RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Thursday, August 8, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-308 - Olympic (Washington) - Followup on Oil Spill
The cleanup operation is bracing for stormy weather. Gale
warnings for winds in excess of 35 knots and high seas have
temporarily halted all cleanup efforts. Even though the wreck
is leaking oil at about the same rate as in past days, little
can be done to contain the new oil under current conditions.
All skimmers and booms have been brought into port to wait out
the weather, which is expected to continue at least through
tomorrow. The earliest that submarine operations can resume
will be on Friday. High seas are expected to bring considerable
amounts of oil onshore from kelp beds. The LaPush bird center
has been closed, and operations are moving further south to Long
Beach. The Neah Bay center is still functioning. Some of the
recovered dead birds are being cleaned, tagged and dropped into
the ocean along an offshore transect in an attempt to learn more
about the movements of dead birds in the currents. This effort
also may show the proportion of birds that wash up on the coast
and the proportion that sink unnoticed. About 7,000 bags of oil
and oiled debris, each weighing around 60 pounds, have been
gathered from park beaches to date. These bags do not include
dead birds. Of the 3,000 or so dead birds recovered so far,
approximately twothirds have been from park beaches. [Telefax
from Roger Hoffman, Information Officer, Tenyo Maru ICS Team,
8/8]
91-376 - Gulf Islands (Florida/Mississippi) - Arson
Two local deputies noticed smoke rising from behind Langdon
Battery on Santa Rosa Island just after 5:00 a.m. on August 6th
and discovered the park carpenters' 1989 Chevrolet pickup on
fire next to the carpenter's shop. The fire was in the front
portion of the truck when first observed, but quickly spread
throughout the body and completely destroyed the truck before it
could be extinguished. The value of the GSA-owned truck has been
placed at $9,725, but the value of the contents is undetermined.
Arson is suspected. Rangers Jan Graham and John Hughes are
working with county investigators and ATF agents on the case.
No definite suspects have been identified, but rangers are
checking out leads on juveniles who were staying in the Fort
Pickens campground and possible connections with other vandalism
which also occurred in the area. [CompuServe message from Gene
Phillips, CR, GUIS, 8/7]
91-377 - Arches (Utah) - Search and Rescue
On the morning of July 30th, N.C.I. and H.N.,
both Japanese nationals who live and teach in Chicago,
headed out for a short roundtrip hike on a trail in Devils
Garden. They took a wrong turn on the trail, though, became
lost in an area of tall sandstone fins and multiple drainages,
and soon became separated from each other. N.C.I. eventually
found a trail, returned to the trailhead, and reported his
missing companion to a park ranger. Because of a variety of
factors, including temperatures in excess of 100 degrees,
H.N.'s limited outdoor experience, and his lack of adequate
clothing and any drinking water, park staff determined that an
aggressive response was in order. Personnel from both Arches
and two districts of adjacent Canyonlands were mobilized. Three
two-person hasty teams were sent out on foot, and two other
two-person teams were sent out in vehicles to secure the search
zone perimeter. A contract helicopter was brought in from
nearby Mesa Verde to assist in the search. Soon after the
helicopter's arrival on scene, observers on board spotted
H.N. over a mile from any trail in rugged slickrock country.
Although weak, extremely dehydrated (he'd been without water for
eight hours) and hobbled by cactus spines in his feet, H.N.
was in good condition and was released from a local hospital
shortly after being admitted. H.N. observed and walked by
numerous potholes and plunge pools filled with water from recent
thunderstorms but never drank from any of them. [Telefax from
RAD/RMRO, 8/7]
91-378 - Lincoln Home (Illinois) - Assault on Visitor
R.T., 20, was walking through the park on the evening
of July 27th when he was attacked by a group of from six to ten
teenagers. The youths struck R.T. in the face and ribs with
their fists and his skateboard, which was taken from him.
R.T. was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and
released. An investigation into the incident is underway.
[Telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 8/6]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) ACTIVITY LEVEL Planning Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 8/7 8/8 Status
OR USFS WallowaWhitman NF Pittsburgh 200 120 CN
UT USFS WasatchCache NF Broadhollow 400 400 CN
ID BLM Burley Dist. * Ireland 320 CN
* Dewoff 1,200 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 NEC No estimate of containment
CS Confinement strategy DM Demobed
3) 1990/1991 COMPARATIVE ACTIVITY SUMMARY
Fires Acres
1990 (Year-to-date) 42,357 3,109,898
1991 (Year-to-date) 55,053 1,910,187
1990-1991 (% difference) + 30% 39%
4) ANALYSIS - Initial attack activity continues throughout the
West even though lightning activity and major storm systems over
the area have declined. Most storms yesterday were fairly wet,
thereby aiding control efforts.
5) PROGNOSIS - Initial attack activity is expected to continue.
[Fire Management Situation Report, NIFCC Intelligence Section,
8/8]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Pictured Rocks (Wisconsin) - Peregrine Falcons
The last two peregrine falcons in the park's release program
were released from their clifftop hack box on August 2nd. These
birds join the ten released in July. All of the older birds
have been seen in the area around the hack box this week,
although some of them have begun taking prey and sometimes do
not show up at the box for food every day. The older falcons
continue to develop their flight and hunting skills. The hack
site attendants will continue to monitor their progress and
place food at the box. [John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 8/6]
Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Pollution Study
A harmless red dye was introduced into the Delaware River this
week to study how pollutants travel and disperse in the river.
The release, the second in the past four months, is part of a
"timeoftravel" study which is expected to yield important
information which will enable emergency workers to better
respond to toxic spills and will help river managers analyze the
river's water quality. The study is being conducted
cooperatively by the NPS (both Delaware Water Gap and Upper
Delaware), the USGS, the Delaware Council and the Delaware River
Basin Commission. [Hal Grovert, DEWA, 8/6]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Lt. Richard Murphy has been selected as the new regional law
enforcement specialist for MWR. Promotion to captain and
transfer to the regional office should take place in September.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief (Acting): No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Coffey on annual leave
(8/5-8/9); Marriott on annual leave (8/9).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Erskine on AL (8/5-8/16); Clark on AL
(8/5-8/10).
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