RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Thursday, March 16, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-47 - Gulf Islands - MVA with Fatality

On the afternoon of March 11th, a motorcycle collided with a car on Fort
Pickens Road. The motorcyclist, 19-year-old E.R. of Gulf Breeze,
Florida, was thrown from his bike and received a severe head injury. He was
placed on life support systems, but died on the afternoon of the 13th.
(Carl Christensen, CR, GUTS, via Bill Sturgeon, FAD/SERO).

89-48 - Natchez Trace - MVA with Fatality

On the morning of March 10th, K.A.B., 25, of Jackson, Mississippi,
lost control of her car and hit a tree broadside near milepost 338 in
Tennessee. She died of her injuries that afternoon. Investigators believe
that she fell asleep at the wheel of her car. (Pat Reed, CR, NATR, via Bill
Sturgeon, RAD/SERO).

89-49 - Valley Forge - MVA with Fatality

On the evening of March 12th, a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old female hit a
guard rail and tree on County Line Road. The 17-year-old male passenger
in the vehicle died in the accident. No further information currently
available. (Steve Alscher, RAD/MARO).

89-50 - Petrified Forest - Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle

On March 12th, local police pursued a stolen vehicle into the park until it
crashed at Puerco Bridge. During the chase, speeds at times reached 115
mph. The vehicle was occupied by a man, woman and child. The woman and
child were taken into custody at the scene; the man fled on foot but was
later taken into custody by park rangers in an abandoned dwelling in Apache
County. No injuries were sustained, and there was no damage to park
property. (Ed Gastellum, superintendent, PEFO, via Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).

FIRE ACTIVITY

Guadalupe Mountains:

McKittrick Fire (approximately 3,000 acres) - The fire broke out on private
land immediately adjacent to the park on Tuesday morning and quickly spread
into Guadalupe Mountains and nearby Forest Service and BLM lands. The fire
was fought aggressively from the outset, but extremely dry fuels and wind
gusts of up to 50 mph rapidly pushed the fire to 1,000 acres. As of 8:45
EST this morning, the fire had burned about 700 acres within the park.
Although there were initial threats to McKittrick Canyon, an area which
contains fragile riparian habitat and threatened and endangered species,
successful air tanker drops have kept the fire out of the canyon, and it is
unlikely that the canyon will again be threatened. At present, fire
activity is occurring predominantly on Camp Wilderness Ridge, which is on
the park's boundary with the Lincoln National Forest north of McKittrick
Canyon. About 300 firefighters and a Type II incident management team are
on scene, and three air tankers and four helicopters have been committed.
Fire activity in the area is expected to increase today, with winds and
warmer temperatures forecast. (Karen Wade, superintendent, GJuMO; NIFFC
Situation Report).

STAFF STATUS

Dabney on annual leave; Ringgold acting division chief.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
FTS 343-4874/4875 or 202-343-4874/4875