- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, July 15, 1992
- Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Wednesday, July 15, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-340 - Big South Fork (Tennessee) - Follow-up on Drowning
The body of R.E., 26, of Oneida, Tennessee, was recovered from the Big
South Fork River on July 8th a short distance from where he was last seen. He
was presumed to have drowned on July 4th when he was swept over a rapids on
a small inflatable raft, but the investigation into the events surrounding
his death has brought forth the possibility of foul play. An autopsy has
been performed; results, however, have not yet been obtained. The park is
investigating the incident in conjunction with the Scott County sheriff's
office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. [John Cannon, CR, BISO,
7/14]
92-343 - North Cascades (Washington) - Rescue
On the afternoon of July 10th, park dispatch received a radio call from a
woman at the Copper Ridge fire lookout reporting that her husband, D.W.
of Asheville, North Carolina, had slipped and possibly broken his leg
or knee. D.W. was located on a trail leading from Copper Ridge to the
Chilliwack River valley in a remote section of the park, and it took several
hours for backcountry ranger Jim Ohlsten to hike to the scene. Ohlsten
found D.W. to be alert and conscious, but in need of medical evacuation
for treatment of a possible dislocated knee, fractured patella and torn
ligaments. Ohlsten and ranger Jim Hughes camped out with D.W. and
continued to monitor his condition during the night. At 5:00 a.m., a crew
of ten NPS employees and eight volunteers from a Chilliwack, British
Columbia, SAR unit assembled at the Depot Creek trailhead in Canada and
started hiking the 13 miles to D.W.. They arrived at 10:30 a.m.,
immobilized D.W.'s leg, loaded him into a stokes litter, and carried him
one mile up a steep and narrow trail to the nearest helicopter landing spot.
A UH-53 helicopter from Whidbey Island Naval Station landed at the helispot
at 2:00 p.m. and evacuated D.W. to a hospital in Sedro Woolley. D.W.
was eventually flown back to North Carolina for surgery. [Dave Spirtes, CR,
NOCA, 7/14]
92-344 - Martin Luther King (Georgia) - Damage to King Birthplace
A severe thunderstorm which passed through Atlanta during the evening of
July 13th caused water damage to Dr. King's birth home. The building was
apparently struck by lightning, which caused the sprinkler system to
discharge. Additional water damage occurred from rain water which leaked
into the house. The home was closed to visitation and tours yesterday, and
the park's maintenance division is making necessary repairs. [MALU, 7/14]
92-345 - C&O Canal (Maryland) - Drowning
An apparently homeless man of about 40 years of age fell into the canal at
Lock Four on the afternoon of July 13th. A witness reported that he
attempted to tread water but was unable to stay afloat. A Metro police
diving unit and Metro fire and rescue responded and recovered the victim.
He was rushed to George Washington Hospital, but was pronounced dead on
arrival. [Capt. Marvin Ellison, RAD/NCRO, 7/14]
92-346 - Colonial (Virginia) - Serious MVA Involving NPS Vehicle
On the morning of July 14th, B.K., 47, of Williamsburg, Virginia,
was bicycling with her husband on the Colonial Parkway near Yorktown when
she struck the back of a slow-moving park trash pickup vehicle and suffered
serious injuries. She was transported to a local hospital by ambulance,
then taken by helicopter to a trauma center in Norfolk. [Jim Burnett, CR,
COLO, 7/14]
92-347 - Apostle Islands (Wisconsin) - Search
During the week of June 28th, the park was involved in an extended search
for D.V., 37, of Ashland, Wisconsin, who was reported missing to a
local sheriff's department on the morning of the 28th. D.V.'s 16-foot
outboard runabout was found capsized and adrift by the Coast Guard four
miles north of Apostle Islands' Outer Island light at 10:30 a.m. later that
morning. Park vessels assisted with a water search, while other park
personnel searched the shoreline of surrounding islands for tracks or other
signs of D.V.. They were assisted by volunteers from the Headwaters
Search and Rescue Association, who employ water-trained search dogs. No
trace of D.V. was found, and the Coast Guard has presumed that he
drowned. Although the boat was found outside of park jurisdiction, the
Service accepted jurisdiction and responsibility for coordinating search
efforts because D.V. may have last been scene in the vicinity of Outer
Island. On July 1st, active search activities were suspended. A joint
investigation by the park and county sheriff's department is continuing.
[John Krambrink, CR, APIS, 7/13]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level I
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 7/14 7/15 Status
FL USFS Apalachicola NF Wild One 506 506 CND
Ocala NF Juniper Wilderness 2,015 2,015 CN 7/15
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:
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 - 146 fires for 1,242 acres in past 24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - No significant large fires are burning, and only a minimal
amount of initial attack activity is being reported.
6) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages expected.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 7/15]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Parks are reminded that all Type 1 incidents must be reported
immediately, as per the March 30, 1992, memorandum from the Acting Associate
Director, Operations. During regular working hours (6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Eastern, Monday through Friday), reports should be submitted to Ranger
Activities by telephone, telefax or telecommunications. Appropriate numbers
appear at the bottom of each morning report. During off-duty hours (4:00
p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday, and all weekends and
holidays), reports should be submitted to Park Police dispatch by telephone
(202-619-7310) or telefax (202-619-7366). Telefaxing is the preferred
method of transmittal. The following qualify as Type 1 incidents:
Employee Fatalities All employee deaths from any cause, whether on duty
or off duty.
Multiple Injuries In-patient hospitalization of five or more NPS
personnel or non-NPS personnel in any single
incident.
Structural Fires Structural fires involving any NPS-owned property.
High Property Damage Any incident resulting in property damage in excess
of $100,000.
Aircraft Accidents Any aircraft accidents which are reportable under
OAS criteria.
Officer Fatality or The death or life-threatening injury to
Threatening Injury any law enforcement employee while in the
performance of his or her duties.
Serious Crimes Serious crimes which occur in any park area.
Drug Incidents Major or unusual drug seizures or drug-related
arrests in which the circumstances, value, and/or
the amount of the seizure could attract media or
political attention.
Political Officials Serious incidents, major events or serious accidents
involving senior political officials of state,
Federal or foreign governments or their immediate
families.
Terrorist Activity Actual, attempted or planned terrorist activity,
sabotage or other hostile acts against NPS property.
Significant LE Events Significant law enforcement events other than
planned special events which have required or may
require the dispatch of specially-trained teams to
augment normal enforcement capabilities.
Disasters Major natural or man-caused disasters which cause
significant injuries, resource or property damage to
or impact on visitor use of an NPS-administered
area, including dam failures, floods and storms.
Wildfires are excluded; they should be reported to
the Branch of Fire Management in Boise.
Weapons Discharge The discharge of a weapon by an employee toward
another individual or any discharge of a weapon at
any employee.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady conducting field interviews for "Ranger Futures"
project (7/13-7/15).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Henry at aircraft overflight
contract meeting, Boston, MA (7/13-7/17); Marriott at meeting at Lake Mead,
NV (7/12-7/22).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd at IFF fire education task force meeting,
Boise, ID (7/13-7/17); Spruill at DOI aviation meeting, Boise, ID (7/13-7/17);
Norum conducting fire reviews at Isle Royale, Sleeping Bear Dunes,
Pictured Rocks, and Indiana Dunes (7/13-7/25); Botti and Rutter at WASO
budget meeting (7/13-7/15); Crabtree in training, Denver, CO (7/13-7/17).
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