RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Wednesday, October 23, 1991
INCIDENTS
90-109 - Gulf Islands (Mississippi/Florida) - Follow-up on McGhee Shooting
On October 17th, D.A.B. and J.F.W. were formally arraigned before a U.S.
magistrate in Biloxi, Mississippi. Two public defenders have been
appointed for each defendant. Both pled not guilty to the one count murder
indictment. Numerous motions were filed and more are expected. The trial
has been set for January 23rd, but D.A.B. waived discovery and his trial
date was set for December 2nd. If a motion for severance is denied,
J.F.W.'s trial date will also be moved to that date. [CompuServe message
from Gene Phillips, CR, GUIS, 10/22]
91-575 - Olympic (Washington) - Shooting
At about 1:30 a.m. on the morning of October 14th, R.H.S., 57,
of Kagel Canyon, California, was sleeping in his vehicle in the Queets area
of the park when he was awakened by people knocking on the vehicle's window.
When he unlocked the passenger door, a person entered the vehicle, placed a
pillow over his face and a firearm against his chest, and shot him. R.H.S.
later reported that he remained in the vehicle for about 12 hours until he
was able to summon a passing motorist by blowing the vehicle's horn. He
was transported to the hospital in Aberdeen, where he was admitted and
treated for a small caliber bullet wound which passed through his body and
exited out his lower back. R.H.S. is now in stable condition. During an
interview, R.H.S. stated that he was in the Queets area waiting for two
women; he thought they were the ones knocking on the window and therefore
opened the door. R.H.S. also said that the assault was connected to the
occult and that his assailants were attempting to steal a book he was
writing on the subject. The incident is being investigated by rangers and
deputies from Grays Harbor. [Kym Ulin, OLYM, via telefax from Mark Forbes,
RAD/PNRO, 10/21]
91-576 - Crater Lake (Oregon) - Sewage Spill
A sewage spill was discovered in the park on the afternoon of October 21st.
The spill entered a small side channel of Munson Creek about a half mile
above park headquarters. Munson Creek flows into Annie Creek, which
eventually empties into the Wood River outside of park boundaries.
Although neither Crater Lake itself nor park water supplies have been
threatened, there is concern that individuals using downstream surface
water for domestic purposes could be affected. Officials are suggesting
that residents who have surface water intakes for domestic use on these
creeks boil their water until tomorrow. State authorities were immediately
notified of the spill, and the park temporarily diverted the contaminated
portion of the creek into the park sewage system until permanent repairs
could be made. The spill was apparently caused by a plugged sewer line.
[Telefax from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 10/21]
91-577 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Significant Event
On October 18th, approximately 200,000 people attended Bridge Day, an
annual event held on the New River Gorge bridge. Most come each year to
watch people parachute from the bridge into the park below. This year, 265
parachutists registered for the event and made over 550 jumps. Sixty-nine
jumpers landed in the river below the bridge, and rangers made 34 water
rescues during the day. Six parachutists landed in trees; two required
technical rescues. Rangers Kinsey Shilling and Scott Kalna were
instrumental in rescuing the victims, who were lodged in treetops from 60
to 80 feet above the ground. There were eight injuries requiring transport
to the hospital - six leg injuries (one a double compound fracture) and two
possible spinal injuries. [Telefax from Rick Brown, DR, NERI, 10/22]
91-578 - Morristown (New Jersey) - Poaching Arrests
On October 11th, rangers received information that poaching activities were
occurring in the park. The following day, ranger Troy Mueller checked the
area and located a baited tree stand, a fresh gut pile, and a partially
concealed deer carcass. Evidence was also found of other recent poaching
activity in the area. Surveillance of the area was begun by Mueller,
ranger Bryan Sutton and two state game wardens. At about 8:00 p.m., two
men - J.G., 20, and H.G., 18 - arrived at the site and
attempted to remove the carcass. A foot pursuit ensued, but the two were
soon apprehended. The men were cited for poaching and their equipment
was seized. State charges are also pending, including loss of hunting
privileges. [Telefax from Lynn Wightman, CR, MORR, 10/22]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level III
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 10/22 10/23 Status
WA USFS Willamette NF Warner - T1 9,200 9,200 CN
State Spokane Area South Stevens Comp. 18,795 18,795 CN
Spokane Comp. 16,150 16,150 CN
MT USFS Kootenai NF Sylvanite Comp. - T1 12,343 12,343 CN 10/23
Bitterroot NF Overwhich II - T2 1,880 1,880 CN
BLM Lewiston Dist. Burnette - T1 6,300 6,300 CN 10/23
ID USFS Idaho Pan. NF Kilroy - T2 2,200 2,200 CN
WY USFS Bridger-Tet. NF Dry Cott. - T1 7,157 7,157 CN 10/23
CA CA Oakland Oakland Hills 1,800 1,800 CN
CDF Sonoma Ranger Geysers 6,200 6,200 CN 10/23
USFS Los Padres NF Lion - T2 2,100 1,905 CN 10/24
VA USFS Washington NF Piney Mountain - T1 1,425 1,425 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 * None - No estimate of containment
* CS - Confinement strategy ?
3) ANALYSIS - Higher relative humidities and cooler temperatures are
helping firefighters contain fires in the Western states. Some moisture
has been received on fires in the Northern Rockies and the Northwest.
Initial attack activity is increasing in the South.
4) PROGNOSIS - Demobilization is in progress on several large fires in the
Northern Rockies and the Northwest. Demobilization from other fires is
expected.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0520 MDT, 10/22]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at regional chief rangers' conference, Boise, ID
(10/21-10/25).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin, Schamp, Marriott, Smith,
Lee, and Halainen at regional chief rangers' conference, Boise, ID (10/21-
10/25); Coffey at grazing lands forum, Harpers Ferry, WV (10/22).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Broyles at NFPA wildland fire quals meeting,
Salt Lake City, UT (10/20-10/25); Norum at NPS parks and wilderness
management course faculty meeting, NARTC, Marana, AZ (10/21-10/25); Botti
in budget meetings, WASO, Washington, DC (10/21-10/25).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: All Offices - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
Branch of Fire - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
Branch of Fire - WASO-FIRE-WO
SEAdog: All Offices - 1/650