RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Wednesday, September 11, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-475 - Timpanogos Cave (Utah) - Storm Damage
A storm which dropped over two inches of rain in American Fork
Canyon on September 8th caused substantial damage on the
Timpanogos Cave trail. Slides started just above the park's
visitor center and continued throughout the trail's mile and a
half length. Major slides occurred at over ten locations,
covering the trail with up to eight feet of rock and dirt debris
and damaging both the trail surface and rock retaining walls.
Park crews shoveled foot paths through the major slides in order
to advance up the trail and check the conditions further up.
The rock fall barricade at the top of the trail was full of
debris; although it was cleared, the barricade screens will need
repair. Several smaller rocks broke through the screens and
fell into the interior of the cave trail restroom. Large
amounts of water also flowed into the structure. Power at the
cave was out. The trail will remain closed until all debris can
be cleared and the rock fall hazard to visitors can be reduced.
[Telefax from Dick Powell, RAD/RMRO, 9/9]
91-476 - Lava Beds (California) - ARPA Recoveries
Late in August, rangers recovered two large religious stones
taken from monument grounds prior to 1960. The stones were
discovered at a business in Klamath Falls through the combined
efforts of the park's ARPA ranger, the archeologist from
Redwoods, other Lava Bed staff members and various members of
the community. The relics were returned to the park on August
26th and will be returned to their sites of origin in the near
future. Members of the Modoc tribe will be present on that
occasion. More ARPA recoveries are expected over the next few
months as a result of this discovery. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE,
via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/10]
91-477 - Lava Beds (California) - Cave Rescue
H.H. and two companions were attempting a technical ascent
out of Heppe Cave on September 1st when a large rock came loose
and struck H.H. on the head, causing a severe injury. Ranger
Ken Kerr responded and directed a technical evacuation with the
assistance of other rangers and fire personnel. The victim was
transferred to Merle West Medical Center in Klamath Falls, where
his head injuries are being treated. H.H. was not wearing a
hard hat at the time of the accident. [Terry Harris, CR, LABE,
via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/10]
91-478 - Organ Pipe Cactus (Arizona) - Drug Interdiction
Over Labor Day weekend, rangers assisted U.S. Customs officers
as part of a task force assigned to check north and south bound
traffic crossing the border through the park. The inspection of
over 375 vehicles led to the seizure of over 60 hits of LSD, two
ounces of marijuana and cocaine and the recovery of four stolen
vehicles. Over 30 citations were issued for liquor violations,
and another 45 were doled out for other traffic offenses.
Rangers also assisted in the medical evacuation of three
patients via helicopter. [Cheto Olais, CR, ORPI, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 9/10]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) ACTIVITY LEVEL Preparedness Level I
2) FIRE SUMMARY
*** No significant activity reported ***
3) 1990/1991 COMPARATIVE ACTIVITY SUMMARY
Fires Acres
1990 (Year-to-date) 56,822 4,396,331
1991 (Year-to-date) 57,569 2,089,940
1990-1991 (% difference) + 1% 54%
4) FIRE ACTIVITY 139 fires for 9,929 acres in past 24 hours.
5) ANALYSIS - Fire indices remain high to very high throughout
the North Zone in California and run from low to extreme in
Oregon. No significant activity is taking place in any area.
6) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages anticipated.
[Fire Management Situation Report, NIFCC Intelligence Section,
9/11]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) A memorandum entitled "Requirements to Update 6(c) Cases" was
issued on August 23rd to all employees interested in 6(c)
coverage. It contained a reminder that employees who filed
timely requests for individual service credit under 8336(c) in
1989 and updated them last September to file an update by
September 30, 1991, to cover the additional year. The memo adds:
"It will also be necessary for any employee who has not already
filed a claim, but who wishes to have the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) consider coverage for their present position,
to file within one year of the date for which he or she wishes
coverage. OPM will no longer grant coverage for 'a period
greater than one year prior to the date that the request from an
individual is received by the employing agency.'"
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at conference of associate regional
directors for operations, Jackson Hole, WY (9/9-9/13).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Schamp on AL (9/9-9/13);
Martin at MAR chief rangers' conference, Ocean City, MD
(9/10-9/11).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Norum attending meeting of steering
committee for wilderness fire management, Bar Harbor, ME
(9/8-9/14); Farrel at NFPA committee meeting and ICS seminar,
Phoenix, AZ (9/10-9/14); Clark on trip to assist SER and South
Florida in prevention analysis process, Miami, FL (9/8-9/14);
Gale on review of Type II crews at MORA and OLYM and review of
Alpine crew housing projects at ROMO (9/10-9/13); Bristol at
administrative automation training, San Diego, CA (9/9-9/13).
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