RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Tuesday, August 20, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-410 - Eastern Areas - Followup on Hurricane Bob
Preliminary reports on the effects of Hurricane Bob on a number
of eastern parks have been received. Further reports will
appear once damage assessments have been completed and phone
service has been restored:
* Assateague Island (Virginia/Maryland) - All visitors were
evacuated from the island by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. As of early yesterday
morning, it appeared that the hurricane had caused only minor damage to the
island, and that there was little if any beach loss.
* Fire Island (New York) - The evacuation of the island was
completed on Monday morning. All visitors and staff moved to the mainland,
with the exception of six people in two boats at Watch Hill Marina who
opted to ride out the storm on their boats. All horses, boats and
vehicles were moved off the island. The park took about 20 people from
campgrounds and boats to mainland shelters. As of yesterday evening, it
appeared that damage to park structures and resources had been minimal.
There was some leakage in park residences, and a few roofs will have
to be repaired. Tree damage was also reported at the William Floyd
Estate. Although the hurricane hit at low tide, which minimized
problems with high water, waves were very high and beaches were entirely covered.
Most areas, including the park, lost electricity only briefly.
Winds were around 70 mph and several inches of hard rain fell on the area.
* Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - The park began preparations for the
storm early Monday morning. All beaches, beach camping areas,
parking lots and both visitor centers were closed. About 20 residents from
four park residential units in potential problem areas were
evacuated and taken to shelters in Eastham. Nonessential staff members were
sent home. Equipment and staff for both emergency and post-storm operations
were prepositioned throughout the park. Little rain fell on the
park, but winds were very high between 2:00 and 5:30 p.m. Tree
destruction was very extensive both in the park and throughout the cape. Most
of the park's main roads were quickly reopened following extensive
cutting of downed trees, but some paved roads and many unpaved roads
remain blocked. Power went off throughout the cape at 2:00 p.m. and was still
out late in the evening. A meeting was to be held at 6:00 a.m. this
morning to determine what actions to take today. Since water and power
are unavailable in many areas, it is unclear which parts of the
park if any will be opened.
* Saugus Iron Works (Massachusetts) - Some branches and wires
fell, but there was no wind or water damage to park structures.
Power remains on in the area.
* Minute Man (Massachusetts) - Initial assessments indicate that
damage was limited to downed branches and trees and some erosion to
the path to the North Bridge. Power was still out yesterday evening.
* Lowell (Massachusetts) - The park closed at noon yesterday and
staff were sent home. Heavy rains fell on and off throughout the day
and totalled six or seven inches. Winds were highest between 3:00
and 5:00 p.m. It's not yet known whether or not the park suffered any
damage.
* Acadia (Maine) - Reports have not yet been received from the
park, but the Associated Press reports that all campers were evacuated
from Acadia's campgrounds yesterday.
* North Atlantic Regional Office (Massachusetts) - The regional
office in downtown Boston closed at noon yesterday. All employees were
sent home.
[Telephone conversations on 8/19 with Don Weir (FIIS), Andy
Ringgold (CACO), Frank Studinski (SAIR), George Price (LOWE),
and Larry Gall (MIMA); CompuServe message from Brion Fitzgerald
(ASIS)]
91-413 - Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Followup on
Assault
At about 11:00 p.m on August 16th, seasonal ranger Franklin Wade
came upon a passenger van partially blocking the access to the
parking area at the Kittatiny Point Visitor Center. He
positioned his patrol vehicle behind the van, called in the
plate, then approached the vehicle on foot. The adult female in
the front passenger seat appeared intoxicated; she said that she
was waiting for her husband, who was relieving himself in the
nearby woods. While Wade was talking with her, the woman jumped
into the driver's seat, started the vehicle, and backed the van
about ten feet before realizing that Wade's patrol vehicle
blocked the exit. As Wade walked around the front of the van,
the woman accelerated forward, striking Wade and carrying him on
the hood for 15 to 18 feet before he rolled of its left side.
Wade drew his revolver, but reholstered as the van left the area
on Interstate 80 at a high rate of speed. Wade suffered
injuries to his hip and leg and was transported to a local
hospital. Meanwhile, seven other rangers, joined by New Jersey
state troopers and New Jersey park rangers, began a search for
the van and additional subjects. A search of the area for the
woman's male companion proved fruitless, but the van and woman
driver were found one hour later at a truck stop/motel off the
interstate east of the park. The female was taken into custody
by a park ranger and state police. It appears that the
information given regarding her husband was fabricated to divert
Wade's attention. Wade was x-rayed, treated for contusions of
his lower left leg, knee and thigh, but was released later that
night and was able to escort his attacker to jail to await an
appearance before a magistrate on seven violations of 36 CFR and
18 USC charges of assaulting a federal officer. [CompuServe
message from Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO, 8/19]
91-414 - Everglades (Florida) - Shark Bite
On August 9th, J.D., 42, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
was bitten by a small, 30-pound lemon shark in Florida Bay and
suffered severe lacerations of his right arm and wrist. J.D.
told rangers that he caught the shark while fishing and was
attempting to release it when he was bitten. He was air
evacuated out of Flamingo and treated in a Miami hospital.
J.D. is a fishing guide who operates in park waters with a
permit. [Telefax from Mark Lewis, LES, EVER, 8/19]
91-415 - Point Reyes (California) - Drug Arrests
Rangers Larry IntHout and David Kearns were conducting a
reconnaissance patrol of park lands on July 10th when they
discovered a marijuana plot with 30 plants near an area where
100 plants had been confiscated in 1990. Rangers from both
Point Reyes and Golden Gate joined forces in a surveillance
operation which employed electronic sensors and cameras to
monitor the plot for the next five weeks. Video evidence was
obtained of two men later identified as B.K., 34, of
Kentfield, California, and I.F., 21, of Fairfax,
California cultivating the plants. On the afternoon of August
15th, rangers installed a new electronic sensor; a few hours
later, B.K. and I.F. activated it when entering the plot.
A team of seven rangers from the two parks responded and
arrested the pair. A search of the men revealed evidence of
drug sales and the locations of additional marijuana. A search
of the suspect's residence turned up ledgers of plot visits and
cultivation activity, materials for packaging and selling
marijuana, and various tools of the trade, including a video
tape they had made of themselves in their plantation. B.K. and
I.F. were booked into the county jail on state charges of
marijuana cultivation, possession of drugs with intent to sell,
and possession of LSD. The street value of the marijuana is
estimated at over $90,000. [CompuServe message from Herb Gercke,
RAD/WRO, 8/16]
91-416 - Organ Pipe Cactus (Arizona) - Death of Illegal Alien
Rangers at the visitor center received a report of an apparent
heat casualty on one of the park's scenic drives on the
afternoon of August 15th. Upon arrival, they found the victim,
later determined to be an illegal alien, dead from dehydration
and heat stress. Tracking efforts by rangers and county
deputies led to the successful recovery of a second alien who
was suffering from severe dehydration and heat stress. Border
Patrol agents joined the investigation, and it was learned that
a third member of the group had walked to the highway the night
before and had been picked up by the Border Patrol. Rangers and
Border Patrol agents conducted a joint air search the following
day and confirmed that there were no other victims in the area.
[Cheto Olais, CR, ORPI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke,
RAD/WRO, 8/16]
91-417 - Glen Canyon (Utah/Arizona) - Body Found
Two young boys found the remains of a man in the slick rock area
between the Page airport and the point where Antelope Canyon
joins the channel of the Colorado River. The body, clad only in
jeans and socks, had been there for some time. There were no
identifying items, but the victim appears to have been an
American Indian male between 25 and 35 years of age. Ranger and
Coconino County sheriff's officers are investigating.
[CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/16]
91-418 - Rocky Mountain (Colorado) - Rescue
T.H., 17, was hiking with two friends from Germany near
Flattop Mountain on the 16th when Hoh decided to investigate a
possible shortcut. As he was peering over the edge of a
snowfield in Chaos Canyon, T.H. lost his balance and slid 180
feet, striking rock outcrops along the way. One member of the
group hiked out and phone for assistance, while the other
remained with T.H.. Responding rangers found that T.H. had
suffered lacerations to his leg and that he could not hike out
of the precipitous area. The group stayed in the area overnight.
He was evacuated by helicopter the next day, treated at a local
hospital, and released. [Telefax from Mark Forbes, Acting CR,
ROMO, 8/19]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) ACTIVITY LEVEL Planning Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 8/19 8/20 Status
ID USFS Salmon NF Kitchen T1 1,790 1,790 CN 8/20
MT BIA Crow Agency * Medicine Tail T2 6,000 NEC
* Gray Blanket 100 NEC
NV BLM Elko Dist. * Coyote Creek 4,000 4,000 CN 8/20
OR USFS WallowaWhitman NF * Big Sheep T2 150+ 140 CN 8/21
BLM Burns Dist. * Skull Creek T2 600+ 425 CN 8/21
AK USFWS Tetlin NWR * 113349 T2 6,000 7,000 NEC
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) 45,982 3,660,294
1991 (Year-to-date) 58,630 1,915,601
1990-1991 (% difference) + 28% 48%
4) FIRE ACTIVITY 272 fires for 8,740 acres reported in the past
24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - The majority of fire activity is in the northern
Rockies, the Northwest and the Great Basin.
6) PROGNOSIS - Initial attack activity is expected to continue
throughout the West. No resource shortages are anticipated.
[Fire Management Situation Report, NIFCC Intelligence Section,
8/20]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief (Acting): No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Marriott on drug
program review at Great Smokies (8/18-8/22).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Erskine in ARO, Anchorage, AK
(8/19-8/28); Spruill on aviation program orientation in Alaska
(8/18-8/29]; Gale in WASO on allrisk management team selection
(8/20-8/22).
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