RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date:  Wednesday, May 31, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-59 - Kenai Fjords/Katmai

Poor weather limited operations over much of the weekend in both areas. One
cleanup boat had to leave the Katmai coast and take shelter in a bay off
Kodiak Island, and others have restricted their activities to sheltered bays
on the coast. Cleanup continues in Chiniak Bay. Boat crews report that
storms and tides are lifting old oil, suspending it, and redistributing it.
Exxon contractors report collecting 17,378 bags of oiled debris and sand at
Kenai Fjords as of the 26th. Fifteen. NPS resource protection officers from
park areas across the country are working with Exxon/Veco crews on beach
cleanup in that park. CSIIA is inspecting the Exxon/Veco boats working in
Kenai after sanitation problems were reported. NPS personnel have already
been eissigned to other boats because of safety and sanitation concerns.
(John Quinley, PA/ARO, via telefax: to RAD/WASO).

89-105 - Canyon de Chelly - Follow-up on Shooting Incident

On the evening of the 29th, park visitors reported to rangers that they had
witnessed two car-clouting incidents in the park, and that the four suspects
v?ere still in the vicinity. The park has had a long history of both car
clouts and assaults on park rangers. Five rangers, including the park's
chief ranger, responded to the scene and began a search of the area. One of
the rangers found a suspect hiding in some boulders. The suspect grabbed
the ranger's shotgun; as the two struggled for the weapon, a second ranger
arrived and allegedly struck the assailant several times with a baton in an
attempt to separate him from the shotgun. The suspect then wrested the
baton from the second ranger. At this time, the chief ranger came upon the
scene, and was standing with his back to an 800 foot cliff when the suspect
approached, him. with the stick raised. The chief ranger pointed his revolver
at the suspect and told him three times to drop the stick. He refused to
stop and had closed to within three feet of the chief ranger when the chief
shot him in the shoulder. The shot had no effect. The suspect again
approached the chief, saying that he was going over the edge and would take
the chief ranger with him. The chief ranger shot him in the stomach, but
the momentum of the suspect's charge took both men over the edge. Both men
landed on a ledge approximately 40 feet below - the chief ranger on his
feet, the suspect on his head. The suspect was alive, but soon stopped
breathing. First aid was given and CPR was begun and continued by a medical
team until the suspect was pronounced dead at the hospital. The FBI and
tribal authorities are investigating the incident. (Bill Tanner, FAD/SvJEQ,
via telephone to Maj. Mike Healy, RAD/WASO).

89-108 - Lake Mead - Drownings

Two separate drownings occurred in the park on the 30th - one at Boulder
Beach, the other at Katheryn Swim Beach. I.C., 29, of Huntington
Park, California, attempted to go swimming at Boulder after drinking
heavily. He drowned in 3' of water as his companions watched. B.T.,
19, of Bollingbrook, Illinois, was swimming with a group of five
persons with inner tubes at Katheryn when he became separated from his tube.
He was rescued and brought to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead six
hours later. (Herb Gercke, FAD/TCRO, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO).

(Other incidents from the Memorial Day weekend will appear in tomorrow's
morning report).

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION

a) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

* Ingraham Fire - Everglades - 98,300 acres:

The final acreage for the fire is higher than the figure given yesterday.
Demobilization continues, but one hotshot crew has been retained for initial
attack, and recon by fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters continues. Fire
danger remains very high in the area, with no relief in sight. There is
concern that thunderstorms bearing little rain will cause new ignitions.

* Walk-in Fire - Big Cypress - 14,000 acres:

The final acreage is higher than the figure reported yesterday.

b) OTHER AGENCY

* Miami Canal Fire - State of Florida - 30,000 acres:

There's no estimate as to when the fire will be contained, nor any further
information on it.

* Coward Lake Fire - State of Georgia and USFWS - 800 acres:

There's no estimate of containment, nor any new information on the fire.

* West Fire - St. John 1TWR - 400 acres:

There's no estimate of containment.

* Ferguson Fire - Imperial NWR - 1,300 acres:

Two boats, an engine and one crew have been committed. The fire is
threatening refuge headquarters. There's no estimate of containment.

* Laguna Dam #2 Fire - Yuma District, BLM - 3,000 acres:

A Type I Team has been committed; they will also manage the Ferguson Fire.

* Gardner Park Fire - Routt NF - 275 acres:

The fire is burning in heavy bug kill and logging slash. Containment is
estimated for today.

2) FIRE ACTIVITY - 125 fires for 984 acres reported on Wednesday.

3) ANALYSIS - Extreme burning conditions in the southwest have lead to heavy
use of initial attack resources. Moderate fire activity continues in the
southeast.

4) PROGNOSIS - No change in fire activity is expected in the southwest or
southeast. No resource shortages are anticipated.

(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 5/31/89; supplemental information on
EVER and BICY fires by fax from Judi Zuckert, BFM, Boise).

OFFICE NOTES

1) SPECIAL NOTICE: All flags are to be at half staff in tribute to Rep.
Claude Pepper until he is buried.

2) Senator Ted Stevens (Alaska) wants to know if we would send people to a
training center for cold water survival. He's asking both federal agencies
and the private sector to see if there is enough demand to create such a
facility. Please contact Butch Farabee in this office if you'd be
interested in such a course.

STAFF STATUS

All hands on board.

Prepared by T4ASQ Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: FTS 343-4874/5039 or 202-343-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 343-5977 or 202-343-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER