- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, September 4, 1992
- Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Friday, September 4, 1992
Release: 0830 EDT
INCIDENTS
92-451 - South Florida Areas - Follow-up on Hurricane Andrew
The emergency repair of employee residences has largely been completed, and
the all-risk management (ARM) team is now focusing on the restoration of
both residences and park facilities to "livable and workable conditions."
Employee assistance efforts continued yesterday with the issuance of
generators to families that need them and the installation of an 800 number
so that employees can call in for assistance. Two sessions with insurance
agents and lawyers were held for employees yesterday to explain their
options on claims. The meetings, which were conducted at Biscayne and
Everglades, were attended by 52 families; a third session will be held at
Big Cypress today.
A temporary roof over the curatorial collection will be completed today and
a reliable power system will be installed. Efforts are also underway to
restore the collection, which was soaked by rain during the storm.
A dolphin trapped in a canal near Turkey Point in Biscayne was rescued
yesterday. It had apparently been washed into the canal during the
hurricane. Team members arranged to have a canal gate opened so that it
could swim back into the Atlantic.
Some park personnel, particularly in the three parks' protection divisions,
have been released from ARM team to return to regular patrol duties. Total
personnel commitments to the recovery operation as of yesterday were as
follows: employee assistance and CIS, 59; salvage and repair, 95; security
and medical, 41; overhead, 85; air operations, three. Of these 283
personnel, 248 are NPS, 22 are Forest Service, nine are from state forestry
divisions, and one is from Fish and Wildlife.
Contributions for employee relief may be sent to Andrew Relief Fund, ENP&MA,
Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Checks
should be made out to ENP&MA with a notation that the contribution is for
the relief fund.
[Bill Pierce, and Bill Gabbert, ARM Team; Steve Smith, RAD/SERO; 9/4]
92-472 - Death Valley (California) - Follow-up on Search
The search for R.S. came to an end on September 2nd with the
discovery of his body just off Mud Canyon Road. R.S. was within sight of
the road, and appeared to have been dead at least several hours. The cause
of death is presently unknown, but temperatures in the area had been over
107 degrees. Contacts with his family revealed additional recent evidence
of mental instability. Local SAR teams had assisted in the search, which
was coordinated by the Inyo County sheriff's office. [Phil Ward, RCR,
RAD/WRO, 9/3]
92-473 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Conviction of Fugitive
During the 1991 Veiled Prophet Fair, rangers found M.P. sleeping on
one of the park's benches during early morning hours. Upon further
investigation, they learned that M.P. was wanted in Melbourne, Florida, for
attempted first degree murder and sexual battery. M.P. was arrested and
subsequently extradited to Florida. In June of this year, M.P. pled guilty
to attempted first degree murder, sexual battery with a firearm and grand
theft auto. On July 30th, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison, followed
by 20 years probation upon release. The Florida state attorney has advised
that M.P. will have to serve 60% of his time before he can be considered for
release. [John Weddle, CI, JNEM, via MWRO, 9/10]
92-474 - Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colorado) - Disturbed Person
Just before 9 p.m. on the evening of August 27th, visitors attending an
evening campfire program near the South Rim campground reported hearing
screams for help. Rangers and an SCA responded and contacted a woman who
was extremely distraught, screaming for her boyfriend (who was not in the
area), and threatening to take her own life. Three Montrose County deputies
also responded and advised that the woman had reportedly been a victim of a
rape (still under investigation) three days before. Efforts to calm the
woman, who became verbally abusive and huddled under dense oak scrub, proved
largely fruitless. She attempted to flee, but was halted and taken into
protective custody. It was determined that she was unarmed, and she was
subsequently taken to the county sheriff's office for mental evaluation and
post-rape assistance. [Dave Roberts, CR, BLCA, 8/27]
92-475 - Big South Fork (Tennessee) - Assault
On August 29th, rangers received a report that a man had pulled a knife on
the caretaker at the Charit Creek Lodge, which is operated by the park's
backcountry concessioner. Investigating rangers learned that two men had
arrived at the lodge on horseback, and that both had been intoxicated, loud
and obnoxious. When the caretaker asked them to leave, one of the men drew
a knife and made several threats before riding away. The caretaker then
rode to the nearest phone, contacted rangers, and provided them with an
excellent description of the two men. A vehicle pulling a horse trailer was
subsequently spotted by rangers; as they followed it, they noted that it was
being driven in an erratic manner and that it crossed the center line
several times. The vehicle was stopped. The two occupants matched the
descriptions provided by the caretaker. The driver, R.S., 33, was
arrested for DWI, and later admitted to pulling the knife on the caretaker.
He was arraigned in state court on August 31st and pled guilty to DWI.
R.S. was fined $665, ordered to spend 48 hours in county jail, and required
to surrender his license for a year. charges against R.S. for assault will
be sought in federal court during the grand jury's next term. [John Cannon,
CR, BISO, 9/3]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire/Incident 9/3 9/4 Status
FL NPS Everglades NP
Biscayne NP Hurr. Andrew - ARMT N/A N/A ---
FEMA Miami Hurr. Andrew - T2 N/A N/A ---
LA FEMA Franklin Hurr. Andrew - T1 N/A N/A ---
New Iberia Hurr. Andrew - T1 N/A N/A ---
OR USFS Willamette NF Pryor - T2 781 694 CND
BLM Lakeview Dist. Ludi 2 1,020 1,020 NEC
ID USFS Payette NF Tomato
Point - T1 1,720 2,168 CN 9/12
Boise NF Dunnigan #2 - T1 2,200 4,000 CN 9/4
BLM Idaho Falls
Dist. * Mosby Butte - 6,000 NEC
Notes:
* - New fire (this report) T1/T2 - Type 1 or Type 2 team committed
ARMT - All-risk management team CN (date) - Expected date of containment
NEC - No estimate of containment CND - Contained
NR - No report received
3) FIRE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS - No significant reports.
4) FIRE ACTIVITY - 171 fires for 3,507 acres in the past 24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - Resource reassignments, mobilization, and demobilization are
all taking place on fires in Idaho. High to extreme fire dangers are being
reported in the Northwest, Great Basin, California, and the Northern
Rockies.
6) PROGNOSIS - The potential exists for increased human-caused fires over
the upcoming holiday weekend. No resource shortages anticipated.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 9/4]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale serving as IC on ARM Team, Everglades and
Biscayne, FL (indefinite); Norum serving as NPS rep at USFS fire planning
meeting, Portland, OR (8/31-9/4); Bristol at InciNet hardware testing
contractor's site, New York, NY (8/30-9/4); Farrel at structural fire
steering program committee meeting, WASO, and site visit, NCR, Washington,
DC (8/31-9/3).
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