- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 26, 1992
- Date: Fri, 26 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 26, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-300 - Denali (Alaska) - Climbing Fatalities
On June 18th, climbers T.W., 34, R.K., 25 and C.C.,
25, were climbing the Pink Panther/SE Ridge route at the 13,500-foot level
of Mount Foraker when an avalanche struck and killed T.W. and R.K.
C.C. was injured, but was able to descend the ridge to a climbers' camp at
the 7,000-foot level of nearby Mount McKinley and report the fatalities on
June 24th. All three were experienced climbers. This incident brings the
number of climbers killed in the park this year to 13. All of the others
were on Mount McKinley. The last fatalities recorded on Mount Foraker were
in 1987, when four climbers died in an avalanche. [John Quinley, PA/ARO,
6/25, and Associated Press, 6/26]
92-301 - Yukon-Charley Rivers (Alaska) - Criminal Tampering
Sometime during the period between June 13th and 16th, the NPS aircraft
assigned to the park was tampered with in a manner that could have resulted
in engine failure any time after start-up or during flight. The act was
discovered during a routine pre-flight inspection by ranger/pilot Dennis
Knuckles on June 16th. A cooperative criminal investigation by the NPS, OAS
and Alaska state police is underway. [Carrie Stroble, RAD/ARO, 6/25]
92-302 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Drug Seizure
Shortly before midnight on June 19th, a park visitor discovered a brown
paper bag enclosing a clear plastic bag containing a white powder behind a
toilet at the Cottonwood Cove launch ramp restroom. The find was reported
to Las Vegas police, who in turn advised rangers. The restroom was placed
under surveillance, but no suspects were identified. The package was seized
as evidence and a field test indicated that the substance was
methamphetamine. The packaged contained 492 grams of the substance with a
street value in excess of $34,000. Several investigative leads are being
pursued to identify the origin of the drug. [Dispatch, LAME, 6/25]
92-303 - Cumberland Gap (Virginia/Kentucky/Tennessee) - Search
Late on the afternoon of June 24th, rangers received word that 18-year-old
T.D., who had been camping in a wilderness campground with his
father, was missing. T.D. had had brain surgery as a child and was
reported to suffer occasional seizures and periods of disorientation. A
search of trails leading out from the campground was conducted that evening,
but he was not found. Thunderstorms and rain occurred throughout the night.
The following day, additional resources arrived from a volunteer rescue
organization in Virginia and from the Virginia state police, and a dog team
and a twenty-person fire crew from Great Onyx JCC at Mammoth Cave were
ordered. Approximately 200 acres of rugged terrain around the campground
area was grid-searched. At about 2:30 p.m, T.D. walked out of the park and
called local authorities. He was about 20 miles from the point last seen,
and was reported to be in good condition. [Steve Smith, RAD/SERO, 6/26]
92-304 - Indiana Dunes (Indiana) - Marijuana Eradication
On June 20th and 21st, rangers eradicated approximately 1,000 plants located
in a previously cultivated, isolated area of the park. Plants ranged in
height from six inches to two and a half feet, and had an estimated value of
$150,000. [Joni Jones, CI, INDU, 6/24]
92-305 - Wupatki (Arizona) - Rescue
G.D., 71, was working with other members of a field school
documenting and recording petroglyphs on park and USFS lands on June 19th
when he fell and fractured a femur in a remote portion of Deadman's Wash.
Park and Coconino County sheriff's department personnel and an Arizona DPS
helicopter and crew were involved in G.D.'s rescue. [Bonnie Winslow,
RAD/SERO, 6/25]
92-306 - Bandelier (New Mexico) - Illegal Use of Park Pass
Although this incident doesn't fall under normal reporting criteria, we pass
it on to you because of the possibility of such fraud occurring elsewhere in
the system. On June 19th, a White Rock, New Mexico, woman was cited under
36 CFR 71.8(b) for illegal transfer of entrance passes after "loaning" her
pass two patrons staying at her bed and breakfast guest house. The two had
been contacted by a park ranger on the 13th for being in a closed area after
dark. They told him that the woman had said her pass could get them into
Bandelier at any time and that they could hike in the park even after dark.
The woman had been suspected of loaning her passes to individuals before,
but this was the first time that there was enough evidence to cite her.
[Bonnie Winslow, RAD/SWRO, 6/25]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/25 6/26 Status
CA USFS Inyo NF Aberdeen 1,500 2,000 CN 6/26
OR USFS Winema NF Cherry Crk. - T2 331 331 CN 6/26
Deschutes NF Hole-in-Ground - T1 498 503 CND
Fremont NF Biggin 290 290 CND
State - Rim 200 200 CND
- John's Spring 1,000 1,555 CN 6/27
WA BIA Yakima Agency Lizzy 2,600 2,620 CND
Colville Agency * Boot Mountain Comp. - 750 NEC
BLM Vale District * Boney Basin - 550 CN 6/26
ID BLM Burley District * Hawley - 3,100 CN 6/26
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) FIRE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS - No significant reports.
4) FIRE ACTIVITY - 554 fires for 13,400 acres in past 24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - Precipitation was reported on most fires yesterday and has
assisted in containment efforts. Red flag warnings have been issued for
lightning in the southern Cascades of Washington and for thunderstorms
and wind gusts in central and eastern Washington.
6) PROGNOSIS - Major demobilization is expected, since containment targets
have ben met on several large fires.
[NPS Wildland Fire Summary, 6/221; NIFCC Intelligence Section, 6/22]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Henry on annual leave (6/25-7/2);
Smith on annual leave (6/22-7/2); Coffey on detail to WASO Wildlife and
Vegetation.
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd at Branch of F&A, Boise, ID (6/22-6/24);
Mattingly at Coronado NM, AZ (6/24-6/27); Norum at joint meeting with USFS
on fire and ecosystem maintenance, Portland, OR (6/23-6/25); Farrel
reviewing structural fire program, Crater Lake NP, OR (6/21-6/26); Bristol
at IRM working team committee meeting, Annapolis, MD (6/22-6/25); Broyles at
meeting on "Fire Management for Administrators", WASO (6/22-6/26); Crabtree
at VMS system and network management course, Seattle, WA (6/22-6/26).
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