- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, June 21, 1995
- Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, June 21, 1995
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
95-312 - Channel Islands (California) - Assault on Ranger
Ventura police officers pursued two men in a vehicle at high speeds to the dead
end in front of the park visitor center on the afternoon of June 17th. The
men, R.F. and T.M., abandoned their vehicle and fled on
foot. A ranger who had just returned from exercising and was not in uniform
saw T.M. attempting to evade police; he approached to within 20 yards of
T.M., identified himself verbally, and ordered him to stop. T.M. instead
pulled out a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, racked a round into the chamber, and
pointed it in the direction of the ranger. The ranger, who was unarmed, jumped
over a four-foot fence and retreated to his office to get his defensive
equipment. The ranger than helped Ventura officer search park headquarters,
where T.M. was found and taken into custody without further incident.
R.F. attempted to flee by going in the water, but was retrieved by a police
dog. The two men were booked for assault, possession of illegal drugs with
intent to sell, and possession of illegal weapons. The park will work with the
U.S. attorney's office to determine if assault on federal officer charges will
be filed. [Jack Fitzgerald, CR, CHIS, 6/18]
95-313 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Concession Employee Drug Arrests
A two-month-long drug investigation of Fred Harvey company employees concluded
on June 15th with the arrests of 15 employees and the execution of eight search
warrants. Employees were arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges including
sale, distribution and possession of drugs, illegal sale of alcohol, and
possession of weapons. Drugs seized during the arrest and search warrant
execution included methamphetamines, peyote and marijuana. An NPS agent from
the Washington office conducted the investigation in conjunction with
investigators from Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Approximately 30 law enforcement
rangers and officers from Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Glen Canyon, the Coconino
County sheriff's department and the Williams police department executed the
warrants and made the arrests without incident. A police dog from Williams
located drugs and paraphernalia within Fred Harvey work areas. Arrests were
made within the concession housing area, El Tovar kitchen and dining area, and
Bright Angel kitchens. The investigation is continuing; more arrests are
pending. [CRO, GRCA, 6/19]
95-314 - Big South Fork (Tennessee/Kentucky) - Search
Late on the evening of June 16th, rangers received word from the county
sheriff's office that 13-year-old A.W. had not returned to his campsite
on Bandy Creek. A hasty search by rangers proved fruitless. The search was
escalated around 10 p.m., and plans were made to bring in additional rangers
and maintenance personnel the following morning. As the search was gearing up
at 8 a.m. that morning, a call was received from Charit Creek Lodge reporting
that A.W. was there. He was picked up by rangers and brought back to his
campsite. An interview with A.W. revealed that he'd traveled all night and
had covered a distance of almost 20 miles. [F. Graham, BISO, 6/19]
95-315 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Search; Probable Drowning
On June 15th, H.B. and D.W. were tending their fishing net on
the Alsek River about a mile upstream from the ocean when the boat's prop got
tangled in the net. The current subsequently swamped the boat, and both men
swam toward shore, about 50 yards away. H.B. made it, but D.W. didn't. A
search was begun by park rangers within 30 minutes and ultimately involved a
number of private boats, two private airplanes, an Alaska state trooper
aircraft and the Coast Guard. The overturned boat, still tangled in the net,
was found a mile offshore in the ocean about an hour into the search. As of
late that evening, D.W. had not been found, and is presumed to have drowned.
Neither of the men was apparently wearing a life jacket. [Rick Mossman, DR,
GLBA, 6/16]
95-316 - Lake Meredith (Texas) - Near Drowning; Life Saved
Two women from Borger, Texas, were swimming in the lake near Harbor Bay
campground on June 15th when one of them panicked and began to drown. Her
companion attempted to get her back to shore, but had great difficulty in doing
so and soon was in trouble. A camper responded by boat and brought both to
shore. Superintendent Pat McCrary and ranger Bob Wilson responded, performed
rescue breathing, and kept the victim breathing until an ambulance arrived.
The women were part of a sizeable group of people who had been drinking heavily
for several hours and proved incapable of providing effective assistance. [CR,
LAMR, 6/16]
95-317 - Little River Canyon (Alabama) - Drowning
During a hike on the Powell trail on June 13th, W.B. of Chattanooga
ventured off the trail into the Little River and slipped into a deep hole.
W.B., who could not swim, surfaced once, then disappeared. His companion,
Gwendolyn Deems, hiked through the darkness to seek help. Rangers and members
of the local rescue squad searched for W.B. and subsequently found his body in
the river near the point last seen. Alcohol is believed to have been a
contributing factor. [Dwight Dixon, CR, LIRI, 6/19]
95-318 - Golden Gate (California) - EMS Response; Life Saved
The park received a mutual aid request from the city on the afternoon of June
15th and dispatched an ALS engine from the Presidio fire department. Upon
arrival, NPS firefighter/paramedics Ed Lyell and Scott Sandine found a
pulseless, non-breathing 81-year-old man being administered CPR by a city
police officer. The victim was intubated, cardiac drugs were administered, and
he was defibrillated; spontaneous breathing and circulation were restored, and
the man was taken by ambulance to a city hospital. It's expected that he will
fully recover and soon be released from the hospital. [CRO, GOGA, 6/19]
95-319 - Blue Ridge (North Carolina/Virginia) - MVA with Fatality
Just after midnight on June 17th, S.T. lost control of his 1987 Ford
pickup near milepost 284, crashed into a large tree, and was killed. Although
the investigation is as yet incomplete, excessive speed has been ruled as a
contributing factor. [CRO, BLRI, 6/19]
95-320 - Ozark (Missouri) - Drug Arrests
On June 17th, a multi-agency task force conducted a highly effective
interdictive operation to reduce illegal drug and alcohol use on the river.
The team's efforts resulted in 23 arrests for drug-related offenses (two of
them felonies) and another 11 arrests for alcohol-related offenses. District
ranger Bill Terry coordinated logistics for the operation on 25 miles of the
Upper Current River. [Tim Blank, CR, OZAR, 6/20]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
2) LARGE FIRE SUMMARY
% Est
State Area Fire IMT 6/20 6/21 Con Con
NM Cibola NF Turkey -- 240 - 95 NR
Milligan -- 600 1,000 30 CN 7/10
State * Spring -- - 3,910 50 CN 7/24
* Corona -- - 120 0 NEC
AZ Coronado NF * Guadalupe -- - 300 75 CN 7/1
Tonto NF * Pipeline -- - 100 0 NEC
State * Deepwells -- - 300 50 CN 6/16
AK Delta Area 512307 T2 800 1,000 100 CND
CA San Diego RU Butterfield ST, T2 900 5,073 40 CN 6/24
HEADING NOTES:
Fire * = newly reported fire (on this report). Cx = complex.
IMT T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST1 = state Type 1; ST2 = state Type 2.
% Con Percent of fire contained.
Est Con Estimated containment date. NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report.
3) FIRES YESTERDAY -
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Number 0 11 4 2 46 11 74
Acres Burned 0 8 58 73 3,689 207 4,035
4) COMMITTED RESOURCES -
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Federal 27 39 18 8 94
Non-federal 33 30 5 4 96
5) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY -
CY 1995 Five Year Average
Year-to-Date Year-to-Date
Number of Fires 41,024 36,787
Acres Burned 626,169 631,283
6) SITUATION - Fire activity increased yesterday in southern parts of
California and in the East. Large fire activity continues in Canada, where
another 240,000 acres burned yesterday.
7) OUTLOOK - A fire weather watch has been posted for northeast Arizona for low
humidity and strong winds. Fire activity is expected to increase in the
Southwest, southern California, Alaska and the East.
[NIFCC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/21]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Padre Island (Texas) - Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Two nesting Kemp's ridley sea turtles were discovered in the park on May 31st,
and two more were found on nearby beaches within the next few days. The Kemp's
ridley is the most endangered sea turtle in the world, with the current
population of females estimated at fewer than 1,000. The four nests in the
park are the only ones discovered on Texas beaches this year. Donna Shaver of
the National Biological Service removed 335 eggs from the four nests to an
incubation facility at the park. The eggs will hatch in 48 to 53 days, and the
hatchlings will be released near their nests. Only five other nests have been
discovered on Texas beaches in the past 20 years. Between 1978 and 1988, park
biologists participated in a multi-agency effort that brought 22,000 Kemp's
ridley eggs from Mexico to the park. After hatching, the turtles were released
from park beaches in an attempt to start a second nesting colony when the
turtles reached maturity. The increase in nesting in the park may be due to
the project's success or an increase in the Kemp's ridley population; either
way, its good news for biologists trying to keep this species from becoming
extinct. [Butch Farabee, Superintendent, PAIS]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Uniform Program Update - A uniform program update which contained the
results of the Servicewide needs assessment on uniform components conducted
this spring was distributed to all parks late last week. If you're interested
in finding out how the study came out and what changes in the program are
planned, please see you park uniform coordinator. [Bill Halainen, DEWA]
OBSERVATIONS
"Privatization of parklands is not the way to reform park management....The
economic difficulties...convinced even the godfather of capitalism that
privatization of parks is a bad idea. Adam Smith wrote, 'Lands for the purpose
of pleasure and magnificence - parks, gardens, public walks, etc., possessions
which are everywhere considered as causes of expense, not as sources of
revenue - seem to be the only lands which, in a great and civilized monarchy,
ought to belong to the crown.'"
William R. Lowery, "The
Capacity for Wonder: Preserving
National Parks"
Do you have a favorite quote about the NPS? If so, send it along for possible
inclusion in a future Morning Report...
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax: 202-208-6756
cc:Mail: WASO Ranger Activities
SkyPager: Emergencies ONLY: 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843