]
92-289 - Dinosaur (Colorado) - Attempted Paleontological Theft
On June 6th, park visitors reported seeing one member of a party of four
people break off a section of bone from the cliff face in the Dinosaur
Quarry site, then hand to another member of the group who placed it in his
pants. Based on descriptions provided by the witnesses, rangers were able
to apprehend the individuals before they left the area. The section of bone
was recovered, and two members of the group were cited for attempted theft.
[CR, DINO, 6/18]
92-290 - Cumberland Gap (Tennessee/Kentucky/Virginia) - Marijuana Patches
Rangers again conducted aerial surveys this week to locate any marijuana
plantations in the park. About 85 plants were found and destroyed. All
were recent plantings. Aerial surveys and ground patrols are to continue.
[Charlie Chadwell, CUGA, 6/19]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level I
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/18 6/19 Status
AK State Tok Area 213225 - T2 30,927 30,927 NEC
213235 1,000 1,000 CND
Tanana Zone 231239 - T2 1,200 930 CN 6/19
MI USFS Huron-Manistee NF Luzerne - T2 350 494 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 DM - Demob in progress
3) NICC FIRE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS -
* No significant reports.
4) NPS FIRE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS -
* Everglades - Everglades and Big Cypress planned to conduct a 2,000-acre
prescribed burn along the park's west boundary yesterday.
* Joshua Tree - Engine 2 was dispatched to the 150-acre Rimrock Fire on the
17th. The fire was contained that evening.
* Lava Beds - The Aspen Fire, to which Engine 11 had been committed, was
declared out yesterday.
* Sequoia/Kings Canyon - The Arrowhead hotshot crew is still on the Prairie
Fire on the Angeles NF.
4) ANALYSIS - Initial attack activity continues. Indices remain moderate
in the Great Basin, Northwest and Northern Rockies.
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages expected.
[NPS Wildland Fire Summary, 6/19; NIFCC Intelligence Section, 6/19]
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); Smith on annual leave (6/19-7/2); Coffey
on detail to WASO Wildlife and Vegetation.
Branch of Fire and Aviation: 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