- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, July 12, 1993
- Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1993
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Monday, July 12, 1993
Broadcast: By 0830 ET
INCIDENTS
93-24 - Fort Pulaski (Georgia) - Follow-up on Discovery of Human Remains
The identity of the remains found by ranger Walter West on January 18th has
yet to be established. Investigation has revealed that the cause of death
was a gunshot wound to the head, but it cannot be determined conclusively if
the individual was a homicide victim or died from a self-inflicted wound.
The victim was a white male who was about 25 to 30 years old at the time of
his death. Several excellent leads were pursued by Chatham County
investigators, but to no avail. Found at the scene were a .22 caliber
derringer with a spent round in the chamber, bits of clothing, work boots, a
woman's-style watch, keys and a small amount of U.S. currency. Rangers
conducted a strip-grid type search of the area with a metal detector, but no
additional evidence was located. The case remains open; further details
were provided as they become available. [Walter West, FOPU, 7/9]
93-426 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Follow-up on Flooding
As of yesterday morning, Mississippi River waters were about nine vertical
feet above the park's east sidewalk, which parallels Wharf Street and is the
low point of the park. At that time, the river was 42.5 feet above normal
and 12.5 feet above flood stage; predictions are for it to crest on July
17th, but additional rainfall throughout the Midwest may alter that
forecast. Due to the height of the flood walls in the St. Louis area and
the fact that the Arch is on high ground, the park provides the best viewing
point to see the "Flood of '93." Visitation has accordingly increased
between three and five times normal for this time of year and has compounded
management problems already created by closure of affected areas in and
around the park. The park's law enforcement staff has been particularly
strained, as rangers have been required to secure closed areas due to
hazardous conditions, control crowds in the viewing area, and provide
increased traffic control in the park's multi-tiered parking garage. A
regional special events team was accordingly dispatched to the park
yesterday to assist until the waters subside and the park returns to normal
operations. The potential exists for major resource damage in the park.
The increase of the water table may cause flooding problems in the park
museum, which is located underground directly below the Arch. Maintenance
personnel are bringing in additional pumps in anticipation of these
problems. [Rich Murphy, LES, RAD/MWRO, 7/11]
93-454 - Haleakala (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Drug Arrests
The investigation which ensued following the marijuana cultivation arrests
on July 7th led to the issuance and serving of search warrants on the
residence of both suspects. The search lead to the discovery of large-scale
indoor and outdoor cultivation of more plants. Another 177, ranging in size
from a seedlings to mature plants, were seized along with associated
cultivation materials, including fertilizer and high intensity lighting
systems. One residence had a false wall in one room; behind it were 100
plants, all on automatic watering and lighting systems. Two pickup trucks
full of cultivation materials were seized in the raid. Both suspects are
being held pending further legal action. Rangers were assisted in the
investigation by Hawaii Volcano criminal investigators, Maui County vice
officers and the U.S. attorney's office. [Phil Dendel, HALE, 7/9]
93-463 - Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - Follow-up on HazMat Dumping
A site evaluation by representatives from the Coast Guard and Massachusetts
Department of Public Health was conducted on July 8th and it was determined
that the drum found on the beach contained no radioactive or hazardous
substance. Instead, the container, which carried NRC markings, was filled
with styrofoam and apparently had been used as a maritime buoy. [David
Crary, FMO, CACO, and Hank Brightman, NARO, 7/9]
93-467 - Lassen Volcanic (California) - Car Clouts
Sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. on July 4th, a thief or thieves broke
into nine vehicles in the Manzanita Lake campground. Only cash was stolen;
other items, such as traveler's checks, cameras, credit cards and jewelry,
were not taken. Entry was generally gained through the right front
passenger side door. Six of the nine vehicles were Toyota or Nissan
pickups. [Bryan Swift, CR, LAVO, 7/9]
93-468 - Denali (Alaska) - Demonstration
On July 4th, members of the Alaska Reclamation Committee (ARC), a splinter
group of the Alaskan Independence Party which claims state ownership of the
park road, drove into the park in defiance of existing park regulations
(failure to obtain a permit) and held a picnic on state and private
inholdings in the Kantishna area, some 96 miles from the park's entrance.
Prior to the event, there were rumors and threats that up to 300 people
would participate in the event, but only 25 people in 11 vehicles
participated. The park staff was augmented by 18 rangers from throughout
the Alaska Region. The group drove past the road access check station at
mile 15; they remained as a group even though their one oversized
recreational vehicle was not permitted to travel beyond mile 30 until all
park tour and shuttle buses had passed. The group continued to Kantishna,
where they rafted on Moose Creek (the group is also challenging the question
of navigability of park waters) and operated a sluice box near the mouth of
Eureka Creek. There were no confrontations with park staff, though members
did tell reporters that they "feared for their lives" after monitoring park
radio frequencies and observing a van load of rangers following their
convoy. Park staff were in the position of preparing for all contingencies
that might result from this group's visit while still maintaining normal
operations during the holiday. A helicopter was available to carry park law
enforcement and EMS personnel to any point along the road corridor as
needed. ARC claimed that the event was a success and plans to return for
another "Drive Denali" weekend in six weeks. Meanwhile, the park is
preparing legal action resulting from violations that occurred on the 4th.
The park reports that staff "are optimistic that the issues of road
ownership, river navigability, and mining claims will be resolved in court
rather than on the road." The incident commander was ranger/pilot Ron
Purdum. [Tom Habecker, Acting CR, DENA, 7/9]
93-469 - Golden Gate (California) - Arrest for Sexual Assault
On July 9th, S.J., 34, of Sebastopol, California, was arrested for
the May rape and robbery of a 53-year-old San Francisco woman in the park.
The woman had accepted a ride home from him, but S.J. had instead taken
her to an overgrown rifle range on Bunker Road in the Fort Cronkhite area of
Marin Headlands and assaulted her. He also allegedly stole her purse and a
small amount of cash. After the assault, the woman was left in the isolated
area. An off-duty ranger saw her walking down the road at 12:30 a.m. and
picked her up. During the subsequent investigation, Park Police detective
Ray Rapp was able to learn the identity of the man, known by his nickname of
"Apache" because of his fondness for Native American art and jewelry.
S.J. is being held in Los Angeles County jail on an unrelated charge and
will be transferred to the San Francisco area to face federal charges. [Lt.
Gerald McCarthy, SFFO/USPP, 7/9]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 7/9 7/12 Status
AK State Delta Area 312489 500 460 CND
CA USFS San Bernadino * Crowder - 225 CND
BLM Cal Desert * Stoddard #2 - 300 CND
NM USFS Santa Fe Quemado - T2 3,830 4,200 CND
Lincoln Rawhide 400 400 CND
State - * Jessica - 600 CND
CO USFS Pike and
San Isabel * South Lake - T2 - 310 CN 7/12
Arapaho and
Roosevelt * Snowcap - T2 - 150 CN 7/12
BLM Craig * Sunbeam - 8,000 CN 7/12
UT BLM Richfield * Bottom - 5,000 CND
GA USFS Chattahoochee * Big Mountain - 1,050 CND
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 -
* Lake Mead - A 10-year-old boy playing with matches started a fire near
Boulder Beach campground on the afternoon of July 7th. The fire quickly
spread to four acres due to high winds and threatened the Boulder Beach
store and Lake Mead Lodge. The fire was contained at eight acres with no
structural damage. Resources on the fire included three engines from Lake
Mead, two from Boulder City, one from Henderson, and two from BLM. The
latter also send a hand crew. The juvenile was taken to Clark County
juvenile court for charges.
* Grand Teton - The park's Type II crew has been sent to the Snow Top fire.
4) ANALYSIS - Lightning has led to an increase in initial attack and large
fire activity in the eastern Great Basin, Northwest, southern California and
Rocky Mountain areas. Initial attack has moderated in the Southwest due to
increased relative humidities and precipitation.
5) PROGNOSIS - Red flag warnings for thunderstorms and brisk winds have been
issued for the Great Basin and central Rockies. Increased initial attack is
anticipated for Utah, western Colorado and southern Wyoming due to
increasing temperatures and thunderstorms. Scattered, mostly wet
thunderstorms are forecast for southern Arizona and New Mexico and northern
Washington. Resource demobilization is anticipated for the Southwest early
this week.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530, 7/12]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No field reports today.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Henry at SFAR oversight group
meeting (7/14-15); Dickerhoof on AL (7/12) and at visitor management and
resource protection assessment program meeting (7/14-16); Smith on AL (7/1214).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale on extended attack analysis of project
fire migration at GUMO, ELMA and LAMR (7/12-16); Botti at national park and
wilderness fire management meeting (7/12-16); Farrel at wildland/urban
interface initiative meeting (7/12-16).
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