RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date:  Wednesday, April 26, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-59 - Kenai Fjords/Katmai/Aniakchak - Follow-up on Oil Spill

As of yesterday, oil had been reported along the Katmai coast as far south
as Missak Bay, generally in the form of tar balls and mousse. Poor weather
in the area - rain, gale warnings, and seas to 18 feet - hampered oil
tracking and resource assessment work. One vessel working along the Katmai
coast was to return to Homer yesterday if weather permitted; two other boats
are awaiting better weather to continue work there. Another boat is
completing fish and intertidal surveys in Aniakchak Bay. The booms in James
and McCarty Lagoons in Kenai Fjords remain damaged; repair depends on the
arrival of materials. Overflights found high southeast winds pushing mousse
and sheen into bays on the southern shore of lower Kenai Peninsula,
including beaches at Gore Point. No oil has been seen north of English Bay
on the peninsula. The weather prevented skimming operations in Nuka Passage
which were planned for the 23rd. The Coast Guard has deployed 35 fishing
vessels from Kodiak to spot and attempt to catch oil approaching Kodiak
Island and the Katmai coast. Two fishing vessels have been deployed near
Cape Douglas with 3,000 feet of boom to react to oil sightings. The staff
of the Senate Energy Committee plans to visit Kenai Fjords on the 28th.
(Boyd Evison, RD, ARO; Dave Ames, ARD, ARO; John Quinley, PA, ARO).

89-76 - Indiana Dunes - Homicide

On the morning of the 24th, the partially disrobed body of a male in his
mid-twenties was discovered near the park's West Beach maintenance area by
children walking to a school bus stop. The victim had multiple knife wounds
in the back and on his chest and neck; there were no obvious signs of a
struggle or defensive marks on the body. It is not known whether the
incident occurred in the park of if the victim's body was dropped there.
The case is being investigated by the Porter County coroner with the
assistance of the park and the Portage Police Department. (Joni Jones,
INDD, via John Townsend, RAD/MWRO).

89-77 - Great Smokies - Bomb Threat

A young man called the Oconaluftee ranger office at 9 a.m. on the 17th to
report that a bomb had been placed in a park building and was set to go off.
The park immediately initiated a standard bomb search of park buildings and
evacuated the visitor centers and major office buildings. About a half hour
later, the man called again and said that the detonation time was set for
just after 11 a.m. No bomb was found. FBI offices in both North Carolina
and Tennessee are investigating the incident. (Bob Marriott, GRSM).

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) Fire Situation -

a) National Park Service:

- Spring Creek Fire, Gateway (8 acres) - The fire is burning underground
  in an old landfill site on the edge of Jamaica Bay. The area burned
  and was excavated in 1986, and put out smoke again last summer. The
  site is now putting out heavy black smoke, which is creating problems
  for the residents of Howard Beach who are within 200 yards of the site.
  There is also concern over the potential toxicity of the smoke. A Type
  I Team (Boggs) has been committed.

b) Other Agency:

- Lazy Fire, Pike-San Isabel National Forest (137 acres) - Contained.

2) Fire Activity - 186 for 7,206 acres (4/24, 1630 MDT - 4/25, 1630 MDT);
   16,632 for 397,386 acres (year-to-date).

3) Analysis - Light fire activity continues in the southwest, southeast
   and east. No resource shortages currently exist.

4) Prognosis - Light fire activity is expected to continue.

5) Notes - A short Type I Team (Miller) will be working for the Borough
   of Kenai in support of cleanup operations. The team will be based in
   Homer, Alaska.

(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 1630 MDT, 4/25/89).

STAFF STATUS

Dabney, Ringgold and Healy at regional chief rangers' meeting in El Paso
through Friday, Hodapp in Denver through Friday, Loach in Atlantic City at
MARO NPS-53 training course through Friday. Butch Farabee is acting chief,
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection; Dave Butts is acting division
chief.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: FTS 343-4874/6039 or 202-343-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 343-5977 or 202-343-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER