- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, June 8, 1993
- Date: Tues, 8 Jun 1993
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Tuesday, June 8, 1993
Broadcast: By 0830 ET
INCIDENTS
93-289 - Appalachian Trail (Eastern States) - Follow-up on Homicide
A coroner has determined that the woman whose body was found near the
Hemlock Hill shelter on the trail was a suicide and not a violent crime
against a hiker. The incident occurred on a segment of the trail under the
jurisdiction of the state of Maryland. Although the NPS owns about 100,000
acres from Maine to North Carolina in fee and has over 330 easements of
various kinds (with proprietary jurisdiction on both types of areas), the
trail corridor also runs through many other public lands, including eight
national forests, TVA lands, state forests and parks, and municipal
watersheds. The NPS has direct law enforcement authority over the trail and
is also responsible for coordinating enforcement provided by over 150 law
enforcement agencies along its 2100-mile length. [Bill Sanders, APPA, 6/4]
93-323 - Gateway (New York) - Follow-up on Illegal Aliens
Further details on the incident have been forwarded by the commander of the
Park Police's New York Field Office: Officers David Somma and Steven
Divivier were on patrol in the Fort Tilden section of the park when they
noticed the Golden Voyager (not the Golden Venture, as previously reported)
about 300 feet from the beach - unusually close to shore for a 150-foot
vessel. At the same time, they heard cries for help and saw several people
jumping from the vessel and struggling in the 54-degree water. Somma and
Divivier radioed for assistance, then headed for the shore. Sergeant
Patrick Broderick and officer Daniel McFadden responded. All four officers
entered the water and began to pull people onto the shore. Several New York
City police and fire units responded along with the Park Police's marine
patrol until and Coast Guard vessels and helicopters. It was soon
determined that the people on the vessels were illegal Chinese aliens. INS
was contacted and a total of 263 detained aliens - including 13 Indonesian
crew members - were turned over to them. Six others were pronounced dead.
Later in the day, another 12 aliens who'd been found in a wooded area of
Fort Tilden and in surrounding communities were taken into custody. The
detained aliens were initially held in two park buildings in Fort Tilden,
where they were processed and transported by INS to holding facilities.
Searches will continue to determine if any other aliens are in the Fort
Tilden area. [Maj. Tom Pellinger, USPP/NYFO, 6/7]
93-327 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Follow-up on Severe Thunderstorms
Electrical power was restored to the park on June 7th. Park employees,
working under the incident command system, provided security and assistance
for park visitors, residences and facilities. Park maintenance personnel
and rangers are making resource damage assessments for recovery work.
Initial evaluations confirm that blockage of front and backcountry trails
and damage to other park property (signs, picnic tables, etc.) was
extensive. Cave tours have returned to normal operations and the
reservation system is now back in service. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 6/8]
93-328 - Great Smoky Mountains (N. Carolina/Tennessee) - Helicopter Crash
On April 16th, a Bell 204 helicopter registered to Ranger Helicopter
Services of Roanoke, Virginia, crashed on the Little River Road three miles
from park headquarters. The pilot, M.C., 51, of Midlothian,
Virginia, was not hurt. M.C. told rangers that he was flying from
Greenville, Tennessee, to Dalton, Georgia, at an altitude for from 600 to
700 feet when his engine shut down. The aircraft was outfitted for spraying
operations, but no chemicals were aboard. FAA and NTSB conducted a cursory
investigation of the incident. The aircraft was severely damaged. [Lois
Bogle, GRSM, 6/7]
93-329 - Great Smoky Mountains (N. Carolina/Tennessee) - Car Clout Arrests
Between April 17th and May 30th, three vehicles were stolen and seven more
were hit by car clouters in the Big Creek area. The total value of property
stolen and damaged exceeded $34,000. As a consequence, the park began a
number of surveillance operations and arrested two men - S.S. and
B.D., both 19 and from Cocke County, Tennessee - as they were
attempting to break into vehicles at Big Creek at 2 a.m. on May 30th.
Stolen property from a home burglary was recovered during the arrest.
Investigators determined that the two men were responsible for some of the
prior thefts. While processing the crime scene a half hour later, another
vehicle arrived at the scene. The driver, B.D.W., 22, of Cocke
County, was found to be in possession of burglary tools, stolen property,
and marijuana. He was also arrested. The case is to be taken before the
grand jury today. Felony charges are being pursued. [Lois Bogle, GRSM,
6/7]
93-330 - Great Smoky Mountains (N. Carolina/Tennessee) - Drowning
On June 5th, the body of C.W., 16, a corpsman at the Oconaluftee
Job Corps facility, was found floating in the Oconaluftee River by two
fishermen. C.W. was last seen at the residential compound located
just outside Cherokee, North Carolina, on May 24th. Rangers learned of his
absence from family members on May 29th. On June 1st, two search dogs from
the North Carolina SAR Dog Association checked the roads, fields, trails and
rivers near the Job Corps grounds. A missing person flyer was also
assembled and distributed in the local area, and C.W.'s name was
entered into NCIC missing person files. An autopsy was performed on June
6th and the preliminary indication is that he drowned. The investigation is
continuing; more interviews with Job Corps staff and corpsmen are planned.
[Lois Bogle, GRSM, 6/7]
93-331 - Abraham Lincoln Birthplace (Kentucky) - Severe Thunderstorm
An intense thunderstorm with winds of up to 100 mph struck the park on the
afternoon of June 4th. Park maintenance foreman Russell Flanders sustained
a minor head injury which required nine stitches when he was hit on the head
by a falling branch. Downed trees led the superintendent to close all park
trails until trees and snags can be cleared. It's estimated that the
cleanup will cost about $15,000. [Carolyn Link, Superintendent, ABLI, 6/7]
93-332 - Gulf Island (Mississippi/Florida) - Memorial Day Incidents
The three-day Memorial Day holiday brought a large influx of gays to the
Pensacola area. Although a stretch of beach within the park has been a
popular holiday destination for gays since the 1960s, the high turnout was
apparently in response to comments by the city's mayor and a city
councilman, who had earlier said that they didn't want to see the community
to be known as a gay resort. Local gay bars sponsored street parties and
other activities that drew people from all over the country. Over the
holiday, the section of beach traditionally used by gays was heavily
utilized, with estimates of 24,800 visitors on Saturday, 24,600 on Sunday,
and 18,300 on Monday. These figures reflect total visitation to the area,
but a significant majority of visitors were gay. The biggest problem was
traffic control. Parking is allowed along the shoulders on both sides of
the road, and rangers had to keep traffic moving. Sometime on Friday night,
roofing tacks were strewn along the road shoulders and road and caused an
undetermined number of flats to visitor vehicles. There were six flats on
park vehicles, and four rangers suffered puncture wounds from stepping on
tacks. Tacks were also scattered along the road last year. Other problems
included open container and controlled substance violations, some public
nudity, a motor vehicle accident and two water rescues. [Gene Phillips, CR,
GUIS, 6/4]
93-333 - Golden Gate (California) - Memorial Day Incidents
Rangers in the park's Ocean District responded to a variety of law
enforcement and search and rescue incidents over the three day weekend.
They:
* Arrested an illegal camper in the Fort Funston area after discovering
that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant.
* Extinguished a fire at Battery Davis and conducted a fruitless search
of the area for the responsible party.
* Escorted a man out of the park at Baker Beach for lewd sexual behavior
after the complainant decided not to press charges.
* Evacuated four children by Zodiac from a pocket cove beach near China
Beach, where they were stranded by surf and an incoming high tide.
* Employed rescue boards and wetsuits to evacuate three children trapped by
an incoming tide in a small cove near Baker Beach.
* Cited an individual at Fort Funston for disturbing nesting bank swallows,
currently listed as a threatened species.
* Arrested a man for indecent exposure at China Beach and escorted him off
a dangerous cliff, whereupon he fled to avoid arrest.
* Searched for, found and evacuated a man reported missing in the Sweeney
Ridge area.
[Jay Eickenhorst, GOGA, 6/4]
93-334 - Yosemite (California) - Search in Progress
A search was initiated on the evening of June 3rd for W.S., 22,
of San Marcos, California, who was reported missing in the White Wolf -
Harden Lake area (8,000 foot elevation) of the park. W.S. became
separated from his hiking partner, D.B., 23, at a crossing of the
Middle Fort of the Tuolumne River. W.S., D.B. and three other hikers
began their backpacking trip at the Aspen Valley Road gate on June 1st;
although they weren't scheduled to return until June 15th, D.B. had
injured his ankle and D.B. had accompanied him on the hike out. W.S.
was last seen by D.B. around 3 p.m. on the 3rd after D.B. crossed the
Tuolumne on a log which dislodged and left W.S. stranded on the opposite
bank. D.B. continued hiking and was picked up on the Tioga Road by a
patrolling ranger. Hasty search teams failed to locate W.S. that
evening or the following day. A total of 180 people have been committed to
the search, including 111 ground searchers and two dog teams. Three
helicopters were also on standby yesterday, but had so far been unable to
fly due to the lack of visibility. Inclement weather continues to hamper
search efforts. Light to moderate snow continues to fall throughout the
search area, with a total of eight to twelve inches now on the ground. The
hikers had been advised of dangerous water crossings and heavy snow above
7,500 feet when they received their wilderness permit on June 1st.
Personnel from Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Channel Islands,
and the Stanislaus National Forest have been committed along with members of
eight volunteer search teams and the California Youth Authority. Media
interest is increasing. Dave Lattimore is incident commander; Phyllis
Cremonini is information officer. [Dave Lattimore, YOSE, 6/7]
93-335 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Jet Ski Fatality
On the afternoon of June 6th, a group of jet skiers were performing stunt
maneuvers near Sandy Point when two skiers who were crossing boat wakes
collided in mid-air. Responding paramedics determined that B.W., 26,
of Fountain Valley, California, had suffered a shoulder dislocation. All
vital signs were normal. B.W. was evacuated by a Department of Public
Safety helicopter to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he
subsequently died of massive internal chest injuries. [Scot Olson,
Dispatch, LAME, 6/7]
93-336 - Grand Teton (Wyoming) - Rescue
W.F., 23, of Reston Virginia, fell between 40 and 50 feet while
hiking off-trail on the north slope of Granite Canyon on the afternoon of
May 26th. W.F., his brother and a friend were attempting to climb to a
high point for an improved view when the fall occurred. Jenny Lake rangers
were flow to the scene and W.F. was evacuated via helicopter shorthaul just
before dark. The shorthaul technique was employed because of W.F.'s
condition, a suspected head injury and respiratory problems, his position on
hazardous terrain, and limited daylight hours. According to the attending
physician, W.F. was well served by the shorthaul evacuation, which reduced
his morbidity. As of last report, W.F.'s injuries included a pneumo-
hemothorax (collapsed lung with blood within), deep lacerations to the left
forearm, and multiple abrasions and lacerations to the head and body which
required numerous sutures. [Doug Barnard, CR, GRTE, 6/7]
93-337 - Big Bend (Texas) - Drowning
Fourteen-year-old S.G. of El Paso, Texas, drowned in the Rio Grande a
mile upstream from the entrance to Boquillas Canyon on the afternoon of June
6th. S.G. was swimming in the river with a friend when he began to
experience difficulties. His father jumped into the river, but was unable
to save him. The body was recovered by rangers in 15 feet of water only a
few feet from the point last seen. Critical incident stress services were
provided to the family throughout the incident. [Jim Northup, CR, BIBE,
6/7]
93-338 - Muir Woods (California) - Special Event
Queen Sikirit of Thailand and her entourage of about 50 people visited the
park on May 27th. The queen was accompanied on an interpretive tour by
ranger Mia Monroe. She ended her tour at the visitor center book store,
where she purchased $2,000 worth of books for the libraries of Thailand.
The queen also donated $1,100 to the park. Coordination and arrangements
for the visit were made with the Secret Service by ranger Olivia Shinomoto.
[Mary Beth McFarland, MUWO, 6/4]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/7 6/8 Status
AK NPS Denali B291 - 5,390 MN
State Tanana Zone 332248 650 5,248 NEC
332265 550 550 NEC
332266 350 800 NEC
FWS Yukon-Delta Discovery - T2 20,000 20,480 NEC
BLM Steese-White
Mountains B262 700 700 NEC
NM USFS Gila Black Range
Complex - T1 8,770 6,500 NEC
* Brush - 22,000 CN 6/21
* Clear - 3,000 NEC
State - Bulls 200 200 CL
AZ State - * Jimmy Jo - 400 CL
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:
NR - No report received MS - Modified suppression strategy
CL - Controlled MN - Being monitored
CS - Confinement strategy NEC - No estimate of containment
CND - Contained CN (date) - Expected date of containment
3) PARK FIRE REPORTS - The following are highlights from the NPS National
Wildland Fire Summary for June 7th; the report on B236 comes from Alaska
Regional Office:
* Denali - The B236 Fire is in a limited action area in which no action is
undertaken unless the fire threatens higher value resources. It is
accordingly unmanned. The fire has been flown by an NPS aircraft and will
be monitored. Scattered light rain fell on the fire yesterday.
* Carlsbad Cavern - The park continues to report extreme conditions. Some
personnel have been committed to the Black Range complex fires.
4) ANALYSIS - Fires within the Black Range complex in New Mexico continued
to burn actively yesterday. Mobilization of resources to the Southwest and
Alaska has slowed. Initial attack operations in Alaska have decreased.
5) PROGNOSIS - Increasing temperatures and afternoon thunderstorms
throughout northern New Mexico may lead to an increase in initial attack in
that area. Initial attack is also expected to increase in the interior of
Alaska due to higher temperatures and afternoon thunderstorms.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530, 6/8]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
St. Croix (Wisconsin/Minnesota) - Zebra Mussel
Protection efforts have been implemented in the park to slow the spread of
the non-native zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) into the 252-mile-long
riverway. At risk are over 40 native mussel species, two of which are
federally listed as endangered, and the entire aquatic ecosystem. The
mussel is currently located in the Mississippi River, into which the St.
Croix flows. The St. Croix does not currently have any evidence of adult
zebra mussels, which are dispersed primarily by commercial and recreational
boat traffic. Protection efforts include increasing public awareness
through interpretation, monitoring, issuing boating advisories which include
recommendations for boat cleanings, and restricting access to the lower 25
miles of the riverway. The Mississippi often backs up into the St. Croix
due to the area's hydrology, so this section of river is considered to be
contaminated. Boaters who have had their boats and equipment in
contaminated waters and have not cleaned them will not be allowed beyond
this restricted area. The restrictions went into effect toward the end of
May. During the Memorial Day weekend, 116 boaters were stopped at the check
point and 102 were permitted access. Ranger patrols and volunteer staff
will be assigned to boat landings and public access areas along the river.
Scuba divers surveyed the lower St. Croix during the week of May 24th for
evidence of zebra mussels, but found none. More dives are scheduled for the
summer. Passive monitoring stations have also been deployed to detect
mussels. These actions are done under the park's zebra mussel response
plan, which was prepared by a joint task force and edited by Rich Klukas of
the NPS and Paul Burke of USFWS. [Sue Jennings, RMS, SACN]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at personnel specialists' workshop (6/8-6/9) and on AL
(6/10-6/11).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at MSPB enhanced annuity
retirement claim hearing (6/7-6/8); Sisto at meeting on Cape Cod ORV
regulations (6/8).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale at NWCG meeting to review ICS task books
(6/8-6/11); Farrel at wildland/urban interface initiative fire landscaping
meeting (6/8-6/11).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5572
Telefax: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-6756
Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5977
cc:Mail: Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation
SkyPager: Emergencies ONLY (numeric message) - 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843
SkyTalk: Emergencies ONLY (voice message) - 1-800-759-8255, PIN 2404843