RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Monday, July 29, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-308 - Olympic (Washington) - Followup on Oil Spill
Oil from the Tenyo Maru began washing up on the Washington
shoreline yesterday. More than 170 oiled seabirds, mostly
common murres found in offshore oil, were being treated Saturday
at a bird cleaning station near Neah Bay, and globs of oil had
come ashore on Tatoosh Island off Cape Flattery and at Cape
Alava. Although oil has not yet reached the coastal beaches
between the two points, which are partly in the park and partly
in the Ozette and Makah reservations, it's expected that it will
come ashore soon. Present estimates are that approximately
100,000 gallons of oil has leaked or will leak from the ship.
There may be no way to stop the remaining oil from seeping from
the ship, since it is under 500 feet of water. The Seattlebased
Global Diving and Salvage Company had skimmed 4,200 gallons of
mixed oil and water by Friday night. [Hal Spencer, Associated
Press, 7/28]
91-315 - Big Bend (Texas) - Followup on Body Discovery
The man found in the Rio Grande River on the 19th has been
identified as D.T., 26, of Irving, Texas, and
investigators have determined that the green Volkswagen van
found burned at the Solis campground belonged to him. No
identification has yet been made of the child's body found in
the van, but D.T. is known to have left Irving for a camping
trip with his five-year-old daughter B.T. on July 11th. The
investigation of the incident continues. [United Press
International, 7/27]
91-323 - Death Valley (California) - Followup on Search
On the morning of July 26th, searchers found the body of P.H.,
41, a half mile from the Badwater parking area. P.H.
had attempted a 20mile hike to Telescope Peak and back. When he
failed to return, a major, fiveday search for him had been
undertaken in 120 degree weather. The cause of death is not yet
known. [Dale Antonich, CR, DEVA, via CompuServe message from
Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/26]
91-330 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Rescue of Concession
Employee
F.V., 24, of Cicero, Illinois, a concession employee who
worked at Grant Grove, fell approximately fifty feet while at
Ella Falls on July 25th. F.V. landed on large rocks and lay
partly on the rocks and in the water below the falls. His
companions summoned help and kept his face above the water until
rescuers arrived. Rangers and personnel from a local YMCA camp
extricated F.V. and evacuated him by litter. He was then
transported to medical facilities by a CHP helicopter. It is
reported that F.V. suffered spinal injuries in the fall and
that he stopped breathing while airborne. He is presently
comatose and in critical condition. Alcohol was involved in the
incident. [Pete Allen, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/26]
91-331 - Effigy Mounds (Iowa) - ARPA Violation
Some time during the day or two prior to July 25th, pot hunters
excavated an eight foot by three foot by three foot deep trench,
apparently by hand, in the oldest conical mound in the Magill
archeological mound site. It's believed that the diggers did
not obtain anything of value, however, because the excavation
was in a backfill which had covered over previous excavations.
[Tom Munson, Superintendent, EFMO, via CompuServe message from
Ben Holmes, RAD/MWRO, 7/26]
91-332 - Coronado (Arizona) - Marijuana Arrests
Acting on an informant's tip, rangers located 34 marijuana
plants growing in the park; the subsequent investigation led to
the arrest of R.R., owner of the Montezuma Ranch, a
park inholding. A warrant search of the ranch house led to the
discovery of several additional plants, seeds, scales, packaging
and sealing equipment, and rolling papers. The house had
several hidden rooms, including one that appeared to be a drying
and cleaning room and had marijuana debris within it. Documents
found on the premises included several bank deposit and
withdrawal slips for large amounts of money, and R.R. had
$1,700 in cash in his possession at the time of the arrest. The
value of the confiscated drugs has been placed at $34,000.
Rangers and officers from the local sheriff's department are
continuing their investigation. [Ed Lopez, CR, CORO, via
CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 7/26]
91-333 - Ozark (Missouri) - Storm Damage
Strong winds accompanying a cold front which passed through the
area on the afternoon of the 23rd either completely uprooted or
snapped off the tops or large portions of a large number of
trees. Several roads in the area were closed until park crews
could cut and remove trees and branches. Electric lines were
knocked down in the seasonal quarters area about five miles from
Big Spring. Damage to facilities was very minor. [Tom Graham,
CR, OZAR, via telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 7/26]
[More pending incident reports tomorrow]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) ACTIVITY LEVEL Planning Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 7/28 7/29 Status
AK FWS Up. Yukon Zone B460 80,500 80,500 NEC
AZ USFS Coronado NF * Cumero 2,000 CN 7/30
WA USFS Mt. Baker
Snoqualmie NF Illabot 417 417 CN
Alaska also has 60 fires under modified and limited suppression
for 959,819 acres.
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 NEC No estimate of containment
CS Confinement strategy DM Demobed
3) 1990/1991 COMPARATIVE ACTIVITY SUMMARY
Fires Acres
1990 (Year-to-date) 39,998 2,639,472
1991 (Year-to-date) 45,901 1,746,048
1990-1991 (% difference) + 15% 34%
4) ANALYSIS - Initial attack forces continue to have great
success in suppressing new starts. Indices are climbing again,
however, due to warming and drying trends.
5) PROGNOSIS - Fire activity is expected to increase due to
warmer temperatures, lower humidities, and lightning. Resources
continue to be adequate.
[Fire Management Situation Report, NIFCC Intelligence Section,
7/29]
CALENDAR
Asterisk (*) indicates new entry; plus (+) indicates revised
entry subsequent comments explain the revision. Brackets at
end of entry indicate source of information:
August 2-4 Fundamentals of Search and Rescue, Hot Springs, SD.
For further information, contact the National Association for
Search and Rescue (703-352-1349). [Bill Pierce, DETO]
* August 5-16 Driver Instructor Training Program, FLETC,
Glynco, GA. The course has been CANCELLED. [Carole Pfeifer,
LEEDC/FLETC]
August 8-10 Managing the Search Function, Minneapolis, MN.
For further information, contact the National Association for
Search and Rescue (703-352-1349). [Bill Pierce, DETO]
* August 12-14 Swiftwater Rescue Technician I, New River Gorge
NR, Glen Jean, WV. Offered by Rescue 3 International. Cost:
$195. The course can be taken independently or in conjunction
with Swiftwater Rescue Technician II. For further information,
contact Dave Gale or Skip Heater of New River Adventures at
1-800-759-7238.
* August 15-16 Swiftwater Rescue Technician II, New River
Gorge NR, Glen Jean, WV. Offered by Rescue 3 International.
Cost: $120. The course can be taken independently or in
conjunction with Swiftwater Rescue Technician I. For further
information, contact Dave Gale or Skip Heater of New River
Adventures at 1-800-759-7238.
August 12-16 Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Boating Accident
Investigation Seminar, United States Coast Guard Academy, New
London, CT. Hosted by Division of Law Enforcement, Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection. The seminar is intended
for experienced local, state and federal field officers and
marine investigators, and will provide specialized education in
properly documenting, analyzing and reconstructing recreational
boating accidents. Interested parties should contact Jack
Schamp in RAD at FTS 268-4209 (202-208-4209). [Jack Schamp,
RAD/WASO]
August 13-14 Second Annual Science Conference, Mammoth Cave NP,
Kentucky. This colloquium will feature research on area ecology
and air quality and provide updates on the park's water quality
monitoring program. Both plenary and concurrent sessions will
be held. Papers must be submitted no later than July 15th in
order to be accepted. For further information, contact Jeff
Bradybaugh at 502-758-2238. [Jeff Bradybaugh, MACA]
September 6-8 Fundamentals of Search and Rescue, Salt Lake
City, UT. For further information, contact the National
Association for Search and Rescue (703-352-1349). [Bill Pierce,
DETO]
September 7-9 SAR Planning Section Chief, Soldotna, AK. For
further information, contact the National Association for Search
and Rescue (703-352-1349). [Bill Pierce, DETO]
September 19-21 Managing the Search Function, Nashville, TN.
For further information, contact the National Association for
Search and Rescue (703-352-1349). [Bill Pierce, DETO]
* September 27-28 "Perspectives on Parks, Politics and
Policies", symposium sponsored by Michigan State University,
East Lansing, MI. The symposium will bring practitioners,
academics, legislators, interest groups, students and others
together to explore and discuss shared interests in parks,
politics and policy. Interested parties should contact Dr.
Betty Van Der Smissen, Chair, Department of Park and Recreation
Resources, 131 Natural Resources Building, Michigan State
University, East Lansing, MI 48824, or call 517-353-5190. [Dee
Highnote, Concessions/WASO]
* October 8-December 20 Basic Law Enforcement for Land
Management Agencies, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC.
For application procedures, contact your regional training
office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
* October 21-25 Archeological Resource Protection Training,
Artesia, NM. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC subject to availability of
FY 92 funds. For application procedures, contact your regional
training office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
* October 23-26 Tenth Annual Cave Management Symposium,
Bowling Green, KY. Cohosted by American Cave Conservation
Association (ACCA) and Mammoth Cave NP. For further information,
contact Dave Foster (ACCA) at 5027861466 or Jeff Bradybaugh
(MACA) at 502-758-2238. [Jeff Bradybaugh, MACA]
* November 18-22 Archeological Resource Protection Training,
FLETC, Glynco, GA. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC subject to
availability of FY 92 funds. For application procedures,
contact your regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer,
LEEDC/FLETC]
* November 18-22 Second National Park Service GIS Users'
Conference, Denver, CO. The conference will bring together all
NPS users of geographicdata technology for the first time in
over three years. All personnel involved in GIS should consider
attending. There will be poster and plenary sessions, panel
discussions and workshops. For more information, including an
announcement brochure and list of possible workshops, contact
Leslie Manfull, GIS Division (Denver), at FTS 327-2590 or
303-969-2590. [Leslie Manfull, GIS]
* December 9-13 Archeological Resource Protection Training,
Marana, AZ. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC subject to availability of FY
92 funds. For application procedures, contact your regional
training office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
(Calendar appears in the morning report every other Monday. 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).
THIS DAY IN NPS SAR HISTORY...
July 29, 1985 Bryce Canyon rangers Kehrer and Venal received
Valor Awards for saving 14 people during a flash flood.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dick Martin is the acting division chief.
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Schamp on annual leave
(7/29-8/2); Sisto on annual leave (8/1-8/2).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Farrel reviewing structural fire
protection of buildings at San Antonio and LBJ in Texas
(7/29-8/1); Gale on Pearl Harbor 50th anniversary preplanning
site visit, Honolulu, Hawaii (7/31-8/3); Broyles at NWCG training
working team meeting, Tacoma, Washington (7/30-8/3).
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