- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, July 15, 1993
- Date: Thurs, 15 Jul 1993
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Thursday, July 15, 1993
Broadcast: By 0830 ET
INCIDENTS
93-477 - Yosemite (California) - Ranger Shot and Injured
Between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m. last night, ranger Kim Aufhauser was on patrol on
the Tioga Road east of Tuolumne Meadows when he spotted a transient at the
side of the road and stopped his patrol vehicle to talk with him. The
transient immediately ran into the woods; as Aufhauser crossed the road in
pursuit, he was shot three times - twice in the chest and once in a leg - by
a small caliber weapon. He was wearing a vest at the time, which deflected
both of the shots to his chest. The third round went completely through his
leg. Aufhauser returned fire with his .357 caliber service revolver, but
there are no indications at present that he struck his assailant. Aufhauser
then summoned assistance. He was medevaced to June Lake Hospital, then
taken to Mammoth Hospital, where he's reported to be in stable condition.
Indications are that he will probably be released from the hospital later
this morning. The park has set up road blocks at Tenaya Lake and the Tioga
Pass entrance and has called on resources to begin a search for Aufhauser's
assailant. A California Highway Patrol helicopter with infrared capability
and about 50 rangers (including a Western Region special event team) and
officers from local jurisdictions will be deployed at first light. Hunter
Sharp is the incident commander. Aufhauser is currently a seasonal law
enforcement ranger at Yosemite, but worked for a number of years as a
permanent law enforcement ranger there in the past. [Paul Ducasse, SA,
RAD/WRO; Mike O'Neil, RLES, RAD/WRO; Dispatch, YOSE; Mammoth Hospital; 7/15]
93-435 - National Capital Park/Central (D.C.) - Follow-up on Employee Death
The funeral for James Hudson, 43, a temporary maintenance employee who had
worked at the Lincoln Memorial for the past eight years, was held on the
morning of July 10th and was followed by a private military burial at
Quantico National Cemetery on July 12th. He had served three years in
Vietnam and had been awarded the Purple Heart. Hudson left his wife,
Marlene, seven children, and three grandchildren. Messages of condolence
may be sent to Mrs. Hudson at 3818 Hayes Street, NE, Apartment #6,
Washington, DC 20019. A fund has also been established to assist the
family. Contributions should be sent to the Federal Employee Education and
Assistance Fund, Suite 200, 8441 West Bowles, Littleton, CO 80123. Please
specify that the money is to go into the James Hudson Fund. All
contributions are tax deductible. [PA, NCR; Policy, WASO; 7/15]
93-472 - Midwest Parks - Follow-up on Flood Impacts
Further reports on flooding impacts in Midwestern Region parks have been
received:
* Saint Croix - Continued rain and high water have resulted in the
establishment of a riverwide no wake zone on the 52 miles of the river
from St. Croix Falls to Prescott, Wisconsin. The wake zone was set up
several years ago to reduce erosion during periods of high water and goes
into effect when the water reaches a predetermined critical level. That
level has been surpassed.
* Herbert Hoover - Wapsinonoc Creek overflowed its banks three times over
the July 4th weekend. Second Street, a part of the park's historical
zone, was flooded, as were two large parking areas, the Village Green, and
the Loop Road picnic area. The town of West Branch's sanitary sewer
system backed up, which resulted in a sewage spill in the Loop Road area.
This lead to the closure of the Loop Road picnic area and President
Hoover's grave site. Bridge abutments along the creek have been
undermined and creek bank stabilization has been damaged, causing the
exposure of high voltage electrical cables and a high pressure gas main.
Ground water flooding has also occurred in several of the park's quarters
and historic structures. The park was able to prevent sewage back-up into
quarters and to protect cultural artifacts stored in the historic
structures.
* Fort Larned - High water in the Pawnee River has led to delays in the
construction of a county bridge on park property; work continues on flood
control gates, but is far behind schedule. The park has suffered a fair
amount of cumulative damage - including damaged roofs and paint, broken
windows and pitted wood surfaces - from both this and previous storms
dating back to November.
[Henry Hughlett, CR, SACN; Steve Linderer, Superintendent, FOLS; Ted Deets,
Acting Superintendent, HEHO; 7/14]
[Many pending incidents; all will appear tomorrow....]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 7/14 7/15 Status
CA State Fresno-Kings * Sycamore - 500 CND
CO BLM Craig * Greasewood - 105 CN 7/15
NC State - Pinder Complex 5,000 5,000 NEC
GA USFS Chattahoochee-
Oconee * Raban - 1,050 CN 7/15
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 - No significant reports today.
4) ANALYSIS - Initial attack activity continued at a moderate level
yesterday in southern California, the Rockies, the Southwest and the South.
5) PROGNOSIS - A red flag warning has been issued for strong southerly winds
and low relative humidities in western Utah valleys. Red flag watches have
been posted for southeastern Utah and northern Arizona for southwest winds
up to 30 mph and for scattered afternoon mountain thunderstorms. Isolated
afternoon and evening thunderstorms are forecast for the Colorado Rockies.
Seasonal temperatures will prevail across the southern deserts of
California, Arizona and New Mexico.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530, 7/15]
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 at visitor management and resource protection
assessment program meeting (7/14-16); Marriott on AL (7/15).
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