RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Friday, November 22, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-630 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Arson Arrests
At about 2:00 p.m. on the afternoon of November 20th, rangers responded to
a fire on Highland Mountain. Two park engine crews, a park wildland fire
crew, and crews and engines from the state and two local volunteer fire
departments were able to contain the fire, which was caused by an arsonist
who burned a vehicle at that location. While fighting this blaze,
firefighters were called to respond to four more starts near Glade Creek.
At the same time, crews at Grandview Park spotted several arsonists setting
fires on the Mill Creek Road. Enforcement rangers immediately set up road
blocks to prevent them from leaving the area. Following a joint
investigation by rangers and FBI agents, three suspects were detained; two
of them, J.W.V. and R.M., both of Beaver, West Virginia,
were arrested on four counts of wildland arson, conspiracy to commit arson,
and driving while intoxicated. The state will also prosecute the pair on
all four arson counts. Over 200 acres of park land were burned by the
fires. [Telefax from Lizzie Watts, NERI, 11/21]
91-631 - Ocmulgee (Georgia) - MVA with Fatality
D.K.J. of Macon, Georgia, was killed when his vehicle left Emery
Highway and struck a concrete utility pole in the park just before 2:00 a.m.
on November 16th. The vehicle was believed to have been moving in excess
of 80 mph at the time of the accident. Alcohol was involved. Macon police
investigated the incident. [Telefax from Steve Alscher, LES, RAD/SERO,
11/21]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) NOTE: The telephone numbers for the Branch of Fire and Aviation in WASO
will change effective sometime today. You can reach Elmer Hurd, Bill
Spruill or Helen Kelly by calling FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573.
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady on annual leave (11/18-11/22).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin instructing at safety for
line managers course, Beckley, WV (11/18-11/20); Kreis at regional fee
coordinator meeting, WASO (11/19-11/22).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Norum at meeting of prescribed fire and fire
effects working team, Charleston, WV (11/17-11/22); Gale serving as
incident commander for 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, U.S.S. Arizona
Memorial, HI (11/25-12/9); Botti at Western Region FMO meeting, Yosemite,
CA (11/18-11/22); Broyles at training working team meeting, White River, AZ
(11/7-11/22).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities