RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Monday, June 10, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-202 - Gateway (New York) - Endangered Species Act Arrest
On May 25th, Park Police officers Dan McFadden and Paul Dorogoff
responded to a report from an anonymous caller who said that a
fence surrounding the piping plover nesting area at Breezy Point
had been disturbed. Upon arrival, they discovered that a post
had been removed and found a vehicle inside the nesting area.
The driver, D.G., 25, of Brooklyn, was arrested on
charges of violating the Endangered Species Act and was released
on her own recognizance. She is to appear before a federal
magistrate in the near future. McFadden is one of three Park
Police resource management liaison officers who work on these
types of cases with other park staff at Gateway. [Telefax from
Maj. Dale Dickerhoof, New York Field Office, USPP, 6/7]
91-203 - Yosemite (California) - River Rescue
On the afternoon of June 4th, K.L., 13, and J.S.,
12, both relatives of NPS employees and residents of El Portal,
were rafting on air mattresses in back eddies of the Merced
River when they were caught up by the main current and swept
downstream. K.L. was able to swim ashore, but J.S.
continued down the river until she was able to grab an
overhanging tree. NPS rescuers arrived on the scene shortly
thereafter. They established a tyrolean traverse and brought
J.S. safely ashore after a twohourlong rescue effort. J.S.'s
rescue was one of a number of incidents on the Merced over the
last few months which have come about because of a heavy spring
runoff. [Chris Cruz, YOSE, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 6/5]
91-204 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Fuel Leak
ARA Leisure Services employees noticed a shortage of unleaded
gasoline at the Halls Crossing Marina on June 6th and
subsequently discovered that a buried fiberglass fuel line had
been leaking through an old patch. The tank, which had been
installed in 1980, had a service line with a quarter-inch-wide
hole located about 20 feet above the high water line. The hole
had been patched with several radiator hose clamps and a section
of radiator hose. The age of the patch job and date of the
original damage are unknown. It's estimated that about 3,000
gallons of unleaded gasoline have leaked into the surrounding
soil. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA,6/7].
91-205 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Attempted Forcible Entry of
Residence
Just before 2:00 a.m. on June 1st, the park dispatcher received
a 911 call from a park resident who said that a man was
attempting to forcibly enter her home. Four rangers responded
while the reporting party stayed on line with the dispatcher;
meanwhile, the man tore a screen door from the building and
continued to attempt to enter the house. Rangers soon arrived
and arrested an intoxicated 20-year-old male for criminal trespass,
disorderly conduct and minor consumption of alcohol.
Investigation revealed that the man had not mistaken the
residence for his own, and that the resident neither knew him
nor why he wanted to enter her home. [Dispatch, GRCA, via
CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 6/5]
91-206 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Assault
Just after 2:00 a.m. on June 2nd, a woman waiting for a taxi in
front of Victor Hall dormitory was attacked by a man who
molested her and attempted to drag her into the building. When
the taxi arrived, however, he released her and fled into the
building. A passing ranger patrol unit was on scene within
seconds and pursued the man to his room and arrested him. The
woman later said that she believed that she would have been
sexually assaulted had the man not been scared away by the
arriving taxi. A check on the man revealed that he had previous
felony convictions, including armed robbery. An empty holster
was found in his room, but no firearm was discovered. [Dispatch,
GRCA, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 6/5]
91-207 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Motorcycle Fatality
H.B. and R.G., both 18-year-olds from Las
Vegas, were racing their motorcycles in excess of 80 mph on
North Shore Road at 10:30 p.m. on June 4th when they both lost
control of their bikes on a curve and ran off the roadway.
H.B. struck with such force he lost his helmet and a boot and
was killed. R.G. survived the accident. [Bud Inman, CR,
LAME, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 6/5]
91-208 - C&O Canal (Maryland) - Off-Duty Ranger Captures and Disarms
Thief
Ranger Sean McCabe was having dinner at a pizza place in Potomac
on the night of May 31st when he saw a man grab a purse from a
woman eating dinner with her young daughter and run out the door
of the restaurant. McCabe pursued the man, later identified as
T.E.S., and was soon joined by two other men who'd
witnessed the theft. T.E.S. allegedly pulled a knife on his
three pursuers, but McCabe persuaded him to drop the weapon,
then subdued him and retrieved the woman's wallet. McCabe sat
on T.E.S. until local police officers arrived. T.E.S. was
charged with misdemeanor theft. [News report, Potomac Almanac]
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 6/9 6/10 Status
AK BLM Kobuk District *B225 T2 1,500 None
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 - Lightning activity in Alaska has brought about an
increase in fire activity. Smoke jumpers from the Lower 48 were
mobilized and sent to Alaska last night.
4) PROGNOSIS - The potential for increased activity exists in the
Southwest because of high to extreme indices and predicted dry
thunderstorms.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0548 MDT, 6/10]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Western Region has a critical need for 1991 Golden Eagle
Passports for a number of parks. Any park feeling that they
have a supply beyond their needs should contact Henry Keith in
WRO at FTS 4843906 or 4157443906. [Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Martin, Marriott and Schamp at
meeting at FLETC (6/10); Marriott and Schamp at critical incident stress
review team meeting, Arlington, VA (6/11-6/14).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Norum at meeting of NWCG prescribed fire and
fire effects working team, Fairbanks, AK (6/9-6/15).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities