- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, August 21, 1992
- Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Friday, August 21, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-448 - Channel Islands (California) - Boat Accident; Possible Drowning
On the morning of Tuesday, August 18th, rangers came upon the 47-foot
fishing vessel "Pleiades" aground at the mouth of Tecolote Canyon. A search
for the missing operator, 37-year-old O.O. of Santa Barbara, was
begun in conjunction with the Coast Guard. Rangers employed helicopter and
ground teams in an extensive search of Santa Rosa Island and surrounding
waters; Coast Guard personnel used a fixed wing aircraft, helicopter and two
cutters to search from Point Conception south to Santa Barbara Island. As
of Wednesday, O.O. had not been located. Investigators learned that he
left Ventura harbor on Wednesday, August 12th, and was last heard from on
the evening of the 14th. At that time, he told his wife that fishing was
slow and that he was low on fuel. The search for O.O. continues, and
hazardous liquids are being removed from the grounded vessel. [Cocky
Farley, CHIS, 8/18]
92-449 - Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) - Demonstration
Local 430 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters conducted an hour-long
demonstration in the Cyclorama Center parking lot on August 6th. The
teamsters, who were joined by an array of other unions in a show of
solidarity, are attempting to negotiate a contract with Turner Network
Television (TNT) and Killer Angels Productions, which is shooting a four-hour
mini-series for TNT about the battle of Gettysburg based on the
Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Between 200 and 250 people
participated in the demonstration, which overflowed the designated area but
caused no visitor service problems. The event was orderly and the
participants complied with the terms of their special use permit. More
union activity is anticipated at other production locations outside the
park. The production company is employing numerous locations in southern
Adams County during the two-month shooting schedule, but filming within the
park will be limited to eight days and four locations. Although a regional
SET team was on alert, the park was able to manage the event with available
staff. [Mac Heebner, CR, GETT, 8/7 and 8/20]
92-450 - Wrangell-St. Elias (Alaska) - Search in Progress
A search is currently in progress for a Beech Bonanza with two persons on
board which has been missing since Monday, August 17th. The plane was en
route from Gulkana to Northway when the pilot reported that he was between
11,000 and 12,000 feet and experiencing light icing. It's believed that the
aircraft went down in or near the park. The search, which covers an area
that includes the north and west flanks of Mt. Sanford and Mt. Drum, is
being jointly managed by Elmendorf RCC, CAP, the NPS and Alaska state
troopers. As many as 13 aircraft from Canada and the United States have
searched the area for the past three days, but have not yet found the downed
plane. The ash cloud from Mt. Spur moved into the search area on Tuesday
and hampered efforts. The problem is not one of visibility, but rather of
potential major damage to aircraft engines. An Alaska ANG Hercules C-130 is
currently mapping the ash cloud. Plans for air operations over the next few
days depend on the results of their mapping. [Jay Wells, CR, WRST, 8/20]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level III
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 8/20 8/21 Status
OR USFS Fremont NF Fort Spring - T2 1,500 1,920 CN 8/23
Winema NF Buckhorn 125 70 CND
CA CDF Tuolumne-
Calaveras RU Old Gulch 12,500 17,955 CN 8/21
Lake Napa RU Borax 600 1,920 CND
Wooden 500 1,200 CND
Shasta-Trin. RU * Fountain - 8,500 NEC
* Barker - 2,000 NEC
Butte RU * Honcut - 200 CND
USFS Los Padres NF Slickrock - T1 2,175 2,480 CN 8/21
Inyo NF * Rainbow - T2 - 500 NEC
MT NPS Glacier * North Fork
Complex - T2 - 135 NEC
State - Sugarloaf 2 - T2 200 260 CN 8/21
Spokane Creek - T2 70 166 CL
USFS Flathead NF * Geifer - T2 - 275 CN 8/21
ID BLM Boise Dist. Foothills 6,000 50,000 NEC
Cherry Springs 1,000 500+ CL
* Barkley Bay - 400+ CL
* Banister - 100 CL
USFS Payette NF French Creek - T1 300+ 600+ CN 8/26
* Windy Ridge - T1 - 5,000 CN 8/24
* Camp Creek - 400 CN 8/25
Sawtooth NF Fairfield
Complex - T1 650+ 1,500 NEC
Clearwater NF * Powell Complex - T2 - 280 NEC
Nez Perce NF * Scott - T1 - 2,500 CN 8/24
* Porcupine - 200 NEC
Salmon NF * Indianola Complex - 450 NEC
Wasatch-Cache NF * Monument - 500 CN 8/21
State - * Marker 62 - T2 - 900+ NEC
* One Mile - 100 CN 8/22
UT BLM Salt Lake Dist. Quincy 320 320 CL
NV BLM Battle Mt. Dist. * Newark - 150 CL
CO BLM Craig Dist. * Waiti - 250 CN 8/21
Notes:
* - New fire (this report) T1/T2 - Type 1 or Type 2 team committed
NEC - No estimate of containment CN (date) - Expected date of containment
NR - No report received CND - Contained
CL - Controlled
3) FIRE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS -
* Glacier NP - As of yesterday, there were seven lightning-caused fires
burning in the park. Three are prescribed natural fires and are being
monitored. A local Type II team is handling the North Fork Complex,
which includes one prescribed natural fire which is being monitored and
four wildfires which are being suppressed - Starvation Ridge (100 acres),
Park Ridge (25 acres), Long Bull (5 acres), and Mike Alpha (5 acres).
The Starvation Ridge Fire poses the most concern because of its potential
to spread into Canada. Resources assigned to the fires include six
Type II crews, one Type I crew, one 20-person NPS cres, three helicopters
and air tankers from Missoula and Kalispell. Kintla Lake auto
campground, Akokala Lake backcountry campground and the trail from Kintla
Lake to Boulder Pass are closed. Although these areas are not threatened
by fire, they are essential staging areas for firefighters and
equipment. (Kirstin Zwisler, GLAC, Dean Berg, FIRE, 8/20]
* Tuolumne-Calaveras RU - The Gulch Fire has now burned an estimated 85
structures, including 42 single-family dwellings. Firing operations
are currently holding the fire within dozer lines. Four MAFF air
tankers are committed.
* Shasta-Trinity RU - The Fountain Fire has damaged or destroyed between 40
and 60 structures in the community of Round Mountain. Over 1,000 people
have been evacuated or affected by the fire.
4) FIRE ACTIVITY - 436 fires for 54,371 acres in the past 24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - Fire activity continues to escalate because of the extremely
dry fuels, high temperatures, low humidities and winds which are
occurring on several large fires. Major mobilization of national
resources continues. Very high to extreme fire dangers continue to
be reported in many areas.
6) PROGNOSIS - The potential exists for continuing fire activity.
Temperatures are forecasted to drop and humidities to rise in several
areas, but forecasted high winds could still pose control problems.
Mobilization is expected to continue.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Morning Report - As noted before, this will be the last day that the
Morning Report will be available on CompuServe. All future electronic
dissemination will be via cc:Mail. If you are not yet on cc:Mail or have
not arranged to receive the Morning Report, please contact either your park
or regional cc:Mail coordinator.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady conducting "Ranger Future" site visits (8/17-8/21).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Sisto attending management grid
training session, Tampa, FL (8/17-8/21); Henry at wilderness and aircraft
overflight meetings, PNRO, Seattle, WA (8/19-8/22).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Botti on annual leave (8/19-8/21).
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