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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, August 4, 1999
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Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 09:15:08 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, August 4, 1999
INCIDENTS
99-407 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Search; Apparent Homicide/Suicide
Rangers began a search for B.B., 36, of Tacoma, and his seven-year-old
son N.B. on Sunday, August 1st. B.B. and his son left Tacoma the
previous Thursday to camp in the park. They were due to return to Tacoma on
Saturday, when N.B. was scheduled to fly home to his mother in K.B.,
Texas. She called the park on Sunday morning and reported the pair missing.
Rangers found B.B.'s vehicle parked near the Christine Falls bridge later in
the morning. Search teams combed the area between the vehicle and the Cougar
Rock campground. B.B.'s body was found about 150 yards downstream from the
falls; his son's body was found a day later in Van Trump Creek. Two rambling
notes written by Billy B.B. were found which indicated his intention to take
his son's life and his own life. Preliminary investigation indicates that
this is a homicide/suicide. Media interest has been very high. Ranger David
Langley is the lead investigator, and is being assisted by FBI agents. Randy
Brooks is IC for the incident. [Maria Gillett, PIO, MORA, 8/2]
99-408 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Search Suspended
A five-day search for a hiker missing since July 8th was suspended on July
19th. The park was notified on July 14th that J.W., 34, of New York
City, was missing and that he might be hiking in the park. His rental car
was found at Longmire. A hasty search of the area was conducted that day.
The next morning, searchers established the point where he'd been last seen
based on information received from a hiker who'd seen J.W.'s picture in a
Seattle newspaper. The search was accordingly shifted to the Mildred Point
trail, a spur off the popular Rampart Ridge trail. An intensive search was
begun which employed scent dogs, bloodhounds, a helicopter, and ground teams.
The search was suspended due to the lack of clues. Near record snowfall and
a late thaw contributed to dangers in the area, which included many cliffs
and numerous snow bridges and snow holes over rivers, streams, and
waterfalls. Evidence indicated that J.W. was not carrying food, water or
extra clothing, and he was not known to have had much wilderness experience.
Additional searches will be conducted after more snow has melted from the
backcountry. J.W. had been attending the Unity99 conference in Seattle, a
large conference of minority journalists which had been addressed by the vice
president and several presidential candidates. Media and political interest
was high throughout the search and a large number of friends and family
members came to the park while it was underway. Many of his friends and
associates are reporters for major media outlets, which added to the
complexity and number of calls the park received. [Maria Gillett, PIO, MORA,
7/19]
99-409 - Gulf Islands NS (FL/MS) - Special Event
The sixth annual "Boaters' Rendezvous and Blessing of the Recreational
Fleet" was held at Ship Island on Sunday, July 18th. The rendezvous has
turned into a huge annual party, which goes by the many nicknames of
Blow-out, Beach Bash, and Mardi Gras on the Water. This year there were over
900 boats anchored along a half-mile stretch of beach, with an estimated
9,000 to 10,000 people in attendance. The sponsors brought in two barges
hooked together with a large stage and a professional sound system. A
popular band played throughout the day, interspersed with men's and women's
bathing suit contests, a hula hoop contest, and a blessing by the bishop of
the Catholic diocese. The event has gained in popularity throughout the
years, and draws thousands intent on partying, drinking and revelry. The
public safety aspect of the event was managed under ICS, with five agencies
participating under a unified command. The agency incident commanders stayed
together at the ICP and jointly made all major decisions. The operations
section was organized into functional branches, with branch directors
assigned from the participating agencies. Personnel from the participating
agencies received assignments and direction from their branch directors,
regardless of agency affiliation. A total of nine arrests were made for
various infractions during the incident, including public intoxication,
boating under the influence, reckless boat operation, disorderly conduct and
spousal assault. Personnel responded to three fights, two emergency medical
evacuations, lots of minor injuries, a fuel leak, one capsized boat, one
swamped boat, one stolen boat and one search for two individuals who were so
drunk they fell off their boat when returning to the mainland (the other
people in the boat were so drunk they didn't realize they'd lost their
companions until they reached land). Seventy-three separate incidents were
managed during the course of the permitted event. One hundred thirty three
people were involved in the public safety incident, along with twenty five
boats, three ATV's and two helicopters. Agencies included the Coast Guard,
the Mississippi Marine Patrol, Harrison County Sheriff's Department, American
Medical Response and the National Park Service. [Mark Lewis, DR, GUIS, 7/19]
99-410 - Crater Lake NP (OR) - Search and Rescue
On Monday, July 19th, G.E. became lost while attempting to backpack
the Pacific Crest trail with a group of seven companions. The group departed
from Annie Springs with the intention of traveling south through the Sky
Lakes wilderness in the Winema and Rogue River National Forests. G.E.
became separated from his group after stopping to rest and was subsequently
unable to find the planned route. His companions looked for him until 9
p.m., then alerted rangers via cell phone. A search team found him at 1 p.m.
the following afternoon on the Stewart Falls trail, approximately two miles
from the point where he became separated from his group. G.E. traveled a
total of almost ten miles on adjoining trails before returning to the area
where rangers found him. A good deal of snow from this winter's heavy
snowfall remains in the park's backcountry. Snow-covered trails and lack of
a map and adequate compass contributed to G.E. losing his way. He was
otherwise well equipped for backcountry travel and an overnight stay, and was
in good condition when found. [Dan Jacobs, DR, CRLA, 7/20]
99-411 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Rescue
On the evening of July 14th, rangers David Smith and John Evans were
contacted at the Cottonwood residence area by a German visitor who reported
that his friend D.H., 22, had fallen 50 feet and broken his ankle.
The incident occurred at Lost Palms Oasis, a four mile hike from the nearest
trailhead. Smith, who is an EMT, hiked in and found that D.H. was in
stable condition and had a compound fracture to his right ankle and multiple
lacerations and abrasions. Due to his stable condition, flash flood damage
to the trail, the moonless night, the 200-foot high-angle technical rescue
that would be required, and the unavailability of a helicopter, the rescue
was postponed until first light. Smith spent the night with D.H.,
monitoring his condition. A county helicopter equipped with a hoist short-
hauled D.H. out in the morning. He was then taken to Desert Hospital in
Palm Springs, where he underwent surgery for the fracture. [Judy Bartzatt,
CR, JOTR, 7/19]
99-412 - Gulf Islands NS (FL/MS) - Drug Arrests
Ranger Ben Hansel was off duty near his residence outside the park on July
20th when he saw two personal watercraft (PWC's) being operated recklessly in
a no wake zone. The two operators - later identified as M.R.,
21, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a 17-year-old juvenile - were not wearing
lifejackets and almost struck two other vessels. Hansel called an Escambia
County deputy sheriff and asked to meet him at a nearby ramp where the
vessels had been launched. When the duo saw the deputy's vehicle, they ran
the PWC's onto shore, then fled on foot into a wooded area. Hansel found the
watercraft and ran the hull numbers through the communications center. Both
PWC's were reported stolen. Hansel and the deputy then tracked the suspects
to a nearby house. Another stolen PWC was discovered on a flatbed trailer
attached to a Ford Explorer. M.R. was found hiding in the attic of the
home. A joint investigation by the park, Escambia County Sheriff's Office,
and the Florida Marine Patrol resulted in the seizure of 4,500 valium
tablets - the largest seizure of schedule III narcotics ever in Escambia
County. Six people were arrested, including the juvenile. One of the
females who was arrested had three active felony warrants against her from
Louisiana. Also seized were four ounces of powdered cocaine and several
packages of marijuana estimated at a value of at least $30,000, a .45 caliber
semi-automatic handgun, and drug paraphernalia. All three stolen vessels and
the Ford Explorer and trailer were also seized. The Florida Marine Patrol
reported that this incident involves a larger vessel theft ring under
investigation in Louisiana. The incident received extensive coverage by the
local news media. [Skip Prange, District Ranger, Florida District, GUIS
7/29]
99-413 - Isle Royale NP (MI) - Diving Fatality
The park received an urgent call from a chartered commercial dive boat moored
near a shipwreck off the shore of Isle Royale at 1:40 p.m. on July 30th. The
caller reported that there was an unconscious diver aboard who might have
suffered an air embolism. D.V.D. of Baldwin, Wisconsin, and
partner Rick Funk had completed a 100-foot dive to the bow of the sunken ship
Congdon. D.V.D. signaled his intention to ascend just ten minutes into
the dive. At a depth of around 60 feet, Funk saw D.V.D. sink past him
toward the bottom. Funk swam back down and found D.V.D. unconscious and
with his regulator out of his mouth. He grabbed D.V.D. and made an
emergency ascent to the surface. Others on the boat began CPR. Ranger Kyle
McDowell arrived on scene and transferred D.V.D. to his boat. CPR was
continued during the trip to a waiting helicopter ambulance on Mott Island,
where D.V.D. was pronounced dead by paramedics. IC for the incident was
East District DR Bill Munsey. [Peter Armington, CR, ISRO, 8/2]
99-414 - Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - Drowning
D.L., 43, of Roosevelt, Utah, drowned while swimming near the beach
camping area at Bullfrog on the afternoon of July 12th. D.L. was a chaperon
for a Boy Scout group that had just arrived. He was attempting to swim to an
island about 40 yards offshore when he began struggling, turned around to
return to shore, then disappeared. Members of the group found him near the
shoreline in six feet of water and began CPR. Rangers Dave Walton, Steve
Luckesen and John Waterman began advanced life support efforts upon arrival.
D.L. was flown to the Bullfrog Clinic by helicopter, where he was pronounced
dead. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 7/21]
99-415 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Drowning
A park maintenance worker spotted a body floating face down under the Deep
Creek bridge on the afternoon of July 16th. Moments later, a second person
was seen in distress at the same location. Two Swain County EMS units
responded along with rangers from Deep Creek, Twenty-Mile and Oconaluftee.
The second person, an adult male, was pulled from the creek and reported to
be okay. The first person, later identified as M.W., 80, of
Statesville, North Carolina, was retrieved from the water by maintenance
workers and rangers. CPR was begun and her vital signs returned, but she
subsequently died at a local hospital. Both victims were using rental tubes
from vendors from outside the park. Rangers received reports that as many as
three other tubers also experienced difficulties. The water level at the
time was slightly higher than normal, but not unusually so. [Jason Houck,
CR, GRSM, 7/19]
99-416 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - MVA with Fatalities
On July 20th, 37-year-old D.G. of Hohenwald, Tennessee, was killed
in a one-vehicle accident at milepost 388. The driver of the vehicle, 16-
year-old J.M., also of Hohenwald, died the following evening from
injuries suffered in the accident. J.M. was driving a 1991 GMC truck at 70
miles per hour when an animal ran into the truck's path. He swerved to miss
it and lost control; the truck rolled four times, and both D.g. and J.M.
were ejected. Neither was wearing a seatbelt. A third occupant - Robert
Robbins, also of Hohenwald - had his seatbelt on and survived. [Robert
Winkles, Acting CR, NATR, 7/22]
99-417 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - MVA with Fatality
P.M., 40, of las Vegas, Nevada, lost control of his motorcycle on
Lake Mead Boulevard and went off the road just before 4 a.m. on July 21st.
He was flown to a city hospital, where he was pronounced dead. State police
are investigating. [Dispatch, LAME, 7/22]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II
LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY
Sun Mon % Est
State Unit Fire/Incident IMT 8/1 8/2 Con Con
MT Gallatin NF Six Mile T2 1,134 1,134 80 8/4
Lewis and Clark NF Spring Creek T2 564 564 100 CND
Bitterroot NF Devil Storm T2 1,400 1,400 100 CND
ID Salmon/Challis NF Soldier FUM 1,959 2,029 0 UNK
* Texas Creek -- - 1,600 100 CND
S. Cent. Idaho Area Shoshone Basin -- 515 515 100 CND
* Lone Cedar 1 -- - 300 80 8/3
NV Winnemucca FO Martin -- 400 485 100 CND
OR Burns District Weed Lake Butte -- 250 1,179 0 8/2
Deschutes NF * Cache Creek T2 - 100 UNK UNK
CA Los Padres NF * Canyon -- - 180 UNK UNK
FL Florida NF's Bill Branch -- 227 227 93 UNK
Heading Notes
Unit Agency or Area Office = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA
state resource or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; FO =
BLM field office; 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 I Team; T2 = Type II Team; T3 = Type III Team; ST =
State Team; FUM = Fire Use Management Team
% Con Percent of fire contained; UNK = unknown; NR = no report
Est Con Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report
NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Friday, 7/30 1 113 8 1 104 42 269
Saturday, 7/31 1 5 6 0 58 31 101
Sunday, 8/1 3 1 19 0 51 42 116
Monday, 8/2 1 23 12 4 333 151 524
TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND)
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Friday, 7/30 113 181 49 6 520
Saturday, 7/31 128 161 47 6 819
Sunday, 8/1 132 162 56 4 790
Monday, 8/2 111 214 67 7 626
CURRENT SITUATION
Initial attack increased on Monday in the northern Rockies and the Northwest.
Smoke jumper demands have increased in the Northwest, northern Rockies and
Great Basin. New large fires were reported in the Northwest, Great Basin and
southern California. Substantial progress was made on fires in the Rockies,
Northwest and Great Basin.
High to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, Washington, California,
Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, Utah, Nevada, South Dakota, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/3]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION
Reports pending...
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Reports pending...
MEMORANDA
Reports pending...
INTERCHANGE
No entries.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Reports pending...
* * * * *
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
pertaining to receipt of 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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