RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Tuesday, June 25, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-232 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Armed Robbery
Just after 11:00 p.m. on the 22nd, a group of eight males robbed
two visitors of $5.00 at gunpoint on the North Staircase. The
men fled the area on foot and were pursued by rangers. St.
Louis police soon joined in the chase. Following a twelve block
pursuit, the rangers and police officers were able to catch and
arrest seven of the eight men. The first man arrested by the
rangers possessed the loaded .38 caliber revolver used in the
robbery. The revolver contained two spent cartridges, which
police suspect may be linked to a driveby shooting. Police
obtained a written confession from the man with the gun. The
case is being jointly investigated by rangers and police, but
the park has asked the city to prosecute the case because
several of the suspects are juveniles. [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF,
via telefax from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 6/24].
91-233 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Significant
Vandalism
Early on the morning of the 22nd, St. Louis police officers
cleared the boulevard between the park and the Mississippi River
of numerous groups of rowdy youths. As one group left the area
through the park, they broke six aluminum light poles. Damage
is estimated at about $2,000. Additional rangers and police
were on duty in the area the following night. [Deryl Stone, CR,
JEFF, via telefax from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO, 6/24].
91-234 - Wind Cave (South Dakota) - Successful Search
A major search was initiated at 9:00 p.m. on the evening of the
18th when six-year-old S.B. wandered away from his
campsite in the park's campground. Twenty hasty searchers, two
air-scenting dogs and a bloodhound began looking for S.B. the
first night; they were joined the following morning by aircraft
and additional searchers. At about 8:00 a.m., the boy was found
in excellent condition about three and a half miles from the
campground. S.B. was wearing only a T-shirt, thongs and
shorts, but the temperature never dropped below 55 degrees that
night. S.B. had to cross two eight-foot-high barrier fences to
reach the point where he was found. [Ed Pontbriand, WICA, via
telefax from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 6/20]
91-235 - Colorado NM (Colorado) - Homicide Victim Found
The body of S.B., 23, of Grand Junction, Colorado, was
found in the monument on June 18th by Mesa County sheriff's
deputies who were pursuing an investigation of a possible
homicide which had occurred outside the park. Shortly
thereafter, officers from the Grand Junction police department
arrested J.C., 43, who lived at the same address as
S.B., and charged him with murder. The FBI has been
notified. [Hank Schock, CR, COLM, via telefax from Tom
McDonnell, RAD/RMRO, 6/20]
91-236 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - VIP Visit
On June 22nd, Secretary Lujan, his wife and the park's
superintendent spent four and a half hours floating on the
section of the New River between McCreery and Thurmond. Rangers
guided the VIP party along the river, which contains stretches
of Class II and Class III rapids. The Secretary also ran some
Class I and Class II whitewater in an open rubberized kayak.
Following the trip, the Secretary and his wife visited the
park's new Canyon Rim Visitor Center and met with many park
employees. [Telefax from Bill Blake, CR, NERI, 6/24]
91-237 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Assault on FBI Agent
An off-duty FBI agent who was camping at Antelope Point was
assaulted by four intoxicated men on the evening of June 22nd.
The incident stemmed from a fight in the campground which
involved several people and extended over several campsites.
The violence of the brawl frightened many campers and caused
them to leave the area. At one point, the four men caught a
fifth and began beating him; when he pleaded for help, the agent
attempted to intercede. The assailants then turned on the agent
and attacked him with rocks and a broken tent pole, which was
used as a spear. The agent, who had identified himself at the
outset of the confrontation, was forced to draw his weapon to
stop the attack and to back the assailants away from his
campsite. A call for help was subsequently made on a marine
band radio, and rangers arrived at the scene and arrested all
four men. The agent was not injured in the incident. Felony
charges are pending. [Telefax from GLCA, 6/24]
91-238 - North Cascades (Washington) - Oil Spill
A resident of the town of Stehekin dumped about 100 gallons of
oil on the Stehekin River Road on the 18th, and there is a
possibility that the oil may run off into a nearby stream. The
oil is thought to be used and may contain solvents or heavy
metals. The oil was poured on the road to keep dust down. The
resident has confessed to the act, and the park is presently
investigating the possibility of legal action. [SEAdog message
from Kathy Jope, RAD/PNRO, 6/21]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION Preparedness Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 6/24 6/25 Status
AK BLM/AK Tanana Zone B376 T2 3,000 4,000 None
FWS Yukon Flats NWR B381 2,000 NR
* B384 250 None
AK AK B356 2,500 2,040 None
Alaska also has three fires under modified suppression strategy
for 2,200 acres and 30 fires under limited suppression for 31,330 acres.
NM BLM Albuquerque Dist. Lava 320 320 CN 6/25
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) FIRE ACTIVITY SUMMARY
Fires Acres
1991 (Year-to-date) 35,355 500,010
1990 (Year-to-date) 31,657 630,410
4) ANALYSIS - Initial activity is accelerating. Several areas
in the Southwest continue to report extreme indices.
5) PROGNOSIS - Initial attack activity is expected to continue in
the Southwest and Alaska, but resources remain adequate.
[Fire Management Situation Report, NIFCC Intelligence Section,
0536 MDT, 6/25; NICC Daily Situation Report, 1420 MDT, 6/24]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Schamp on travel to
Alaska (6/24-7/2); Marriott on drug operations review, Big Bend
(6/24-6/27).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Bristol at VAX training session,
Digital Corp., Englewood, Colorado (6/24-6/28); Botti at
congressional liaison training session, WASO (6/23-6/29); Berg
conducting audits at Big Cypress and Everglades (6/24-6/28); Gale
on AL (6/24-6/25).