RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Monday, February 4, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-33 - Timpanogos Cave (Utah) - Structural Fire
Around 3:00 a.m. on the morning of the 3rd, the fire alarm in
the park visitor center sounded. The responding ranger
discovered flames in the back of the building and immediately
called the county fire dispatcher. Although the Pleasant Grove
and Alpine fire departments responded quickly, the building,
which housed both the visitor center and the park offices, was
almost entirely destroyed. At this point, it appears that the
only objects which will be salvageable will be some of the
park's files and those items contained in the park's fireproof
safes. The loss is estimated at between $1 million and $1.5
million. State and county fire marshals were on the scene
yesterday, and Jim Farrell, the Service's structural fire
specialist, will be flying to the park today. Salvage work will
begin as soon as the investigators have completed their work.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but arson is not thought
to be among the possibilities. [Telephone reports from U.S.
Park Police; Mike Hill, Superintendent, TICA; Doug Erskine,
Branch of Fire all on 2/3]
91-34 - Olympic (Washington) - Arson Fires
Two buildings - the Fairholm ranger station near Lake Crescent
and the entrance station at Soleduck - were set on fire during
the weekend. The ranger station burned to the ground, but the
entrance station was not entirely destroyed. The fires are
thought to be related to the controversy over the spotted owl.
The state fire marshall, park rangers and FBI agents are
investigating. [Telephone report from Mike Blankenship,
RAD/PNRO, 2/2]
91-35 - Edison (New Jersey) - Employee Arrested
On the afternoon of January 31st, a former administrative clerk
at the park was arrested for conversion of government property
(18 USC 641). The offense occurred last March while the woman
was employed at the park and involved her conversion of cash
from the imprest fund which she managed. She was suspended from
her job, and had been under investigation since that time. The
arrest followed the issuance of a warrant by a U.S. magistrate,
and was conducted by USPP Major Dale Dickerhoof and DOI OIG
special agent Douglas Morgan. While being hand-cuffed, the woman
asked for her coat; the arresting officers found a knife with a
five-inch blade in the pocket of the coat. She was to appear in
court on February 1st. [Telefax from Dale Dickerhoof, GATE, 2/1]
91-36 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Sexual Assault
Shortly before midnight on January 25th, J.G., 24, of
Mexican Hat, Utah, was arrested for residential burglary and
forcible sexual assault by the ranger at Hall's Crossing. J.G.,
an employee of ARA Leisure Services, the park concessioner, had
been at a fellow employee's company-owned trailer listening to
music. Two girls from Cortez, Colorado, ages 16 and 18, were
visiting; after J.G. left, the 16-year-old retired to a back
bedroom. Approximately ten minutes later, J.G. entered the
house through the back door, went into her room, and attempted
to assault her. She was able to get free, however, and ran into
the living room, calling for help. J.G. ran from the trailer to
his residence, where he was later arrested. Alcohol was
involved. During the trip to the jail, J.G. made an
unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide. Prosecution will be by
San Juan County, Utah. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR,
GLCA, 2/1]
91-37 - Hot Springs (Arkansas) - Homicide
Park personnel discovered the body of a baby at the Gulpha Gorge
campground late on the morning of February 1st. The body has
been sent to the state medical examiner's office, and rangers
and FBI agents have begun an investigation. Further information
to follow. [CompuServe message from CR, HOSP, via Phil Young,
RAD/SWRO, 2/2]
MIDDLE EAST INCIDENT UPDATE
No incident reports received.
As many of you know, we received a request from the Department
last Monday for the names of NPS employees who had experience
with post-oil spill habitat restoration and wildlife
rehabilitation who might be available to join a team being sent
to Saudi Arabia to assist in the cleanup of the oil spill in the
Persian Gulf. We in turn asked the ten regional ranger
activities offices to gather names and get them back to us
within 24 hours. Since it wasn't certain at that time whether
or not overhead personnel would be needed, we also asked for the
names of employees with ICS credentials. Through the efforts of
both parks and regions, we were able to put together a
comprehensive listing of candidates and bring this list to the
Department on Tuesday. As of today, the Department has sent
only one person a Fish and Wildlife Service employee from
Oregon to Saudi Arabia, but is holding on to all names in case
further requests are made. The situation is highly fluid at
present, and it is not known just what the Saudis will be
requesting. In any case, we want to thank all of you for the
promptness of your responses. We were able to present a
comprehensive listing to the Department in very short order, and
they have expressed their appreciation for the rapidity and
thoroughness of our response. We'll keep you posted on further
developments as they occur.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No reports today.
OFFICE NOTES
1) We have received a new supply of EMS identification cards
(a.k.a. "white cards"). If you need some, give me a call at FTS
268-4188. [Butch Farabee, RAD/WASO]
CALENDAR
Asterisk (*) indicates new entry; plus (+) indicates revised
entry. Brackets at end of entry indicate source of information:
February 11-15 "Retrofitting for Accessibility: A Course for
Maintenance Personnel", San Diego, CA. Sponsored by Special
Programs and Populations, WASO, through Project Access. Course
designed to train maintenance personnel to identify and
eliminate accessibility barriers for people with disabilities
through cyclic maintenance programs and repair and rehab
projects. For further information, contact Dave Park at
202-343-3674 (FTS 343-3674). [Kay Ellis, WASO-ACCESS]
February 11-22 Physical Fitness Coordinator Training, Artesia,
NM. Funded by benefitting accounts. For application procedures,
contact your regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer,
LEEDC/FLETC]
February 20-22 Fee Collection Workshop, Denver, CO. Open to
park fee collectors, fee collection supervisors, fee collection
officers and administrative personnel from Midwest, Pacific
Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Southwest and Western Regions. For
further information, contact John Townsend, FTS 864-3475 or
402-221-3475. [John Townsend, RAD/MWRO]
February 25-March 8 National Wildfire Investigation Training,
Glynco, GA. Funded by benefitting accounts. Contact your
regional fire coordinator to see if your attendance would
qualify for FIREPRO funding. For application procedures,
contact your regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer,
LEEDC/FLETC]
February 25-March 1 Midwest Region Special Events Team
Training, Lake Mead, NV. Funded by regional training account.
[J.J. McLaughlin, RAD/MWRO]
February 27-May 8 Basic Law Enforcement for Land Management
Agencies, Glynco, GA. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC. For application
procedures, contact your regional training office. [Carole
Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
March 11-15 Structural Fire Program Management, Indiana Dunes,
Porter, IN. For further information, contact MWR Employee
Development Office at FTS 864-3942 or 402-221-3941. [John Townsend,
RAD/MWRO]
March 11-15 PNR Joint Operations Workshop, Portland, OR. For
further information, contact Kathy Jope at FTS 399-5670. [Kathy
Jope, RM&VP, PNRO]
March 11-April 4 Marine Law Enforcement Training, Glynco, GA.
Funded by benefitting accounts. For application procedures,
contact your regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer,
LEEDC/FLETC]
March 18-22 Midwest Region Chief Rangers' Conference, Lake
Geneva, WI. [J.J. McLaughlin, RAD/MWRO]
March 18-22 Land Management Controlled Substance Training,
Marana, AZ. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC. For application procedures,
contact your regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer,
LEEDC/FLETC]
March 18-22 Aviation Management Workshop, Boise, ID.
Benefitting account. [Butch Farabee, RAD/WASO]
March 18-29 Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Big Thicket, TX.
Two-week training session on the management of prescribed burns
to meet land management and operational objectives. The course
is designed for personnel having primary responsibility for
planning and implementing prescribed fire as a management tool.
Submit an NWCG interagency training nomination form to program
coordinator David McHugh at Big Thicket no later than December
14th. [Paul Broyles, Branch of Fire]
March 22-27 56th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources
Conference, Edmonton, Alberta. For further information, contact
L.L. Williamson, Wildlife Management Institute, 1101 14th Street
NW, Suite 725, Washington, DC 20005 (202-371-1808). [Kathy Jope,
RAD/PNRO]
March 25-29 "Universal Design: Designing to Include Disabled
People in Park and Recreation Areas and Facilities", Raleigh, NC.
Sponsored by Special Programs and Populations, WASO, through
Project Access. Designed for architects, designers and
engineers, this 40hour course will present methods and
techniques for designing buildings and facilities that are
accessible to disabled people. Benefitting account plus tuition
of $250. Contact regional training office for application
procedures. For further information, contact Dave Park at
202-343-3674 (FTS 343-3674). [Kay Ellis, WASO-ACCESS]
March 25-June 4 Basic Law Enforcement for Land Management
Agencies, Glynco, GA. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC. For application
procedures, contact your regional training office. [Carole
Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
March 25-29 Land Management Controlled Substance Training,
Knoxville, TN. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC. For application
procedures, contact your regional training office. [Carole
Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
March 28-May 16 Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program,
National Ranger Training Institute, Hocking College, Nelsonville,
OH. For further information and application, contact Connie
Cassady or Steve Swayne at 614-753-3591 ext. 2330. [Steve Swayne,
Hocking College]
April 8-19 Basic Instructor Training, Glynco, GA. Funded by
benefitting accounts. For application procedures, contact your
regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
April 9-12 Western Regional Chief Rangers' Workshop, Days Inn,
Scottsdale, AZ. Funded by benefitting accounts. For
reservations, contact the Days Inn (602-947-5411); for further
information, call Dwayne Collier at 602-640-5256 or Herb Gercke at
415-556-1866. [Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO]
April 14 Fire Management for Managers, NARTC, Marana, AZ. The
session will be held concurrently with the USFS course on fire
management for line officers, and there will be several joint
sessions. Open to superintendents, park FMO's, ARD's for
operations and regional chief rangers. For further information,
contact Paul Broyles, Branch of Fire Management (208-334-1080 or
FTS 554-1080). [Paul Broyles, FIRE]
* April 14-18 Departmental Safety and Occupational Health
Seminar, Bahia Resort Hotel, San Diego, CA. Sponsored by the
NPS. Registration fee of $65. All fulltime and collateral duty
safety personnel are encouraged to attend. For further
information, contact William Davis, Chief, Branch of Loss
Control, WASO, at FTS 343-7014 or 202-343-7014. [Bill Davis,
Safety, WASO]
* April 17-19 "Environmental Compliance: Tools for Protecting
Parks", Colorado Springs, CO. A three-day course "designed to
help participants develop core skills and practical
understanding in compliance, with a focus on NEPA." Sponsored
by WASO Environmental Quality and the Environmental Law
Institute. For further information, contact Frank Bono at
Albright or Kheryn Klubnikin, Environmental Quality, WASO.
[Kheryn Klubnikin, EQ/WASO]
April 24-26 Mountain Lion/Human Interaction Symposium and
Workshop, Holiday Inn Holidome, Denver, CO. Sponsored by the
NPS and several other state, provincial and federal agencies.
Abstracts are due by December 15, 1990. For more information,
call Steve Chaney (3039692856 or FTS 327-2856) or Robert Tully at
303-297-1192. [Steve Chaney, RMRO]
April 29-May 23 Marine Law Enforcement Training, Glynco, GA.
Funded by benefitting accounts. For application procedures,
contact your regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer,
LEEDC/FLETC]
May 14-15 Western Region Peer Counselor Training, Tucson, AZ.
Funded by benefitting accounts. For applications, contact Herb
Gercke at 415-556-1866. [Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO]
May 20-July 17 Seasonal Law Enforcement Ranger Academy,
Colorado Northwestern Community College, Rangely, Colorado. For
further information and application, contact Steven Whittmore at
303-675-3306. [Steven Whittmore, CNCC]
(Calendar appears in each Monday's morning report. If you know
of a conference, meeting or training session with Servicewide
interest and implications, please provide the specifics to Bill
Halainen in Ranger Activities).
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dabney at Southwest Region chief rangers'
conference (2/4-2/6), and Albright EDC (2/6-2/8).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Henry on SL (2/4-?).
Branch of Fire: Hurd at meeting in Denver, CO (2/4-2/8); Gale
instructing at I-520/I-620 course, Marana, AZ (2/4-2/8); Farrel
at Timpanogos Cave, UT (2/4-?); Botti, Broyles and Clark at
SWR chief rangers' conference, San Antonio, TX (2/6-2/8).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog: 1/650