- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, August 21, 1996
- Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, August 21, 1996
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
96-418 - Sequoia-Kings Canyon (California) - Follow-up on Search for Ranger
The search for seasonal backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson, who has not been
seen or heard from since Saturday, July 20th, was suspended on August 3rd.
The park has provided a recap of search and investigative efforts to date:
Early on the afternoon of July 23rd, the secretary for the Kings Canyon
district advised district ranger Randy Coffman that the last communication
with Morgenson might have been on the 21st. A check was made, and it was
ascertained that he had last been heard from on the 20th, when he reported
his position via park radio as at Mather Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Raes Lakes ranger Rick Sanger was dispatched to Bench Lake to check on
Morgenson. Sanger arrived on the 24th and found a note on Morgenson's tent
stating that he was on a three to four day patrol. Coffman and rangers
Durkee, Lyness and Graban were flown to the Bench Lake station later that
day, and plans were made to begin a search of high probability areas the next
morning. A search was begun of Morgenson's 80 square mile patrol area on the
24th. The numbers and types of resources utilized grew with each search
period, and peaked on July 30th with 94 people, five helicopters (one with
forward-looking infrared search capability), and eight dog teams from 16
agencies. On August 2nd, the search was scaled back, and the final search
team was demobilized on the 3rd. As part of an on-going effort, backcountry
rangers have been assigned to look for clues while on patrol in the search
area. Resource management staff and trail crew personnel scheduled to work
in and around the search area during the remainder of the season and all park
employees planning trips in the area are being encouraged to watch for clues
that could assist in the investigation. A parallel investigation has
meanwhile been underway. Morgenson's name has been entered into NCIC and
CLETS data banks as a missing person, notices have been placed at trailheads
throughout the area, and bulletins have been sent to numerous local, state
and federal government law enforcement agencies. Investigations are being
conducted into his physical and mental status. An on-site investigation of
the Bench Lake ranger station has been conducted for evidence and clues to
his location. Family, friends and supervisors have been interviewed, and
personal effects, including his vehicle, have been located and inventoried.
Hospitals, airports, train and bus stations, banks, hotels, motels and other
businesses where Morgenson may have traveled have been contacted.
Backcountry permit issuing stations for the Pacific Crest Trail from the
Mexican border to the park have been queried for information on who may have
been traveling on the trail in the Bench Lake area around the time of
Morgenson's disappearance. Several other leads have been or are currently
being investigated. [Randy Coffman, SEKI]
96-479 - San Juan Island (Washington) - Shipwreck; Fuel Spill
On the morning of August 16th, the 65-foot commercial fishing boat "Kansas"
was struck by another vessel in Griffin Bay just off shore from the park's
American Camp unit. The stern portion of the boat was ripped off and its
twin 350-gallon fuel tanks ruptured. All crew members were rescued by other
boats before it sank in 40 feet of water. The Islands Oil Spill Association
(IOSA) deployed booms to contain the leaking fuel, but strong winds and rough
seas made them only somewhat effective. Brisk westerly winds kept the diesel
fuel away from the park shoreline, but drove it ashore on nearby private
property. Although divers were able to plug the leaking fuel tanks by 6
p.m., it was too late to prevent most of the fuel from seeping into the
ocean. The remaining fuel was pumped from the tanks the following evening.
Park staff assisted IOSA, the Coast Guard and the county sheriff's department
with cleanup efforts and will continue to monitor park shoreline for diesel
fuel. [CRO, SAJH]
96-480 - Big South Fork (Kentucky/Tennessee) - Car Clout Arrest
Interpretive ranger Renn Strunk reported a suspicious vehicle leaving the
Blue Heron complex just minutes before a reported car clout on August 18th.
The description matched that of a vehicle suspected in a car clout in the
Daniel Boone NF which had occurred two hours previously. The vehicle was
found just outside the park. Rangers Mike King, Frank Hicks and Tom Barnes
investigation led to the arrest of two adults and a juvenile. A continuing
investigation in conjunction with Kentucky state police and the Forest
Service had linked the trio with two additional suspects in at least six car
clouts in and around the park. Additional charges are being investigated for
credit card fraud and larceny. Over $2,000 in stolen property and $1,000
worth of property bought with stolen credit cards has so far been recovered.
[Frank Graham, CR, BISO]
96-481 - Yosemite (California) - Suicide
On the morning of August 7th, maintenance employees discovered some personal
items sitting on the railing at Glacier Point with a note attached which
said: "At the bottom of this hill lies a big, big man - Big John." Rangers
were summoned to the scene and found other handwritten messages in the
property which indicated that J.D. of Fresno intended to end his life by
jumping over the edge. A search of the ledges about 1,000 feet below the
point led to the discovery of his remains. A climbing team rappelled to the
ledges the next day and recovered the remains of the 300-pound victim. A
positive identification was made by taking a fingerprint and comparing it
with the thumbprint on J.D.'s license on file with DMV in Sacramento. [Dan
Horner, CI, YOSE]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level V
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
% Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 8/20 8/21 Con Con
CA Sequoia/Kings Can. NP Kaweah T1 4,179 4,179 70 8/21
Yosemite NP Ackerson Cx T2 14,382 13,700 5 NEC
Stanislaus NF Rogge T2 22,000 23,200 81 8/22
San Luis Obispo RU Highway 58 ST1 69,500 69,500 45 8/22
Sequoia NF Chalolo -- 300 300 40 NR
Mendocino NF Fork T1 70,000 75,000 20 NEC
Shasta-Trinity NF Rock T2 1,687 1,687 90 8/21
Butcher -- 450 446 80 8/21
East Fork -- 150 155 50 NEC
Morris -- 160 400 20 NEC
OR Umatilla NF Bull Cx T2 8,000 6,903 40 NEC
Tower T2 5,000 4,800 10 NEC
Malheur NF Wildcat T1 10,530 10,655 68 8/25
Ochoco NF Ochoco Cx T2 1,170 NR NR NR
Wallowa-Whitman NF Salt Cx T1 56,125 56,125 0 8/22
State Hog Valley -- 350 NR NR NR
Willamette NF South Zone Cx T2 3,003 3,029 70 8/25
Umpqua NF Spring T2 2,700 2,900 70 8/26
North Umpqua -- 358 390 80 8/21
Warm Springs Agency Simnasho T1 109,094 109,094 100 CND
WA Spokane Agency Blue Creek T2 550 550 100 CND
NV Elko District Shoemake -- 18,000 18,500 85 8/21
* Horsethief -- - 500 0 8/22
Toiyabe NF Sun -- 450 450 NR 8/19
MT Nez Perce NF Swet/Warrior T2 29,200 29,200 0 NEC
State Powderville Cx T2 66,000 66,000 100 CND
Miles City District Colbert -- 1,250 NR NR NR
N. Cheyenne Agency * Scarface II -- - 800 70 8/21
UT Cedar City District Paiute -- 1,345 1,345 100 CND
Cunningham -- 3,000 10,000 0 NEC
State Hickman -- 400 NR NR NR
* Sarah -- - 500 NR NR
ID Boise District * Three Creek Well -- - 10,000 NR NR
Salmon/Challis NF * Stoddard -- - 750 50 NEC
CO Mesa Verde NP Chapin #5 T2 2,500 4,700 30 NEC
Grand Jct. District Sink Creek T2 340 340 90 8/21
Shoshone NF * Dano T2 - 400 NR NR
AZ Kaibab NF Saddle -- 400 400 100 CND
State Hot Spot -- 350 305 80 8/19
AL Alabama Nfs * Car -- - 240 100 CND
AK Statewide 16 fires -- 419,659 419,109 -- NSS
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; LPS = limited
protection status
NPS FIRE NARRATIVES
Chapin #5 Fire, Mesa Verde - The fire was very active yesterday, burning on
its south and north ends. Fire line was constructed from the south end to
north of the Far View complex. The Park Point lookout is now threatened.
Lack of anchor points, good safety zones and escape routes, and poor access
are making containment and control of the east flank difficult.
Kaweah Fire, Sequoia-Kings Canyon/Tulare Ranger Unit - Control efforts
continue to be hindered by steep terrain and inaccessibility. Secretary
Babbitt flew to the park last night and will be on line fighting the fire
today.
Ackerson Complex, Yosemite - All fires were active yesterday. Line
construction was slowed by dense fuels and rugged terrain.
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Saturday, 8/17 0 6 24 4 71 86 191
Sunday, 8/18 4 8 33 0 23 64 132
Monday, 8/19 1 5 25 0 50 40 121
Tuesday, 8/20 0 12 22 0 51 42 127
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Saturday, 8/17 722 1,070 171 43 3,513
Sunday, 8/18 647 842 159 35 3,436
Monday, 8/19 616 1,110 153 30 3,624
Tuesday, 8/20 650 1,023 164 38 3,958
CURRENT SITUATION
Several areas reported moderate initial attack activity yesterday. Type II
teams were dispatched to the eastern Great Basin and Rocky Mountains.
Firefighters made significant progress on many large fires throughout the
West. Resource mobilization through NICC remained steady.
NATIONAL OUTLOOK
Montana and northern Wyoming will have scattered showers and a few
thunderstorms. Monsoon moisture will produce thunderstorms with rain in
southern Colorado, New Mexico and eastern Arizona. Isolated and drier
thunderstorms are forecast for western Arizona, southeast Utah and western
Colorado. It will be sunny and a little warmer along the West coast from
Washington to California. Very warm and dry air will cover Nevada and much
of Utah.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/21; Doug Erskine, NPS, NIFC]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No submissions.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
EXCHANGE
Pesticides/Herbicides - Ulysses S Grant is looking for SOPs for dealing with
park neighbors who spray pesticides and/or herbicides which either drift or
are actually sprayed on to park property. If you can help, contact Lisa
Lawrence at NP--MWR.
Feral Hogs - Big Thicket very much appreciates all the information sent along
in response to their request for info on feral hogs. Unfortunately, they
lost all of it when their cc:Mail post office crashed. They'd greatly
appreciate it if you would resend any information. Contact chief ranger Bob
Appling at NP-BITH or call him at 409-839-2689 x 227.
[Editor's note: A third "Exchange" item was submitted but misplaced. If you
are the sender, please try again...]
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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