RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Tuesday, June 4, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-194 - Canyonlands (Utah) - Low-Flying Aircraft
On November 23, 1990, a Cessna 182 flying about 40 feet above
the Colorado River at the mouth of Lathrop Canyon passed within
100 feet of ranger Jim Huebner, who was standing at the river's
edge. Huebner's investigation subsequently revealed that the
passenger-carrying flight was conducted for hire by a local air
taxi service. The case was turned over to the FAA for
disposition. On May 10th, the FAA ordered the pilot to
surrender all airman pilot certificates, including his
commercial pilot certificate, for a period of 60 days for two
infractions operating in a careless manner so as to endanger
the life or property of another, and operating an aircraft
during the day below 500 feet above the surface or less than 500
feet horizontally from any obstacle. [SEAdog message from Tony
Schetzsle, CANY, 6/3]
91-195 - Mount Rainier (Washington) - Rescue in Progress
J.S., 32, and C.P., 28, both of Colorado
Springs, Colorado, were climbing the Liberty Ridge route on
Mount Rainier on June 2nd when they began suffering from
hypothermia and dehydration. Two rangers from Joshua Tree -
Debbie Brenchley and Todd Swain - were climbing the mountain at
the time while on vacation and came upon J.S. and C.P.
around the 12,400-foot level. Brenchley, a former climbing
ranger at Rainier, had been given a park radio while on her
climb with Swain and was able to call park dispatch and request
assistance. She and Swain stabilized J.S. and C.P. and
stayed with them overnight. Two rangers and two MRA climbers
were transported to the area via helicopter yesterday. The
rescue party will assist the injured climbers to the landing
zone, where an Army helicopter will airlift them off the
mountain. [Bill Larson, MORA, via CompuServe message from Mark
Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 6/3]
91-196 - Olympic (Washington) - Rescue
On May 4th, ranger Clay Butler responded to a call for help from
the relatives of a man whose kayak had overturned and who was
caught in a rip current during stormy conditions near the beach
at Kalaloch. When Butler arrived at the scene, the man was
several hundred yards off shore and drifting out to sea. Butler
organized a group of park visitors and another ranger into a
shore support group, then jumped into the surf and swam a
torpedo buoy with a rope attached through extremely cold and
turbulentwaters to the victim. The kayaker was severely
hypothermic by the time Butler reached him, and Butler had to
help him hold onto the lifeline. After several perilous minutes,
the man was pulled through the surf to the beach. He was
treated for hypothermia and recovered completely. On May 31st,
Butler received the West Olympic Peninsula Law Enforcement
Officer of the Year Award for the rescue and for his support of
county deputies on several occasions. [CompuServe message from
Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 6/3]
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 6/3 6/4 Status
NM State *Seco 100 CN
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
3) ANALYSIS - Some initial attack operations are being reported,
but little significant activity is occurring.
4) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages anticipated.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0548 MDT, 6/4]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) IMPORTANT NOTE: A memo has been sent to all regional
directors notifying them that a limited entrance fee waiver will
be in effect for active and reserve military personnel and their
immediate families (use Golden Eagle Pass provisions for
guidance) for the three days of the coming weekend, June 7 9,
1991. The following will apply:
* Military personnel must identify themselves with a green or
red military identification card.
* A brief sign should be placed at each fee collection point alerting
military personnel to the entrance fee waiver.
* The waiver applies only to the entrance fee.
* The wavier applies only to the period of June 7 9.
Further questions should be directed to your regional fee
coordinator. [Wes Kreis, RAD/WASO]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dabney at resource study workshop, Denver, CO, and
meeting with staff of Branch of Fire & Aviation, Boise, ID (6/4-6/6).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Halainen at incident strategic
communications working team steering group meeting, Denver, CO
(6/6-6/7).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Hurd at aviation management council meeting,
Boise, ID (6/4-6/8); Clark instructing S490, Fort Mitchel, KY (6/2-6/7);
Bristol at InciNet meeting, Washington, DC (6/3-6/6); Gale at I520/620
steering committee meeting and site visit to VOYA, Duluth and
International Falls, MN (6/2-6/8).
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