- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, August 24, 1992
- Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Monday, August 24, 1992
INCIDENTS
92-451 - Florida Areas - Hurricane Andrew
The four National Park Service areas in south Florida - Everglades, Big
Cypress, Biscayne and Fort Jefferson - and one further up the east coast -
Canaveral - completed all preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Andrew
late yesterday and are currently riding out the storm:
* Everglades - Rangers began closing the park's backcountry at 6:45 p.m.
Saturday evening, immediately after the issuance of a hurricane warning for
the area. Because of the storm's strength, however, a decision was made at
8:00 p.m. to close the entire park, and an incident command team was put in
place to manage operations during the emergency. All incoming traffic was
stopped, visitors at the Flamingo Lodge were advised they would have to
leave on Sunday morning, and, after daybreak, rangers flew the backcountry
and contacted all remaining visitors. During the night, park staff
installed hurricane shutters, secured and prepared buildings, and moved
upwards of 25 boats inland. Water structures at the north end of the park
were opened fully in order to prevent flooding of adjacent conservation
areas. Employees living on the coast were moved inland - about 20 people
from Flamingo went to Pine Island and a half dozen or so from Everglades
City moved to the ranger station at Oasis in Big Cypress. Employees who
lived in Homestead were released at noon on Sunday so they could make
preparations and evacuate the area.
* Big Cypress - The park is closed and secured. Big Cypress staff in
Everglades City have also moved to the Oasis ranger station. Non-essential
employees were released at 2:00 p.m. yesterday.
* Biscayne - The park was formally closed at 6:00 p.m. yesterday, and all
staff have left the island. Some were scheduled to go to a local hotel;
since it was in the evacuation zone along the Atlantic coast, however, they
were instead housed at Pine Island. About 15 boats were brought from the
park to an inland storage area in the Everglades.
* Fort Jefferson - Facilities are secured, but the park staff is remaining
on site.
* Canaveral - Although the hurricane will pass well to the south of the
park, all beaches and access roads were closed at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
As expected, efforts to contact the incident command center at Everglades
headquarters this morning proved fruitless. Preliminary reports from Big
Cypress are that the power is still on there and that the worst of the
hurricane is hitting Everglades to the south. A follow-up report on the
hurricane's impact will appear in tomorrow's morning report, which will also
report on the situation at DeSoto, south of Tampa, and on preparations at
Gulf Islands, along the Florida/Mississippi coast. [Debbie Ligget, IC team,
EVER, 8/23; John Kalifarski, BICY, 8/23; Bill Springer, SERO, 8/24]
92-452 - Blue Ridge (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Falling Fatality
S.K., 21, of Juliet, Illinois, was visiting the Linville Falls area
with some friends on the afternoon of August 20th when he decided to climb
the almost vertical rock face on the right side of the falls. He was some
60 to 70 feet up the rock face when he slipped and fell to his death on the
rocks below. Rescue units from three counties responded to the accident
scene and assisted rangers with the carryout. Sheriff's deputies and
rangers investigated the accident. [Steve Alscher, RLES, RAD/SERO, 8/21]
92-453 - Big South Fork (Tennessee) - Marijuana Cultivation Arrests
Spotters in a contract helicopter were directing rangers to seven marijuana
patches in the Cowhorn Creek section of the park on August 20th when it
became necessary to break off for refueling. When the helicopter returned
30 minutes later, the spotters noted that all of the marijuana had been
removed from some of the patches. The rangers on the ground spread out and
began to search the steep, deeply wooded area. After a short time, one of
the rangers hear a cracking noise in the brush above his location and
subsequently picked up a fresh trail. Other rangers converged on the area;
as they moved up the mountain side, they began picking up the smell of
marijuana. Shortly thereafter, they located two individuals - J.T.,
29, and H.W., 44, both of Monticello, Kentucky - and a dog hiding
in some rocks at the base of a cliff. Although one of the men was armed
with a pistol, they were arrested without incident. During questioning,
they admitted that they had ten marijuana patches in the area and
subsequently led the rangers to both the patches and their camp. The two
had been camping in the area since April, working their marijuana patches,
and guarding them against theft. One of the ten patches was cut by the NPS
about a month ago. The patches and camp - and their confessions - were all
captured on videotape. A total of nearly 400 plants were seized or
eradicated from the two subjects and their patches. [John Cannon, CR, BISO,
8/21]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level IV
Two or more geographic areas experiencing incidents requiring Type I teams.
Competition exists for resources between geographic areas. 450 crews or
nine Type I teams committed nationally.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 8/21 8/24 Status
OR USFS Fremont NF Fort Spring - T2 1,920 1,570 CND
WA USFS Wallowa-
Whitman NF * Mt. Howard
Complex - T2 - 882 CL
Fremont NF * Bare Flat - T2 - 241 CND
Mt. Hood NF * Multnomah - T2 - 147 CND
CA CDF Tuolumne-
Calaveras RU Gulch 17,955 18,500 CND
Shasta-Trin. RU Fountain 8,500 64,000 NEC
Barker 2,000 6,400 CN 8/26
Amador-
Eldorado RU * Farnham - 850 CND
Nevada-Yuba-
Placer RU * Fawn - 300 CND
* Sicard - 150 CND
Mariposa RU * Triangle - 300 CND
State Agency Area Fire 8/21 8/24 Status
CA State Kern County * Middle Ridge - 350 NEC
NPS Yosemite * Ostrich - 477 CND
USFS Los Padres NF Slickrock - T1 2,480 2,480 CND
* Cachuma - T1 - 700 CND
* Rancho - 126 CN 8/24
Inyo NF Rainbow - T1 500 8,300 NEC
BLM California
Desert Dist. * Leal - 100 CL
MT NPS Glacier Starvation Ridge 100 117 CND
ID BLM Boise Dist. Foothills -
T1 (2 teams)
T2 (1 team) 50,000 253,700 CN 9/6
* Well Field - 7,000 CND
* Spring Site - 250 NEC
Idaho Falls
Dist. * Fish Creek - 700 CND
* Bailey Creek - 2,000 CND
USFS Payette NF French Creek - T1 600+ 2,500+ CN 8/26
* Warm Springs - T1 - 6,000 NEC
Windy Ridge - T1 5,000 17,500 CN 8/24
Camp Creek 400 1,300 CN 8/27
Sawtooth NF Fairfield
Complex - T1 650+ 1,781 CND
* Trapper - T2 - 9,500 CN 8/24
* Parade - 425 CND
Clearwater NF Powell Complex - T2 280 490 NEC
Nez Perce NF Scott - T1 2,500 5,000 CN 8/25
Porcupine - T1 200 16,000 CN 8/30
* Selway Complex - T2 - 525 CN 8/24
Salmon NF Indianola Complex 450 1,755 NEC
Wasatch-Cache NF Monument 500 750 CND
State - Marker 62 - T2 900+ 1,654 CND
One Mile 100 918 CN 8/24
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 -
* Devils Postpile NM - The park was closed and evacuated on the night of
August 20th due to the Rainbow Fire on the Inyo National Forest. The
fire burned through 500 to 600 acres of the 800-acre park on Friday.
Park staff and volunteer fire department engines from Big Pine and Bishop
were able to save the eight park structures when the main fire front
passed through on Friday evening. Two 20-person crews are now mopping
-up. The park will be closed to the public until the fire poses no more
threats and hazard trees and other fire-related safety concerns are
eliminated.
* Yosemite NP - Good progress was made Saturday night on the Ostrich Fire.
Burn-out operations were successful. About 80 chains of line had been
constructed and another 40 will have to be completed before the fire will
be declared contained. Three 20-person handcrews are on line and are
being assisted by two helicopters. Three prescribed natural fires remain
in prescription.
* Glacier NP - All firefighters have been pulled in from the fires due to
heavy snowfall. The 16 inches that fell at Belly River are indicative of
what fell in high elevation fire areas. Blizzard-like conditions were
reported in Waterton.
4) NPS RESOURCE STATUS - As of yesterday afternoon, the NPS had
committed 374 firefighters and 100 overhead personnel to interagency
fires. The breakdown is as follows (NR = no report):
Region Overhead Firefighters Region Overhead Firefighters
ARxx NR NR PNR 5 24
MAR 9 54 RMR NR NR
MWR 5 60 SER 13 37
NCR 4 21 SWR 12 70
NAR NR NR WR 52 108
5) FIRE ACTIVITY - 151 fires for 3,441 acres in past 24 hours.
6) ANALYSIS - Cooler, moister weather has helped firefighters make
substantial progress toward containment of fires in the northern Rockies,
Northwest and northern intermountain areas. Resource mobilization has
moderated. Containment targets have been moved up and met on several
fires.
7) PROGNOSIS - Activity and resource mobilization is expected to continue,
primarily to California and southern intermountain areas.
[NIFCC, 8/24; Dean Berg, FIRE, 8/22 and 8/23]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Coulee Dam (Washington) - Raptor Rescue
In late June, park visitors reported a golden eagle floundering in Lake
Roosevelt. Rangers responded by boat, safely captured the eagle and brought
it to shore. It was soaked, shocky, and exhausted and did not resist the
rangers' efforts. The eagle was taken to a veterinary care facility, where
it quickly responded to rehydration therapy and was in stable condition by
the following morning. Raptor specialists determined that the eagle was
very immature, could not yet fly on its own, and would need rehabilitation
before being released. The eagle was apparently from this year's hatch and
was blown out of its nest during a recent storm. The eagle remained in a
licensed rehab facility in Spokane for six weeks, where it developed its
flying skills and learned to kill rodents on its own. On August 11th,
veterinary and park staff released the eagle back in the Lake Roosevelt area
close to the original point of recovery. [Karen Taylor-Goodrich, RMS, CODA]
THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS
Congress is not in session.
CALENDAR
Calendar appears in the morning report every other Monday. If you know of a
conference, meeting or training session with Servicewide interest and
implications, please provide the specifics to Bill Halainen in Ranger
Activities. Entries are listed no earlier than four months before the
event. An asterisk (*) indicates a new entry; a plus (+) indicates a
revised entry. Brackets at end of entry indicate source of information:
September 13 - 17 - Fourth International Wetlands Conference, Columbus, OH.
Contact: W.J. Mitsch, School of Natural Resources, Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210, 614-292-7162 (fax). [Kathy Jope, RAD/PNRO]
September 14 - 18 - "Teaching with Historic Places", training course,
Montpelier, VA. Contact: Beth Boland of the National Register staff,
202-343-9545. [Marilyn Harper, WASO]
September 17 - 20 - Managing Search Operations, Ely, MN. Contact: Vermilion
Community College, 1900 E. Camp Street, Ely, MN 55731, 800-657-3608. [Hugh
Dougher, NOCA]
September 21 - 23 - "Environmental Compliance: Tools for Protecting Parks",
training course, Boulder, CO. [Kheryn Klubnikin, EQD/WASO]
September 21 - 24 - Interagency Conference on Tourism, Park City, UT.
Contact: Priscilla Baker, WASO Tourism Director, 202-208-4917. [Priscilla
Baker]
September 21 - 25 - "Teaching with Historic Places", training course,
Waterford, VA. Contact: Beth Boland of the National Register staff, 202-343-9545.
[Marilyn Harper, WASO]
September 21 - 25 - National Training Workshop on Status and Management of
Neotropical Migratory Birds, Estes Park, CO. Contact: NTMB Workshop, c/o
Gordon Hazard, Office of Conference Services, Rockwell Hall, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, 303-491-6222. For further information,
call John Dennis, WASO Wildlife and Vegetation, 202-343-8128. [Flip Hagood,
EDD/WASO]
September 14 - 17 - Third Conference on Fossil Resources in the NPS, Fossil
Butte NM, WY. Contact: Rachel Benton, 307-877-4455. [David McGinnis, SUPT,
FOBU]
September 15 - 17 - Introduction to Satellite Navigation in Resource
Management, Lubrecht Experimental Forest Satellite Navigation Field
Evaluation Facility, University of Montana, Missoula, MT. Contact: Center
for Continuing Education, University of Montana, 406-243-4623. [Kathy Jope,
RAD/PNRO]
September 17 - 20 - "Inequality and the Commons", conference, Stauffer
Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C. Contact: International Center for
Development Policy, 202-547-3800. [Dave Reynolds, CRM/MARO]
September 21 - 25 - Archeological Curation and Collections management,
George Washington University, Washington, DC. Contact: Center for Career
Education and Workshops, GWU, 2020 K Street, NW, Suite B-100, Washington, DC
20052, 202-994-5230. [Dick Waldbauer, Archeological Assistance, WASO]
October 5 - 9 - "Ecology and Management of Larix Forests: A Look Ahead",
Grouse Mountain Lodge, MT. Contact: Center for Continuing Education,
University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812-1900, 406-243-4623.
October 6 - 9 - "Issues in the Public Interpretation of Archeological
Materials and Sites", Colorado Museum of History and Denver Museum of
Natural History, Denver, CO. Contact: John James, SERO, 404-331-2630.
[Dick Waldbauer, Archeological Assistance, WASO]
October 8 - December 17 - Basic Law Enforcement for Land Management
Agencies, Glynco, GA. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC. For application procedures,
contact your regional training officer. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
October 14 - December 22 - Basic Law Enforcement for Land Management
Agencies, Glynco, GA. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC. For application procedures,
contact your regional training officer. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
October 25 - 28 - National Convention, Society of American Foresters,
Richmond, VA. Contact: Society of American Foresters, 301-897-8720. [Doug
Wallner, MARO]
October 26 - 30 - Archeological Curation and Collections Management, Western
Archeological and Conservation Center, Tucson, AZ. Contact: Center for
Career Education and Workshops, GWU, 2020 K Street, NW, Suite B-100,
Washington, DC 20052, 202-994-5230. [Dick Waldbauer, Archeological
Assistance, WASO]
October 27 - 29 - Ecosystem Restoration in the Great Lakes Basin, Green Bay,
WI. Sponsored by EPA. Contact: Steve Cinnamon, MWRO. [Steve Cinnamon,
MWRO]
October 28 - 29 - Conference on Accessible Technology, USGS, Reston, VA.
Contact: Amy Berger at 703-648-7124 or Bob Dwier at TTY 703-648-6017.
* November 1 - 4 - "Educating the Park Professional", annual conference,
Florida Institute of Park Personnel, Key Largo Sheraton Resort, Key Largo,
FL. Contact: Larry Fooks at 305-451-1202. [Larry Fooks, Florida DNR]
* November 5 - 7 - Seventh Annual Wilderness Emergencies Conference, Sedona,
AZ. Contact: Sharon Harbek, RN, PreHospital Care Coordinator, Flagstaff
Medical Center, PO Box 1268, Flagstaff, AZ 86002, 602-779-3366 ext. 4185.
[Sharon Harbeck]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin on operational review,
Yellowstone NP, WY (8/24-8/28); Henry conducting aircraft overflight
research, Grand Canyon NP, AZ (8/24-9/1); Lee at urban SAR conference, San
Diego, CA (8/20-8/28); Sisto at oil spill seminar, Hyannis, MA (8/24-8/28);
Schamp on Danny Horning incident review, Grand Canyon NP, AZ (8/24-8/28).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd and Spruill at organizational review,
Branch of F&A, Boise, ID (8/24-8/28).
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