RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Wednesday, September 4, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-446 - Grand Teton (Wyoming) - Climbing Fatality
S.S., 27, of Yorba Linda, California, died in a
climbing accident on the Grand Teton on August 27th. S.S.
and his companions - J.J., T.B., and D.R. - were
attempting to climb the Black Ice Couloir route when a rockfall
and deteriorating weather forced J.J., T.B. and D.R. to turn
back, but S.S. continued to climb the route alone. His
companions last saw him alive at about 9:30 a.m. as he was
moving along his climbing route. When he failed to return by
the following day, S.S.'s companions returned to Jenny Lake
and reported him missing. Observers in a helicopter spotted
S.S.'s body shortly thereafter at the 11,300-foot elevation
below the bottom of the couloir. Rangers recovered his remains
on the morning of the 29th. Scuff marks in the ice in the
couloir indicate that S.S. may have fallen about 800 feet.
[Bill Swift, GRTE, via telefax from RAD/RMRO, 9/3]
91-447 - Mount Rainier (Washington) - Two Climbing Fatalities
Over the past weekend, two separate climbing accidents claimed
the lives of climbers on Mount Rainier. On September 1st, two
roped teams of two people each were attempting a summit climb
when one of the teams fell into a crevasse at the 12,400-foot
level about 300 feet above Disappointment Cleaver. One of the
two climbers was killed; the second suffered injuries to the
upper chest, possibly including broken ribs. The other team was
able to extricate the surviving climber, and the trio spent the
night on the mountain. A climbing party comprised of Rainier
Mountaineering guides and their clients reached the three
climbers around 7:30 the next morning and notified rangers of
the situation. About 15 minutes later, the guides saw an
unauthorized solo climber who was on the mountain about 300 feet
below them slip and fall 700 to 800 feet. Two of the guides
descended to check on him. They reached the victim at 8:40 and
determined that he was dead. A Chinook helicopter was
dispatched from Fort Lewis and recovered the injured climber,
who was then transferred to a MAST helicopter which took him to
Harborview Hospital. The bodies of the victims were removed by
rangers and Army and Seattle Mountain Rescue personnel. Next of
kin had not been notified at the time of the report, so names
have not yet been released. All climbers were earned of the
hazardous climbing conditions on the mountain during this period.
[CompuServe message from Diane Wisley, RAD/PNRO, 9/3]
91-448 - Glacier (Montana) - Bear Mauling
D.L., 62, and his wife, L.L., both of Holland,
Michigan, were hiking on a trail about a half mile from Iceberg
Lake on the afternoon of August 30th when a female bear and two
yearlings of uncertain species emerged on the trail below them.
The adult bear immediately charged the couple from a distance of
approximately 100 feet. They both dropped into fetal positions,
but L.L. went on the offensive when the bear attacked her
husband. She hit it on the head several times with her
binoculars, and the bear reportedly departed shortly thereafter.
Initial emergency medical assistance was provided at the scene
by several other hikers with various emergency medical skills,
including an EMT and two nurses. A hiker reported the incident
to rangers at the Many Glacier Ranger Station about an hour
later, and they arrived at the scene by foot and helicopter
within 90 minutes. D.L.'s injuries included
lacerations to his chest and right wrist and puncture wounds to
his back and right thigh. He was stabilized and transported by
helicopter to a regional hospital in Kalispell, where he is now
recovering. The Iceberg Lake and Ptarmigan Lake trails from the
Swiftcurrent trailhead to the Ptarmigan tunnel are temporarily
closed until further notice. Because of the surprise nature of
the incident, no action will be taken against the bear. Rangers
are monitoring the area, but there have been no further
sightings in the vicinity of the incident. Bear scat was
gathered at the scene which may help determine the species.
[Telefax from Amy Vanderbilt, GLAC, 9/3]
91-449 - Grand Canyon (Arizona)- Structural Fire
A fire broke out in a concession laundry facility on the South
Rim on August 23rd. A structural engine, paramedic ambulance,
tanker and support/utility vehicle from the park and a
structural engine from the park concessioner arrived at the
scene shortly thereafter. The 22 responding NPS and concession
firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and limit
involvement to approximately 10% of the structure. Damage was
also limited, but included the floor, walls, electrical outlets
and propane lines. The fire apparently was caused by a gas
dryer with a defect in the burner/exhaust system. The burner
backdrafted and ignited the lint and ducting. [Cindy Wadsworth,
GRCA, via CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 9/3]
91-450 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Aggravated Assault
South Rim rangers responded to a report of a fight involving
knives at the Victor Hall dormitory at 4:30 a.m. on August 22nd.
The caller reported that an intoxicated 21-year-old male had
brandished an opened switchblade knife and had threatened to
stab and kill two subjects who he was holding at bay just inches
away. Although he fled on foot when rangers arrived, he was
pursued and arrested by rangers Laura Hiatt, Keith Lober and
Brian Smith. The suspect was still carrying the weapons
illegally concealed on his person, but offered only minimal
resistance. He later pleaded guilty to charges of assault
before a U.S. magistrate. [Cindy Wadsworth, GRCA, via
CompuServe message from Carl Christensen, RAD/WRO, 9/3]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) ACTIVITY LEVEL Planning Level II
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 9/3 9/4 Status
MN NPS Voyageurs NP * Lucille Lake 275 370 CN 9/6
* Net Lake 260 510 CN 9/5
WA USFS Wall.-Whit. NF * Twin Lakes T2 130 130 CN 9/3
BLM Spokane Dist. * Chelan Butte 2,400 2,400 CN 9/3
MO Little Missouri
Grasslands * Little Missouri 700 800 CN 9/3
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) FIRE ACTIVITY 163 fires for 4,589 acres reported in the past
24 hours.
4) FIRE NARRATIVES
Voyageurs (Minnesota)
The Lucille Lake and Net Lake Fires noted above are two of ten
lightningcaused fires which started in the park last week.
Although all were naturally caused, efforts to put them out
began immediately because of the extreme fire danger conditions
in the area. Under provisions of the park's fire management
plan, natural fires are allowed to burn themselves out in
designated areas when the fire danger is lower. The status of
each of the fires being fought was reported yesterday to be as
follows:
* Lucille Lake Fire - The fire was 70% contained as of yesterday
morning. Some rain fell on it on Monday night, but high temperatures and
steady winds contributed to the addition of another 100 acres as the
fire ran to the north. There are 35 firefighters and overhead
personnel on the fire.
* Net Lake Fire - Containment lines were completed around a third
of the fire's perimeter. Hand crews worked on the south and west
sides. Strong winds blew from the southwest all day, and the fire
began heating up and flaring at several points in midafternoon. It doubled
in size within a few hours. Some rain was received in the evening,
though, and containment lines were reportedly holding the fire. Fifty
fire fighters and overhead personnel have been committed to the fire.
* Blake Fire - The fire has been contained. Only a few hot spots
were reported.
* Red Rock Fire - Crews were working to extinguish remaining hot
spots on the fire.
* Summner Fire - A line had been completed around 70% of the fire,
but aerial reconnaissance indicated continued activity. Ground
crews were to work on the fire yesterday, and the goal was to
completely contain and control it by day's end.
* Chippewa Fire - The fire was also showing some activity
yesterday and crews were dispatched to continue suppression efforts.
Showers, high humidities and a weak cold front passage are
predicted for the area, and the park expects to have all fires
out by tomorrow.
5) ANALYSIS - Nevada picked up a few new starts from lightning
yesterday evening.
6) PROGNOSIS - The potential exists for an increase in
lightningcaused fires from predicted dry lightning.
[Fire Management Situation Report, NIFCC Intelligence Section,
9/4]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief (Acting): Martin on annual leave (8/31-9/8).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Schamp on annual leave
(9/3-9/6); Lee instructing at WinstonSalem State University, NC
(9/3-9/6).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Farrel on structural fire review,
Rapid City, SD (9/3-9/6); Gale at DOI interregional fire
coordinator meeting, Minneapolis, MN (9/4-9/5); Norum at fire
behavior steering committee meeting, Portland, OR (9/4-9/6).
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)
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