- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Friday, June 18, 1993
- Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1993
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Friday, June 18, 1993
Broadcast: By 0830 ET
INCIDENTS
93-373 - Point Reyes (California) - Search
On the morning of June 12th, rangers received a report that 55-year-old
E.M. was overdue from a hike in the area of Coast trail and Limantour
Beach. They subsequently learned that she left the trailhead at
approximately 5 p.m. on the 11th with the intent of hiking off-trail to find
old roads; they also found that E.M. is an asthmatic and "chemically
sensitive" person who is allergic to car exhaust, perfume and plastics, and
that she had recently broken an ankle. Following a fruitless hasty search,
a full-scale search was mounted which involved Marin County SAR teams and
SAR dogs and a California Highway Patrol helicopter. A search dog team
found E.M. off trail in fair condition just before 7 a.m. on June 13th.
This was the first actual "find" by a search dog in Marin County. A ground
evacuation team was assembled and hiked in to meet E.M., who was able to
hike out with the team. [CRO, PORE, 6/16]
93-374 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Deer Kidnapping
On June 12th, a woman approached a young deer standing alongside the park's
South Entrance Road, picked it up, and placed it in the front seat of her
car. The entire episode was videotaped by two park visitors, who also
recorded her saying that she was taking the deer to her home. The visitors
notified rangers and turned the videotape over to them to help in the
investigation. The rangers were able to identify the woman as a local
resident. When they questions her, she admitted to taking the deer. The
animal was recovered and taken to a state rehabilitation center. The U.S.
attorney's office is reviewing the case for prosecution. [CR, MACA, 6/17]
93-375 - Kenai Fjord (Alaska) - Significant Vandalism
On May 2, 1992, J.H., 27, D.D., 20, and R.L., 23, were
cited for vandalizing the Exit Glacier ranger station and causing about $750
in damage. Following a year of intermittent investigation, the subsequent
charges resulted in a total fine of $1,750. A special resource protection
fund account has been established with the Alaska Natural History
Association, and $1500 of the total fine was deposited into this account.
The account enables the park to retrieve 95% of the fines for resource
protection programs. [Diane Wisley, Acting CR, KEFJ, 6/17]
93-376 - Kenai Fjord (Alaska) - Poaching
C.C. of Anchorage recently confessed to shooting a black bear near
Exit Glacier on May 28th and was charged with a Lacey Act violation. The
case was handled as a civil suit. On June 17th, C.C. forfeited the hide
and skull and was assessed $2,5000 in civil damages, which were placed in
the park's resource protection fund. The investigation began with a tip
from two visitors who spotted C.C. shooting the bear and took down his
license plate number. The witnesses were rewarded with $200 from he
resource protection fund. [Diane Wisley, Acting CR, KEFJ, 6/17]
93-377 - Richmond (Virginia) - Drug Arrests
On April 30th, rangers Norman Nelson and Craig Johnson approached a park
vehicle at Fort Gilmer and discovered four juveniles and an adult inside
with white powder on the vehicle console. A search led to the discovery of
marijuana residue and paraphernalia. All five individuals denied possessing
either marijuana or cocaine, but the juvenile driver admitted that he was
the car's exclusive user. He was cited for possession of controlled
substances. Prior to trial, he agreed to give evidence against another of
the juveniles in the vehicle, and his story was corroborated by the other
juveniles and the adult. Charges of possession of cocaine were therefore
dropped against the driver and made against the second juvenile, who in turn
identified his supplier at the local high school. On June 15th, the
supplier was confronted by Henrico County officers and found to be in
possession of ten packets of marijuana, ten packets of crack cocaine, and a
pager. County charges will be made against this person, and it is hoped
that he will identify his supplier. The park attributes the successful
conclusion of the investigation to the persistence and initiative of the two
rangers. [Cindy MacLeod, Superintendent, RICH, 6/17]
93-378 - Yosemite (California) - Assist on Homicide
A body was dumped over a cliff just outside the park on the Briceburg Grade
around 6 a.m. on June 9th. Mariposa County deputies recovered the body that
same evening and discovered that the victim had sustained severe head
trauma. Criminal investigator Fred Elchlepp and rangers Mike Lalone and
Chris Pergiel assisted the deputies with their investigation and subsequent
identified three primary suspects - R.S., 25, of Yosemite; his
brother, B.O., 18; and a 17-year-old girl from Madera, California.
On June 10th, the Madera County sheriff took the above suspects and
R.S.'s mother, J.G., 46, into custody for homicide. The
victim was identified as her husband, F.G., 48. The homicide
occurred in their residence in Madera. An older model Cadillac with a
blood-stained trunk an a blood-stained baseball bat were seized as evidence.
[Fred Elchlepp, YOSE, 6/14]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/17 6/18 Status
AK State Tanana Zone 332248 17,000 17,000 NEC
CA CDF San Diego RU * Grade - 1,200 CN 6/19
AZ State Pima County Piety
Complex - T2 2,200 4,700 NEC
USFS Kaibab Point - T2 1,000 1,300 CN 6/18
Coconino * Iron - T2 - 200+ NEC
Coronado * Graham
Complex - T1 - 4,000 NEC
BLM Phoenix Union Pass 350 350 CND
NM State - * Adobe - 150 CN 6/17
BLM Las Crucas * Uvas - 1,000 CN 6/23
FL FWS Okefenokee Gnat Catcher - T1 5,711 5,711 CN 6/18
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 -
* Grand Canyon - The park has committed five overhead personnel to the Point
Fire on the Kaibab NF. At the time of the report yesterday, the fire was
about 13 miles north of the park boundary and burning away from the
canyon.
* Bryce Canyon - On June 15th, the park's fire department responded to a
fire at Ruby's Inn, a large resort complex bordering the park. Upon
arrival, they found 100 cords of stacked firewood ablaze. Several
adjacent structures were threatened by 20 mph winds. A 900-foot reverse
lay was made to supply two 2-1/2 inch nozzles. With the assistance of a
D-7 cat, the fire was contained in about 15 minutes. The loss was
estimated at about $6,000.
4) ANALYSIS - Initial attack and large fire activity continue in the
Southwest, resulting in the mobilization of additional resources to the
area. Significant progress was made on several large fires, while other
fires had sizeable acreage gains. A total of 18 Type 1 crews and 119
overhead personnel have been mobilized to the Southwest. Minor initial
attack activity occurred in southern California, Florida and southern
Georgia.
5) PROGNOSIS - A red flag watch is in effect in east central Arizona for low
humidities and winds up to 25 mph. The forecast for New Mexico is for
scattered thundershowers and gusty winds in the east with dry lightning
possible in the central mountains. Initial attack and large fire activity
is expected to continue in the Southwest. The potential exists for an
increase in initial attack in southern California, Florida and southern
Georgia due to hot and dry weather.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530, 6/18]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Henry at aircraft overflight
contract meeting (6/14-6/15); Dickerhoof on AL (6/18).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Spruill on Death Valley aircraft study (6/15-
6/18); Gale at incident management training exercise development meeting and
on AL (6/16-6/26).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities