- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, September 30, 1992
- Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Wednesday, September 30, 1992
Release: 0830 EDT
INCIDENTS
92-250 - North Cascades (Washington) - Follow-up on SAR
On September 24th, rangers and Skagit County deputies recovered the body of
R.H., 36, of Everett, Washington, who disappeared in the Skagit
River on June 7th when his canoe capsized in the "S" curve rapids. The body
was located near the mouth of Alma Creek, about a mile from where he was
last seen struggling in the water. [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 9/24]
92-451 - South Florida Areas - Follow-up on Hurricane Andrew
There are currently just under 300 people (233 from the NPS) working on
recovery operations under the management of the ARM team. The following are
highlights from yesterday's incident status summary:
* Sea-Bees completed work on the leach field at Shark Valley.
* Repair and reconstruction of park quarters in Tamiami are continuing.
* Roofs on quarters in Flamingo are being repaired.
* Repairs to HVAC equipment are underway at park quarters and on
headquarters buildings in Everglades.
* The water main to the fire cache in Everglades is being repaired.
* Construction is continuing on the boat repair building, administration
office and quarters at Biscayne.
Here's what you can do to help:
* Notes and Letters - These can be faxed to employees at 1-800-525-3037.
* Material Contributions - These should be sent to the person care of the
all-risk team and shipped to Oasis Ranger Station, Big Cypress NP, 53553
East Tamiami Trail, Highway 41, Ochopee, FL 33943. Books dealing with
marine resources, islands, birds and/or environmental stories can be
contributed to the Biscayne Environmental Education Project, care of the
above address.
* Donations - Monetary contributions to the relief effort 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 donation is for the relief fund.
[Bill Adams, ARM team, 9/30]
92-535 - Zion (Utah) - Skinhead Activity
The Sunday edition of the Salt Lake City Tribune contains an article on
Skinheads who say that they plan to create a whites-only homeland in Zion
National Park. The article was accompanied by a photo of eight adults and a
child in front of the park's Great White Throne, a geological formation.
The group, which calls itself "The Army of Israel", recently moved from the
Las Vegas area to the nearby community of Hurricane. According to Las Vegas
police, the group is also known as the Christian Identity Skinheads, and is
aligned with the Randy Weaver family/group near Naples, Idaho. Members of
that group were involved in the recent shooting incident in which a U.S.
marshall and Weaver's wife and son were killed. The news article also said
that the skinheads consider white federal government agents to be "race
traitors" and their enemies, and that they may attempt to hang a three-story-high
swastika banner from the Great White Throne. Rangers are working
with local law enforcement agencies and the FBI to monitor the group's
activities. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, ZION, 9/28]
92-536 - Big Bend (Texas) - Drug Arrest
On September 17th, rangers and Border Patrol agents completed a three-day
surveillance of suspicious activity in the Cottonwood campground with the
arrest of S.B. of Brookville, Pennsylvania, for possession of about
ten pounds of marijuana. When S.B. left the campground, he was followed
and stopped inside the park. "Judge Roy Bean", the park's narcotics
detection dog, was brought to the scene and alerted on a spare tire in the
vehicle. The tire was dismantled in the park auto shop and the marijuana
was found inside. [RAD/SWRO, 9/25]
92-537 - Bryce Canyon (Utah) - Successful SAR
On the afternoon of September 24th, Mrs. K.T., 66, a visitor from
California, became separated from her daughter near Inspiration Point. An
intensive search for her was begun shortly thereafter. K.T. suffers
from memory lapses and disorientation, and searchers feared that she had
fallen over the rim into the canyon. A helicopter and 20 NPS searchers were
involved in the effort. Temperatures during the night were near freezing,
and high winds blew. On the afternoon of the 25th, K.T. was finally
located by an NPS tracking team in a low priority search zone two miles
cross-country from the point where she'd last been seen. She was severely
dehydrated and unable to speak or walk. K.T. had crossed a major
highway during her journey, and denied having spent the night alone. She is
recovering and en route back to California. [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA,
9/29]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire/Incident 9/29 9/30 Status
FL NPS South Florida Hurr. Andrew - ARMT N/A N/A DM
CA CDF Riverside RU Rainbow 2,000 2,961 CND
USFS Eldorado NF * Cleveland - T1 - 11,000 NEC
MT BIA Crow Agency * Feedlot - 800 CL
State - * Black Butte - 3,000 CN 9/30
Notes:
* - New fire/incident (this report) T1/T2 - Type 1 or Type 2 team committed
ARMT - All-risk management team CN - Expected date of containment
NEC - No estimate of containment CND - Contained
NR - No report received DM - Demobilizing
3) FIRE ACTIVITY - 102 fires for 2,094 acres in past 24 hours.
4) ANALYSIS - Very high to extreme indices are being reported in California,
the Northwest, the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains. Fire activity is
continuing due to warm and dry conditions.
5) PROGNOSIS - The potential exists for increased activity due to the
arrival of hunting season and forecasted warm and dry weather.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 9/30]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at meeting in Denver, CO (9/28-9/30).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Sisto on AL (9/28-9/30);
Berkowitz on AL (9/28-10/9).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale and Broyles, ARM Team, Everglades and
Biscayne, FL (indefinite).
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