- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Thursday, June 13, 1996
- Date: Thurs, 13 Jun 1996
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Thursday, June 13, 1996
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
94-214 - Western Region - Follow-up on Arrest of Car Clouter
Following a three-year-long criminal investigation, H. "M." H.,
53, was arrested in May, 1994, for numerous car clouts in more than 25
national parks and many other parks throughout the country. Since that time,
he has been in federal custody for probation violations. This month,
H.H. pled guilty to auto burglary charges in state court. The judge
gave him the maximum sentence under law - 12 years - and denied him any
credit for time served on the federal violation (the sentence may be
increased to 18 years in the near future, however, due to the expected
reversal of a current technicality which is limiting the sentence to a dozen
years). H.H. has an extensive criminal history and has committed
"serial" car clouts in the national parks regularly since the 1960s.
H.H. got out of federal prison in May, 1991, after serving part of a
16-year sentence for assaulting a ranger at Great Smokies in 1982, and was
committing car clouts in parks within a week of his release. Between that
time and his arrest in 1994, H.H. is suspected of committing over 1,200
separate car clouts in national parks, California and Oregon state parks, and
Forest Service campgrounds. That number is almost three times the total car
clouts the NPS experiences each year. The total value of the property stolen
has been placed at over $1 million. A search warrant executed at his
residence at the time of his arrest led to the recovery of over 8,000 stolen
items with a minimum aggregate value of $125,000. The three-year
investigation involved criminal investigators and park rangers from a number
of Western national parks and eventually involved the FBI, the IRS, the
Forest Service, and numerous California, Washington and Oregon state and
local enforcement agencies. The NPS and California state parks will be
working with the courts to get most of the 8,000 stolen items returned to the
park visitors who were H.H.'s victims. [Paul Ducasse, CI, PWFDO]
96-276 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Assist; MVA with Two Fatalities
A passenger car and a full-size tour bus collided head-on at high speed on
Highway 64 at Grand Canyon Airport on the afternoon of June 6th. Nineteen
park personnel responded, along with two ambulances, two fire engines, a
rescue unit, and the park helicopter. Two occupants of the car were killed
instantly; a third survived, but was pinned in the wreckage. He was
extricated and flown by park helicopter to a hospital in Flagstaff, where he
is in guarded condition with a fractured femur. The driver and one passenger
on the bus were taken to the park's clinic, where they were treated for minor
injuries and released. Six agencies were involved in the response. The
investigation is being conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
[Dave Brennan, SDR, South Rim, GRCA]
96-277 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Helicopter Incident
The park's contract helicopter was returning from a medevac flight on the
afternoon of June 9th when it experienced what appears to have been a series
of compressor stalls in the turbine engine. The pilot was forced to make a
hard landing at the South Rim helibase; although neither the patient nor
attendants were injured, the pilot complained of back pain and was taken to a
clinic, where he was checked and released. Damage to the helicopter was
confined to the vertical fin on the tail boom and to one blade of the main
rotor. Both will have to be replaced, and additional damage may be
discovered when the helicopter is more closely inspected. Arrangements for
repairs have been made, but the helicopter will probably be unavailable for
use for one to two weeks. An OAS investigator is on scene and coordinating
activities with the FAA and NTSB. The event is currently classified as an
incident rather than as an accident. [CRO, GRCA]
96-278 - Arches (Utah) - Golden Age/Golden Eagle Passport Violations
On April 29th, fee collector A.W. became suspicious of the validity of
a Golden Age passport presented by a Mr. D. She asked him to take the
pass out of his wallet and give it to her. As she was about to return it to
him, she discovered that the back of it was blank. D. immediately
admitted that it was a color photocopy that he had made for his wife when
they were traveling separately, as she was only 62 years old. He then
produced the original, which was confiscated. The investigation continues.
A.W. noted that she wouldn't have realized it was a fraud even by holding it,
as it had been printed on card stock paper. In May, the park began checking
the identification of visitors presenting Golden Eagle passports, as there
were indications that these were being misused. Over 50 passes were seized
in a two-week period, all of which had been loaned or given to visitors by
friends or family members. Since most of the visitors then purchased
replacement passes, the park collected about $1100 it would otherwise not
have received. One visitor admitted that he was the third person to use the
pass, which was being circulated in Germany. Another visitor received his
pass with the rental of his motorhome and provided the park with a copy of
the company's brochure, which advertised the availability of Golden Eagle
passports. When the company was contacted, the owner admitted that he
received the passes from people returning their vehicles, and that he then
gives them to subsequent renters. This investigation is also continuing.
[Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH]
96-279 - Yellowstone (Wyoming) - EMS Incident; Life Saved
Old Faithful ranger/EMTs Joe Bueter and Rick Delappe responded to a report of
a woman having a stroke at Old Faithful Lodge on the morning of June 10th.
They found a 67-year-old woman in full cardiac arrest, and began CPR with the
aid of two lodge security guards. The rangers then employed advanced cardiac
life support measures, including defibrillation, and were able to restore the
victim's pulse. She was then flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls for further
treatment. [C. Patterson, YELL]
96-280 - Arches (Utah) - Low Flying Aircraft Conviction; License Suspension
Last October 3rd, a patrol ranger spotted a single-engine plane flying at low
altitudes near Balanced Rock. The plane was flying within 500 feet of the
patrol vehicle when first observed, and continued its low flight past the
Balanced Rock area, where several park visitors were on the trail or in the
parking lot. The plane made several more low passes over some of the park's
developed attractions, then headed to the airport near Moab. The plane and
its owner, D.K., were identified at the airport the following morning
with the help of staff from a local air tour operator. An enforcement
complaint was filed with the FAA. The case went to a hearing in Salt Lake
City on May 1st, and resulted in D.K. receiving a 30-day suspension of his
pilot's license. D.K. still has the right to appeal. D.K. has had
several FAA complaints filed against him in his home state of Texas [Jim
Webster, CR, ARCH]
96-281 - Rock Creek (D.C.) - MVA with Serious Injury/Possible Fatality
On the morning of June 5th, D.F. was attempting to turn his
motorcycle left onto Virginia Avenue from Rock Creek Parkway when he was
struck broadside by a northbound van. The van then struck another vehicle.
D.F. was taken to a hospital and place on life support, but is not
expected to survive. Park Police officers are investigating. [Bill Lynch,
LES, NCFDO]
96-282 - Lake Mead (Arizona/Nevada) - Drowning
E.H., 15, was riding on a personal water craft with another girl in
James Bay when a boat turned sharply to miss another such craft and struck
them. E.H.'s hair became caught in the boat's propeller, trapping her
underwater. She was finally cut free and CPR was begun, but without effect.
[CRO, LAME]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III
The preparedness level went up one step yesterday. Preparedness Level III
goes into effect when the following conditions are met: Two or more
geographic areas experiencing incidents requiring a major commitment of
national resources. High number of fires becoming Class D and larger.
Additional resources are being ordered and mobilized through NICC. Type 1
teams are committed in two or more areas, or 300 crews are committed
nationally.
LARGE FIRE SUMMARY
% Est
State Unit Fire IMT 6/11 6/13 Con Con
AK State 100 Mile Creek T2 64,000 66,560 15 NEC
Crooked Creek T2 23,000 23,000 65 6/15
Tetlin T2 5,000 5,000 10 NEC
CO Southern Ute Agency * Dipping Vat Cx T1 - 7,000 0 NEC
NM State San Pedro T2 5,000 5,275 100 CND
Burgette -- 3,840 NR NR NR
* Rojo T2 - 900 65 6/13
Gila NF Tadpole -- 140 300 100 CND
* Langstroth/Black -- - 8,000 0 NEC
Carson NF Trampas -- 150 270 50 6/16
AZ State Witch Wells -- 630 630 100 CND
Tonto NF Sunflower -- 170 170 100 CND
NV Ely District Rainbow Cx T2 22,350 22,675 98 6/13
Battle Mtn. District Railroad T2 800 1,400 60 6/13
UT State Allred -- 3,200 3,200 100 CND
Sheep -- 1,500 3,000 100 CND
Manti-Lasal NF * Nelson -- - 150 50 NEC
ID Boise District * ID NG Assist #1 -- - 1,000 100 CND
CA Riverside RU Chisholm -- 600 540 100 CND
Newport -- 258 258 100 CND
* Esparanza -- - 380 100 CND
Cleveland NF Cedar T2 700 466 100 CND
Heading Notes
Unit -- Agency = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA state resource
or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; District = BLM
district; NWR = USFWS wildlife refuge
Fire -- * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex; LSS =
limited suppression strategy; CSS = containment suppression
strategy
IMT -- T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con -- Percent of fire contained
Est Con -- Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report
FIRES AND ACRES BURNED
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Number 6 6 31 0 56 36 135
Acres Burned 14 4,005 145 0 1,449 128 5,741
COMMITTED RESOURCES
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Federal 195 44 71 14 827
Non-federal 44 99 45 5 560
CURRENT SITUATION
Fire activity continued yesterday in the Southwest, the Great Basin and the
Rockies. Cool weather and higher humidities continued to aid suppression
efforts in Alaska. Units in the Southwest, the Rockies, the Great Basin and
southern California are reporting very high to extreme fire indices.
NATIONAL OUTLOOK
Dry thunderstorms are forecast for several areas in the West today,
increasing the likelihood of initial attack and large fires.
LONG-RANGE OUTLOOK
Alaska - Long-range forecasts call for above normal temperatures with normal
precipitation. Predicted fire severity reports indicate high fire potential
for the southern half of the state, moderate for the mid section, and normal
for the northern part of Alaska.
Southwest - The 90-day outlook calls for above-normal temperatures with
normal precipitation levels, which are relatively low at this time of year.
The area is currently in severe to extreme drought condition. Fire activity
is expected to be extreme, with rapid growth potential.
Great Basin-Rocky Mountains - Extreme to severe drought conditions are
present in southern Nevada and Utah, and above normal temperatures are
predicted through August for the entire Great Basin and Colorado.
precipitation is expected to be normal in this area, and predicted fire
severity reports indicate very high fire potential in southern Nevada, high
to very high potential in Colorado, and moderate to low potential in Idaho.
Northwest - The fire potential in Washington, Oregon and Montana will be low
to moderate over the next month. Upper level forest lands had above average
snowpacks this winter, which should limit the number of large forest fires.
California - Southern California reports extreme drought conditions, but
northern California received normal to above normal precipitation this year.
Large fire activity is expected to continue in southern California.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report and "Fire and Weather Conditions"
Summary, 6/12-13]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Report pending.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Fee Collections - The May fee collection report has been completed. This
year, the parks collected just over $5,675,000, a sum virtually identical to
that collected in May, 1995. The rounded year-to-date total for FY 96
collections is $26,882,000, which compares to a year-to-date total of
$27,654,000 in FY 95. [Jennifer Getz, RAD/WASO]
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
EXCHANGE
No submissions.
UPCOMING IN CONGRESS
The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service. Prepared by Jared
Ficker, Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs.
June 13
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Hearing on S.
1844, National Recreation Lakes Study Act.
House Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands (Hansen):
Markup of H.R. 639, West Virginia Rivers (technical changes); H.R> 640, West
Virginia Rivers (boundaries); H.R. 1825, Missouri River; H.R. 2255, Lamprey
Wild and Scenic River (New Hampshire); H.R. 2292, Hanford Reach Preservation
(Washington); H.R. 3534, Sequoia NP (Mineral King permits); H.R. 3006,
Manzanar NHS; H.R. 2636, transfer of land for WWII Japanese-American
patriotism memorial (Washington, DC).
OBSERVATIONS
"Parks are not to be placed on the economic scales to be weighed against
kilowatts, productive acreage, school buildings, housing developments,
parking spaces and what not. They are not to be valued in money. Just as
well attempt to appraise the value of your child's impish grin, of the
confessional, or your first or last love. How will you value the view of the
Tetons from the Hole, of the tulip trees in Turkey Run, of the Falls at
Letchworth, or the first glimpse of El Capitan? How can the joy of millions
in the natural canyons of the Green and the Yampa at Dinosaur over 100
years - why not 2000 years - be weighed against the meager, short-lived value
of dams, kilowatts, and irrigation water elsewhere obtainable? Parks are
inviolate. This is the strategic stance to assume when attacks are made to
dissipate park lands or values."
Charles "Cap" Sauers,
superintendent of Cook County
Forest Preserve District, "Planning
and Civic Comment" magazine, 1952
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators. Please address requests
for the Morning Report to your servicing hub coordinator.
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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