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