RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Monday, November 4, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-6 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Follow-up on Arrests
On January 9th, T.M.W., 37, and C.L.N., 35,
both of Fort Pierce, Florida, were arrested by rangers for poaching in the
park. They were each charged with violations of 18 USC 403h-3 and entered
conditional guilty pleas before a U.S. magistrate in Knoxville on July 12th.
Judgements were rendered on October 11th. Each defendant was sentenced to
six months' incarceration with all but 14 days suspended, four years'
probation, 200 hours of community service, and $1,000 restitution, which is
to be paid to the park. Each is prohibited from possessing any firearms or
other dangerous weapons during the period of probation except what may be
required in the line of duty. Hunting, however, is absolutely precluded.
T.M.W. was ordered to pay a fine of $500 and C.L.N. a fine of $1,500.
They were also ordered to forfeit the rifle, scope and silencer and the
Ford Bronco (valued at $7,500) used in the incident. The conditional plea
of guilty allows the defendants to file an appeal on the merits of the
magistrate's ruling regarding suppression of evidence. The defendants have
filed an appeal on that basis. [CompuServe message from Jason Houck, CR,
GRSM, 11/1]
91-582 - Grand Teton (Wyoming) - Follow-up on Search
Because of heavy snowfalls and a lack of clues, Teton County authorities
have decided to conclude the massive, two-week-long search for the
single-engine Western Air Research plane with three aboard which presumably
crashed somewhere south of Yellowstone and near Grand Teton. Hundreds of
searchers from both parks, three counties and several state and other
agencies participated in efforts to find the plane. The three occupants -
pilot R.A. and Wyoming Fish and Game biologists K.I. and K.R. -
were tracking radio-collared grizzlies when the plane vanished on
October 16th. No further efforts will be undertaken until more clues are
found. [Telefaxed report from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 11/1]
91-598 - Eastern Areas - Follow-up on Offshore Storm
Virtually all park staffs report that they are still fully involved in
making assessments of the scope and nature of damages incurred as a result
of the storm and that these will not be completed until later this week.
The following reports provide updates on the situation in affected parks as
of early Friday afternoon. Although serious damage has occurred in several
areas, it is worth nothing that no reports of employee or visitor injuries
have been received from any areas.
* Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - Most of the park's ORV trails have been
damaged and the posts marking routes have been washed away. Access ways to
beaches are impassable in most places; efforts were underway to open at
least some of them before the weekend. Shingles were blown off the old
Coast Guard station at Coast Guard beach, windows were broken in the Old
Harbor life saving station, and other park buildings received similar
minor damage. Nauset Road will be closed indefinitely to keep traffic
from jamming up at the beach. Three rangers from other NAR parks have
were dispatched to the park late last week to help out with traffic and
crowd control over the weekend.
* Fire Island (New York) - The park reports that the marinas at Sailor's
Haven and Watch Hill have been largely destroyed and that the cost to
repair them will be significant. There was also some minor structural
damage to the William Floyd estate, the Fire Island light station, and the
Carrington house and cottage. All vehicles will have to be brought in for
desalting due to constant immersion in ocean water.
* Gateway - Sandy Hook Unit (New Jersey) - Sandy Hook has reopened and
cleanup efforts are underway. Front-end loaders and graders are being
employed to clear roads and parking lots. With some minor exceptions, the
sea wall bordering the access road held throughout the storm, thereby
minimizing damage to the highway.
* Assateague Island (Maryland/Virginia) - Serious flooding occurred on both
the ocean and bay sides along the entire 37-mile length of the park due to
extremely high tides combined with winds. Large sections of the island
were overwashed and eroded, and damage to park developments appears to be
extensive. At this time, the staff reports that about 75% of the primary
dune line in the off-road vehicle zone has been washed away along with
numerous signs and miles of post and cable. There are numerous washovers
and dune breaks in the developed portion of the seashore in both Maryland
and Virginia which will require extensive restoration work. Two beach
parking areas in Virginia have filled with from three to five feet of
sand, and a drain field for a bathhouse in Maryland was flooded by
overwash. Residents in three NPS quarters on the island were evacuated
yesterday as rising tides surrounded the houses; fortunately, the tide
stopped just short of entering the quarters themselves and there was no
damage to personal belongings. The dune line in front of the McCabe
house, a primary source of seasonal housing, was completely eroded and
about a foot of water filled certain portions of the basement. The house
is now open to the full force of future winter storms. Damage and
disruption to on-going research and resource management activities is a
certainty, but the full extent will take months to determine. The park
staff plans on spending the next several days evaluating management
options for repair and restoration activities and will be meeting on
Wednesday to set a course of action. In the interim, the ORV zones and
backcountry camping areas are closed; day-use and developed campgrounds,
however, are operating as usual.
* Cape Hatteras (North Carolina) - Only minor overwashes of the island
occurred Thursday night, and there was no significant additional damage to
that previously reported. Although there was no structural damage to park
buildings, the storm inflicted major damage on private residences in
Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and elsewhere. NC 12, the state highway which runs
the length of the park and serves as the only primary access to the park
and communities on the island, is closed south of Oregon Inlet and will
likely remain closed through the early part of this week. Although it is
covered with water and wet sand, there is no evidence yet that any serious
damage was done to the highway's surface. Overflights were underway
Friday to evaluate the storm's impacts on the park.
* Cape Lookout (North Carolina) - Much of the park was overwashed by the
ocean during the storm and remained flooded on Friday. Initial surveys of
the park indicate that no facilities were damaged by the storm. Access to
some areas has been restricted because of high water, but the park
otherwise remains open. This is peak fishing season on Cape Lookout.
(Note: Despite the intense effects of the storm, it is not true that Cape
Lookout is now in South Carolina, as was reported in Friday's morning
report. The park remains in North Carolina).
[Summaries to date compiled from telephone and telefaxed reports from John
Lynch, RAD/NARO; Dennis Burnett and Bill Hooper, CACO; Don Weir and Jack
Hauptman, FIIS; Kevin McMurry and Jim Reinhart, GATE; Brion Fitzgerald and
Alan Whalon, ASIS; Larry Roush, CAHA; Chuck Harris, CALO; Bill Springer,
RAD/SERO]
91-599 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Marijuana Eradication
On October 30th, rangers and Hawaii County officers conducted a raid in the
Royal Gardens area on the park and found 4,000 marijuana plants. No
arrests were made. Evidence indicated that the growers were doing research
and development on different strains of marijuana, as about two dozen
varieties were subsequently identified. The growers were apparently
striving for a variety which would grown in a dry environment and shaded
area, thereby minimizing for growers to tend their plants and make
detection by air more difficult. Rangers learned of the plantation from
visitors hiking in the area. [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message
from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 11/1]
91-600 - Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Felony Arrests
On the afternoon of October 27th, ranger Mike Fernald saw a woman who
appeared to be photographing a house on a privately-owned tract of land
within the park. As he talked with her about being on posted land, a man
exited the house, which had been forcibly entered, and approached Fernald.
Backup was called and available rangers responded. A pat down of the man
led to the discovery of a ten-inch-long knife concealed in a coat pocket.
Both the man and woman were detained until state officers could arrive.
They were arrested and charged with New Jersey criminal violations for
trespassing, forcible entry and vandalism. [CompuServe message from Barry
Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 10/31]
FIRE ACTIVITY
1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level I
2) FIRE SUMMARY
State Agency Area Fire 11/1 11/4 Status
WV NPS New River Gorge Gauley Mountain 3,000 4,500 CN 11/4
*Swiss - 8,000 NEC
TN USFS Cherokee NF Unaka Complex - 1,864 CND
KY USFS D. Boone NF Red Bird Comp - T2 4,047 7,500 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
CL - Controlled MN - Being monitored
CS - Confinement strategy NEC - No estimate of containment
CN (date) - Expected date CND - Contained
of containment
3) NARRATIVES -
New River Gorge (West Virginia) - The Gauley Mountain Fire is on both
state and park land. As of yesterday morning, it was about 85% contained;
1,360 chains of line had been constructed, and another 250 remained to be
built in steep and rocky terrain. The state has dedicated few resources to
the fire because of extensive commitments statewide (over 200,000 acres
were reported burning throughout West Virginia). Almost 300 people have
been committed to the fire to date - 220 of them NPS.
4) ANALYSIS - The number of new starts in the Southern Area has decreased
because of colder weather. Some demobilization of crews and overhead is
taking place in the area.
5) PROGNOSIS - Fire activity is expected to moderate due to cooler weather
and decreasing winds.
[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 11/4]
CALENDAR
Calendar appears in the morning report every other Monday. If you know of
a conference, meeting or training session with Servicewide interest and
implications, please provide the specifics to Bill Halainen in Ranger
Activities. Entries are listed no earlier than four months before the
event. An asterisk (*) indicates a new entry; a plus (+) indicates a
revised entry - subsequent comments explain the revision. Brackets at end
of entry indicate source of information:
* Now - September 30, 1992 - Instructor Details (30, 60, 90, or 120-day) to
FLETC's Firearms, Driver Training or Physical Techniques Divisions. For
application procedures, contact your regional training office. [Carole
Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
November 12 - 15 - "Fisheries Management: Dealing with Development in the
Watershed", symposium, Newport, RI. For further information, contact John
Boreman at the University of Massachusetts (413-545-2842).
November 15 - 16 - Sixth Annual Wilderness Emergencies Conference, Los
Abrigados Resort, Sedona, AZ. Sponsored by the Flagstaff Medical Center.
For further information, contact Sharon Harbeck at 602-779-3366 ext. 4185.
[Sharon Harbeck, Flagstaff Medical Center]
November 18 - 22 - Second National Park Service GIS Users' Conference,
Denver, CO. The conference will bring together all NPS users of
geographic-data technology for the first time in over three years. All
personnel involved in GIS should consider attending. There will be poster
and plenary sessions, panel discussions and workshops. For more
information, including an announcement brochure and list of possible
workshops, contact Leslie Manfull, GIS Division (Denver), at FTS 327-2590
or 303-969-2590. [Leslie Manfull, GIS]
November 18 - 22 - Law Enforcement Refresher Training, Boston NHP, Boston,
MA. Interested persons should contact Aline Forbes at 617-242-5633 before
November 7th. [Aline Forbes, BOST]
November 19 - 22 - Regional Recreation Fee Coordinators' Training,
Washington, DC. [Wes Kreis, RAD/WASO]
December 2 - 6 - PNR Resource Management Refresher Workshop, Moscow, ID.
For further information, contact Kathy Jope at 206-553-5670 or FTS 399-5670.
[Kathy Jope, RAD/PNRO]
December 2 - 13 - Driver Instructor Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Funded by
benefitting accounts. For application procedures, contact your regional
training office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
December 2 - 13 - Physical Fitness Coordinator Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA.
Funded by benefitting accounts. For application procedures, contact your
regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
December 2 - 12 - Advanced Physical Security Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA.
Funded by benefitting accounts. For application procedures, contact your
regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
December 6 - 7 - Overview of Archeological Protection, Fort Worth, TX. For
application procedures, contact Dr. William Butler at FTS 327-2875 or 303-
969-2875. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
December 9 - 13 - Law Enforcement for Managers, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Funded
by LEEDC/FLETC. For application procedures, contact your regional training
office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
December 11 - 14 - Annual convention, National Campground Owners
Association, San Diego, CA. NPS employees have been offered the members'
registration rate of $210 per person for the entire convention, or $75 per
day for the days when seminars will be given. Lodging and some meals will
be extra. The educational program will focus on operations and maintenance;
the trade show will feature the latest in equipment and services. Call
703-471-0143 for registration information, or Priscilla Baker at 202-208-
4917 or FTS 268-4917 for further information. [Priscilla Baker, Tourism]
January 6 - 10 - Natural Resource Communications, California State
University, Chico, CA. For further information, call Dr. Jon K. Hooper at
916-898-5811. [Kathy Jope, RAD/PNRO]
January 9 - March 25 - Basic Law Enforcement for Land Management Agencies,
FLETC, Glynco, GA. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC. For application procedures,
contact your regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
January 13 - May 6 - Seasonal Law Enforcement Ranger Academy, Colorado
Northwestern Community College, Rangely, CO. For further information and
application, contact Steven Whittmore at 303-675-3306. [Steve Whittmore,
CNCC]
January 27 - 31 - Archeological Resource Protection Training, Glen Canyon,
Page, AZ. Funding by LEEDC/FLETC subject to availability of FY 92 funds.
[Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
January 28 - March 27 - Basic Law Enforcement for Land Management Agencies,
FLETC, Glynco, GA. Funded by LEEDC/FLETC. For application procedures,
contact your regional training office. [Carole Pfeifer, LEEDC/FLETC]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady on AL (11/8-11/12).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at AR chief rangers'
conference, Anchorage, AK (11/4-11/7) and AL (11/8-11/12); Smith and
Marriott on AL (11/4-11/5); Coffey at Southeastern Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies conference, Sulphur Springs, WV (11/3-11/7); Halainen on
AL (11/6-11/13); Sisto on AL (11/8-11/12).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Bristol coordinating InciNet hardware purchase
with Alaska BLM, Fairbanks, AK (11/4-11/8); Norum at NAGFDR meeting,
Missoula, MT (11/4-11/8); Farrel meeting with RMR safety officers, Denver,
CO (11/4-11/8); Gale on AL 11/4-11/15).
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