- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, June 2, 1997
- Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Monday, June 2, 1997
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
97-200 - Capitol Reef NP (UT) - Follow-up on Discovery of Human Remains
Human remains found by a contract survey crew on May 14th have been
identified as those of J.J., a California hunter who was reported lost
in the area on October 23, 1971. According to the former sheriff who led the
search and investigation more than 25 years ago, J.J., who was 70 years old
at the time, disappeared during an intense storm that dropped two feet of
snow in the area. J.J. was found in a rugged, remote area about seven miles
from where he was last seen. He had built a primitive shelter, and his
wallet, rifle, coin purse and other items were found nearby. A quarter-
century's worth of duff, six inches deep, had buried half his body. The
remains were delivered to the state medical examiner's office. Family
members are relieved to have the mystery solved, and are planning a trip to
the site. [Tom Cox, CR, CARE, 5/30]
97-218 - Badlands NP (SD)- Follow-up on Employee Murders
The funeral for ranger Darrin Harvey, who was killed in a double homicide
over the Memorial Day weekend, will be held today at 10 a.m. at the high
school gym in Interior, South Dakota. Interment will follow in Kadoka, South
Dakota. A memorial service will be held for the second victim, secretary
Wiebke Marks, on Wednesday at the school in Scenic, South Dakota. She will
be cremated and her ashes will be scattered. The CISD team sent to the park
has contacted all park staff; half the team departed the park on Saturday,
the remaining members will stay until Wednesday evening or Thursday morning
in order to provide any support needed after the two services. Arrangements
have been made for follow-up support with a mental health professional in
Rapid City. Additional details will follow as soon as they are available.
[John Townsend, MWRO, 5/30]
97-227 - Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P (AK) - Bear Mauling
On May 20th, Kristen Bartecchi, a 26-year-old biologist with USGS's
Biological Resources Division, was bitten numerous times by a grizzly bear.
Bartecchi was conducting a bird study along the McCarthy road with her
partner, Dan Ruthrauff, when they encountered the bear. Ruthrauff first
encountered bear when he heard it woofing and popping its teeth; he never saw
the grizzly, but continued to hear and see it move through the bushes and
accordingly backed out to the road. He then honked the car horn, a pre-
arranged signal to meet at the car. Bartecchi encountered the bear about 15
minutes later. She was not armed, but had time to draw her bear mace as she
simultaneously talked to and backed away from the bear. The grizzly charged
from a distance of about 10 meters. Bartecchi sprayed the bear continuously
for several seconds, then twice more during the attack before losing the
spray. She received bite injuries to the left side of her head and the base
of her skull, then to her left shoulder, left arm and left hip as she tried
to get away from the bear. When she reached some alder trees, the bear broke
off the attack. Bartecchi then walked about a half mile to the road, where
she was met by Ruthrauff, who drove her to Chitina for emergency treatment.
She was then taken by ambulance to Glenallen. Her injuries are not life-
threatening. This is the first time a government employee has been injured
by a bear in the park, and only the second bear injury incident ever recorded
at Wrangell-St. Elias. [Tom Betts, WRST, 5/30]
97-228 - Kenai Fjords NP (AK) - Boat-Whale Accident
On the afternoon of May 29th, the 95-foot tour boat Glacier Explorer collided
with a humpback whale. The vessel, with 115 passengers and four crew
members, was traveling south at 22 knots from the Aialik Bay area of the park
to the Chiswell Islands when the whale surfaced unexpectedly almost directly
ahead of the ship. Although the skipper immediately swerved and throttled
back, the fiberglass vessel rode up slightly on the whale, and a two-foot by
three-foot stabilizer fin was broken away from the bottom of the hull.
Initial reports (later determined to be unfounded) were that the vessel was
taking on water, so the Coast Guard launched a C-130 and rescue helicopter;
other vessels in the area also responded. The skipper steered the vessel
close to Harbor Island, and all passengers donned lifejackets and were staged
at emergency stations. The crew then determined that the hull was intact and
the vessel returned to Seward under its own power. Another tour boat that
responded to the scene reported that the whale continued to feed in the area
and displayed no unusual behavior. The Coast Guard Marine Safety Office
investigated the accident. At the request of the National Marine Fisheries
Service, chief ranger Peter Fitzmaurice investigated for possible Marine
Mammal Protection Act violations. No fault has been found on the part of the
skipper or the vessel. [CRO, KEFJ, 5/30]
97-229 - Golden Gate NRA (CA) - Assault on Officer
At midnight on May 30th, officer Dan Firce was about to leave the USPP field
office parking lot following the completion of his tour of duty when a man on
a bicycle - subsequently identified as J.A. of Fraser, Colorado -
stopped in front of him and began making accusations at the officer. When
Firce tried to drive around him, J.A. struck his car. Firce got out and
was immediately challenged to a fight. Firce identified himself as an
officer, but to no avail; J.A. struck him several times, one blow
landing on his cheek. Other officers responded from the station and helped
subdue J.A., who smelled of alcohol. J.A. was charged with assault
on a police officer and disorderly conduct and booked on an outstanding
warrant. It's not known why he came to the station, as Firce had had no
prior contact with him. Nor is there any indication that J.A. had ever
been contacted by any other Park Police officers. [Lt. Kevin Hay, USPP,
GOGA, 5/31]
97-230 - Statue of Liberty NM (NY) - Probable Suicide
E.M.D., 30, of Senegal, apparently jumped to his death from the
observation deck on the statue's pedestal just after 5 p.m. on May 31st. He
fell about 100 feet to the Fort Wood level of the monument, and still
displayed vital signs when park EMTs arrived on scene. He was medevaced to a
hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
There were few visitors in the park at the time, as it was about to close for
the day, but all indications are that the jump was intentional. Although
E.M.D. is believed to have been a resident of the United States, documents on
his person indicate that he was born in Senegal. Investigators believe that
he was a homeless transient in the area. [Diana Simpson, STLI, via Dispatch,
SHEN, 5/31]
97-231 - National Capital Parks Central (DC) - Attempted Abduction
A woman attempted to abduct a nine-year-old boy while he and his classmates
were on a field trip to the National Museum of Natural History on the morning
of May 29th. The woman grabbed the boy and told him to come with her, but he
was able to pull his hand free and run to a chaperon. The woman, who was in
her twenties, disappeared into the crowd. The boy was not hurt and was able
to help USPP investigators prepare a composite picture of the woman. The
investigation continues. [Bill Lynch, RLES, NCR, 5/30]
97-232 - Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP (TN/GA) - MVA with Fatality
J.W., 81, was fatally injured on the evening of May 28th when his
northbound vehicle crossed the centerline of U.S. 27 within the park and
struck a southbound vehicle head-on. The operator of the southbound vehicle,
Teresa Swiger, sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. Witnesses
said that the J.W. vehicle had drifted across the centerline and into on-
coming traffic, and that the brakes had never been applied. J.W. had a
history of heart ailments. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the
cause of death. The heavily-used highway was closed for over an hour. [Sam
Weddle, CR, CHCH, 5/30]
97-233 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Falling Fatality
R.H., six, of California, died of a head injury incurred in a fall
near Dewey's Beach near Katherine Landing on the afternoon of May 31st. The
girl was playing with her brother and sister when the cliff face, eroded by
wind and high water levels, collapsed on her. CPR was begun and she was
taken to a hospital in Bullhead City, where she died from the injuries she'd
sustained. [Grace Gerken, Dispatch Supervisor, LAME, 6/1]
97-234 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Drowning
On the afternoon of June 1st, rangers were notified of a possible drowning at
South Telephone Cove near Katherine's Landing. A 26-year-old male from
Bullhead City had been hiking and decided to swim from shore to an island
about 50 feet out into the lake. He started struggling, yelled for help,
then disappeared under the water. A friend swam out to help him, but had to
let go of the victim. Bystanders helped recover the victim and began CPR.
When rangers arrived, CPR had already been terminated. The victim was fully
clothed when recovered. This was the twelfth fatality to occur in the park
so far this year. [Grace Gerken, Dispatch Supervisor, LAME, 6/1]
97-235 - Upper Delaware S&RR (NY/PA) - Drug Arrest
Ranger Kevin Reish contacted and detained J.C. on May 24th for
fishing without a license. During the process of verifying his identity,
Reish determined that J.C. was wanted by the state of Maryland for
failure to appear on charges of drug possession, use and sales and driving
while intoxicated. A search of his person led to the discovery of marijuana,
hallucinogens, and false identification. He was turned over to state police
and is awaiting extradition to Maryland. [Glenn Voss, CR, UPDE, 5/28]
97-236 - Rock Creek Park (DC) - Body Found
A motorist discovered the body of a 55-year-old male in the area of Beach
Drive under Calvert Street a few minutes before midnight on May 29th.
Preliminary indications are that the man took his life by jumping from the
Calvert Street bridge. USPP and city officers are investigating. [Bill
Lynch, RLES, NCR, 5/30]
[Additional reports pending...]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Sat Sun % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 5/31 6/1 Con Con
CA Yosemite NP * Kibbie - 112 112 100 CND
Inyo NF * Tower II - 529 NR NR NR
AZ State * Kuykendall - 250 250 0 6/1
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
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FIVE DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Wednesday, 5/28 0 10 2 0 67 22 101
Thursday, 5/29 0 2 2 0 35 12 51
Friday, 5/30 0 1 6 0 43 7 57
Saturday, 5/31 0 1 1 0 33 11 46
Sunday, 6/1 0 12 1 0 41 13 67
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FIVE DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Wednesday, 5/28 9 6 7 0 2
Thursday, 5/29 9 20 9 1 0
Friday, 5/30 6 24 9 1 9
Saturday, 5/31 5 18 6 1 2
Sunday, 6/1 3 7 4 0 2
CURRENT SITUATION
Large fire activity continued in southern California and the Southwest on
Sunday. High to extreme fire dangers prevail in both areas. Minor to
moderate fire activity was reported elsewhere.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/2]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No submissions.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No submissions.
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
EXCHANGE
No submissions.
MEETINGS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS CALENDAR
Two calendars alternate in the Morning Report on Mondays - this one, which
contains meetings, conferences and events, and a second, which contains
workshops and training courses. If you know of a conference, meeting,
workshop or training session with Servicewide interest and implications,
please send the information along. Entries are listed no earlier than FOUR
months before the event, EXCEPT in instances in which registration dates
close much earlier. Asterisks indicate new entries; brackets at end of entry
indicate source of information. Brevity is appreciated.
6/7 -- National Trails Day. Contact: National Trails Day Events, 301-
565-6714 (fax). [Tim Goddard, WASO]
6/9-15 -- Meeting, American Institute for Conservation of Historic and
Artistic Works, San Diego, CA. Contact: 202-452-9545. [Diane
Vogt O'Connor, DCA/WASO]
6/13-14 -- 25th Anniversary Celebration, Buffalo National River, Harrison,
AR. The park is trying to reach as many former employees as
possible. For information on events, send a cc:Mail message to
BUFF Administration with the words "Reply to Sender" (no quotes)
on the title line; no message text is needed. A reply will
automatically be sent. [John Linahan, Superintendent, BUFF]
6/23-24* -- Emergency Preparedness for Museums Conference, Elvehjem Museum,
Madison, WI. Contact: Pam Richardson, 608-263-3722. [Diane Vogt
O'Connor, DCA/WASO]
6/25-27 -- "Interpreting Edison," conference, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
and Edison NHS, West Orange, NJ. The interpretation of Thomas A.
Edison's life and work will be examined by academic scholars, at
museums and historic sites, and in the classroom. Contact:
Leonard DeGraaf, EDIS, 201-736-0550, ext 22. [Leonard DeGraaf]
7/16-19* -- Annual Meeting, National Association of Government Archivists and
Records Administrators, Sacramento, CA. Contact: NAGARA, 518-
463-8644. [Diane Vogt O'Connor, DCA/WASO]
8/1-8 -- 31st Meeting, Appalachian Trail Conference, Bethel, ME. Contact:
Appalachian Trail Conference, 304-535-6068. [Tim Goddard, WASO]
8/2* -- 50th Anniversary, Theodore Roosevelt NP, ND. Speakers at the
ceremony at Painted Canyon will include the governor, a senator
and Theodore Roosevelt IV. All former THRO employees are invited
to attend. Camping space is available in the new Roundup Horse
camp. There will be a no-host breakfast for current and former
employees on Sunday morning. Contact: Superintendent Noel Poe,
at 701-623-4466. [Noel Poe, THRO]
8/25-31* -- 61st Annual Meeting, Society of American Archivists, Fairmont
Hotel, Chicago, IL. Contact: Call SAA, 312-922-0140. [Diane
Vogt O'Connor, DCA/WASO]
9/25-26* -- Meeting, Oral History Association, Royal Sonesta Hotel, New
Orleans, LA. Contact: Call 817-755-2764, or send e-mail to
OHA_Support@Baylor.edu. [Diane Vogt O'Connor, DCA/WASO]
9/25-29 -- Second World Congress, International Ranger Federation, San Jose,
Costa Rica. Registration is $600 per person for double occupancy
and $850 for single occupancy in a four-star hotel; the fee
includes six nights' lodging, all meals and tips, transportation
to and from the airport, and transportation for the field trips
to several nearby Costa Rican national parks. Congress
organizers are asking that those planning to attend register in
advance - even with a partial payment. Payment can be made by
VISA or Master Card. Contact: Lyn Rothgeb, Congress registrar,
730 East Main Street, Luray, VA 22835; 540-743-1775 (fax and
phone). [Bill Wade, SHEN]
* * * * *
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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