RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Thursday, May 30, 1991
INCIDENTS
90-311 - Appalachian Trail (MaineGeorgia) - Followup on Double
Homicide
On September 13, 1990, Appalachian Trail hikers M.L. and
G.H. were murdered in a shelter just south of Duncannon,
Pennsylvania. A major investigation and search for the murderer
was immediately begun, and descriptions of the probable
assailant and the items he was carrying were disseminated all
along the trail. Eight days later, an Appalachian Trail
Conference (ATC) volunteer spotted a man meeting this
description on the C&O Canal footpath just north of Harpers
Ferry. He reported the sighting to Harpers Ferry rangers, and
rangers Bob Mackreth, Bill Scofield and John Bailey apprehended
the man, later identified as P.D.C., who was wanted by
the state of Florida for a homicide committed there. On May
26th, P.D.C. was found guilty of two counts of first degree
murder in a state court in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, and
sentenced to death. The murder case was investigated by the
Pennsylvania State Police and prosecuted by the district
attorney for Perry County, Pennsylvania. The ATC played a major
role in the investigation, providing expert assistance, support
(including maps, guides, trail registers, witnesses and
volunteer evidence searchers), funding for investigators' travel,
and effective courtroom displays. The close cooperation and
coordination of many law enforcement agencies and Appalachian
Trail management units brought this case to a successful
conclusion. [Telefax from APTR, 5/29]
91-181 - Acadia (Maine) - Search; Fatality
A major search effort concluded on May 28th with the discovery
of the body of 75-year-old hiker R.V.H. R.V.H's
vehicle had been found parked off a park road; when it was
determined on May 24th that he was overdue from a hike, a hasty
search was begun. This fruitless effort evolved into a major
search, engaging 25 park employees, 20 game wardens from the
Maine Warden Service, 60 volunteers from the University of Maine
Forestry School, six state volunteer SAR groups, five search dog
teams, and three helicopters from the Maine Department of
Forestry and Brunswick Naval Air Station. Rangers in the Navy
helicopter spotted some of R.V.H's personal effects near the
cliffs at Jordan Pond on the 28th, and rangers and wardens found
his body near the base of the cliffs later that day. It appears
that R.V.H left the hiking trail and fell approximately 300
feet to his death, which probably occurred on or about May 20th.
The incident commander for the search was Norm Dodge, Acadia's
chief ranger. [Telefax from John Lynch, RAD/NARO, 5/29]
91-182 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Helicopter Crash
A Mambo Kea contract Hughes 500 helicopter crashed while sling
loading on a resource management assignment at 5,500 feet on
Mauna Loa. Initial reports indicate that the pilot, who was the
helicopter's sole occupant, was seriously injured. The aircraft
was totally destroyed. A small fire resulted and was suppressed
by park crews. OAS has been notified. [Jack Minassian, HAVO,
via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/29]
91-183 - Obed River (Tennessee) - Drowning
D.L., 33, of Morgan County, Tennessee, reportedly
drowned while swimming near Barnett Bridge on the morning of May
26th. Due to suspicious circumstances surrounding his death,
the county sheriff's office is conducting a homicide
investigation. [Don Forester, OBRI, via telefax from Steve
Alscher, RAD/SERO, 5/29]
91-184 - Southwest Region (New Mexico) - ARPA Task Force
Indictments
Members of the joint, interagency ARPA task force including
representatives from the National Park Service caught several
individuals in three vehicles dismantling a 17th Century
Navajo/Pueblo site on BLM lands near Cuba, New Mexico recently.
All individuals were interviewed and released, and indictments
are currently being sought from a grand jury. Associated
investigations and damage assessments are continuing. Task
force archeologists estimate that the about 40 tons of material
was moved at the site. [CompuServe message from Bill Tanner,
RAD/SWRO, 5/29]
91-185 - Padre Island (Texas) - Probable Suicide
On May 26th, a couple looking for their dog came across a
vehicle parked behind the dunes 20 miles down the island. They
saw a body in the driver's seat and notified rangers. The
victim was tentatively identified as a 36-year-old male from San
Antonio. A park entrance receipt dated March 21, 1991, was
found in the vehicle along with a suicide note. Checks are
being made to ascertain the whereabouts of the man's common law
wife, since he was not listed as a missing person. An autopsy
has also been ordered. [CompuServe message from Bill Tanner,
RAD/SWRO, 5/29]
91-186 - Lake Meredith (Texas) - Drowning
V.I., 19, of Dumas, Texas, was swimming with
friends in the South Cliffs area of the lake on the afternoon of
the 27th. While attempting to swim across the South Canyon
embayment, he experienced problems and went under. His friends
attempted to rescue him, but without success. Park divers
recovered his body an hour later. Early indications are that
alcohol was not a factor, and that V.I. simply exceeded
his ability. [CompuServe message from Bill Tanner, RAD/SWRO,
5/29]
91-187 - Buffalo River (Arkansas)
J.C. of Seligman, Missouri, drowned on May 15th when he
and a friend tried to swim the river while it was in its flood
state. Rangers recovered his body several miles downstream the
same evening. [CompuServe message from Bill Tanner, RAD/SWRO,
5/29]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION Preparedness Level II
One geographic area experiencing high fire danger. Numerous
Class A, B, and C fires occurring and a potential exists for
escapes to larger (project) fires. Minimal mobilization of
resources from other geographic areas occurring. The potential
exists for mobilizing additional resources from other geographic
areas.
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 5/29 5/30 Status
AK FWS Kenai NWR *Pothole T1 8,400 8,400 CN 6/2
AZ USFS Kaibab NF *Geronimo T2 85 85 Yes
BIA Ft. Apache *Cradleboard T2 218 210 Yes
NM BLM Roswell *Squaw 200 500 Yes
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
* CN Contained * MN Being monitored
* CL Controlled * None No estimate of containment
* CS Confinement strategy * Yes Fire has been contained
3) ANALYSIS - Fires in the southwest are being contained as
projected.
4) PROGNOSIS - Fire activity is expected to continue in the
southwest.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 5/30]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) DC Heath Publishing is interested in information about
rangers who patrol on bicycles for a textbook they are preparing
for grammar school children. If you can help, call Allyson Hart
at 6178601791. [Bill Halainen, RAD/WASO]
2) A law was recently passed which requires that any new radio
systems installed by agencies of the federal government after
January 1, 1995, must be on narrowband frequency, and that all
systems must be converted to narrowband by the year 2005. Parks
may add to existing systems until that time. We are in the
process of getting further information on this law and its
implications and will pass on our findings to you ASAP. [Jack
Schamp, RAD/WASO, via report from Bob Reid, RAD/MARO]
3) Clarification regarding entry on yesterday's morning report:
Information regarding impacts on your parks regarding loss of
parttime magistrates or your efforts to deal with the prospect
of losing a parttime magistrate should be reported to Ranger
Activities, not to the Department as was implied in yesterday's
report. [Bill Halainen, RAD/WASO]
THIS DAY IN NPS SAR HISTORY...
May 30, 1956 - Rangers Frank Betts, Bob Frauson, Jerry Hammond
and Wayne Nesbit received the DOI Valor Award for the rescue of
an injured hiker on Hallet Peak in Rocky Mountain.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Sisto on AL (5/27-5/31).
Branch of Fire: Norum at annual meeting of national advisory group on
fire danger rating, Asheville, NC (5/27-5/31); Botti and Burg at FIREPRO
steering committee meeting, San Francisco, CA (5/28-6/4).
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