RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date:  Thursday, June 15, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-130 - Black Canyon of the Gunnison - Burglary

Sometime during the night of June 13th, a burglar entered park headquarters
through a window and burglarized the visitor center and offices. All
offices were entered and vandalized, and two safes and a gun cabinet were
forced open. Among the missing items are two handguns, about $200 in
imprest cash, money belonging to Southwest Parks and Monuments Association,
and keys to all park facilities and vehicles. An investigation was
conducted by the Montrose police department. The FBI has been notified, and
the missing weapons have been entered into NCIC. The office has been sealed
off because of possible asbestos contamination from the broken safes;
samples of insulation material have been sent out for analysis.
(Superintendent, BLCA, via CompuServe message from RAD/RMRO).

89-131 - Rock Creek - Pedestrian Fatality

On the morning of June 11th, an elderly woman was struck and killed by a
southbound vehicle as she attempted to cross Rock Creek Parkway near its
intersection with Virginia Avenue. The victim remains unidentified at this
time. The operator of the vehicle has not been charged; Park Police
officers are investigating. (CompuServe message from RAD/NCRO).

89-132 - Shenandoah - ATV Fatality

On the evening of the 11th, 21-year-old D.C. of Culpeper, Virginia,
was illegally riding a three-wheeled ATV on lower Rapidan Road when the
vehicle left the road and struck a tree. D.C. was not wearing a helmet
and suffered serious head injuries. His friends took him to a nearby
community and called the local rescue squad. He was pronounced dead shortly
after being transported to a hospital. D.C.'s blood alcohol content
reading was 0.23. Park rangers are investigating the incident. (Greg
Stiles, ACR, Shenandoah, via CompuServe message from RAD/MARO).

89-133 - Mammoth Cave - Sexual Assault

On June 12th, a 29-year-old women from Horse Cave, Kentucky, reported to
local police that she'd been sexually assaulted at the Beaver Pond viewing
area adjacent to Highway 70. The victim reported that she'd been sitting at
the area when she was grabbed from behind by an assailant who told her that
he had a handgun and would kill her, then dragged her a short distance down
a trail and assaulted her. There were no witnesses. Park rangers and the
FBI are investigating. (Telephone report from RAD/SERO).

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION (Planning Level I)

a) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

* No significant fires reported.

b) OTHER AGENCY

* Spring Fire - Lincoln NF (New Mexico) - 235 acres:

The fire has been contained.

* Cocheo Fire - Santa Barbara County (California) - 550 acres:

Limited access and gusty winds are hampering control efforts. Containment
was expected last night.

2) FIRE ACTIVITY - 95 fires for 311 acres in last 24 hours.

3) ANALYSIS - Very high relative humidities in the southwest have diminished
the number of new starts. Lightning activity continues to decline.

4) PROGNOSIS - Holdover lightning fires are expected in the southwest if
relative humidities decrease. No resource shortages anticipated.

(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 6/15/89).

OFFICE NOTES

1) Although NPS-9 will be printed and distributed as soon as possible,
October 1st has been established as the implementation date in order to
avoid changing enforcement policies during the visitor use season. In order
to accommodate the needs of park staffs who will be purchasing new handguns
and/or who are making significant ammunition purchases between now and
October 1st, we are implementing the following changes in defensive
equipment standards, effective immediately. As noted below, a formal memo
authorizing these changes will be transmitted today to all regions:

- Handgun (Service Issue), American made, 6 shot, double action,
  revolver, .357 Magnum (.44 Magnum may be authorized by the
  Superintendent for law enforcement duties in specific areas in
  which wildlife presents an additional hazard), four inch barrel,
  adjustable sights, blue steel, stainless steel or matte finish.
  All new purchases shall meet these standards. Existing .38
  special handguns manufactured after 1958 and in good functional
  condition may be retained but should be replaces as soon as
  practicable.

- Ammunition, handgun, American manufacture, .357 Magnum, 110 or 125
  grain semi-jacketed hollow point. The Superintendent may
  authorize the 158 grain jacketed soft point round for use in
  specific areas in which wildlife presents an additional hazard.
  The .357 Magnum round is the Service standard and shall be carried
  in all weapons capable of chambering .357 Magnum ammunition.

- Ammunition, shotgun, American manufacture, 12 gauge, plastic
  cased, "00" buck shot or 7/8 to 1 ounce rifled slug.

The standard ammunition for .38 special handguns remains the 110 grain,
controlled expansion, semi-jacketed hollow point (manufacturer's code Q-
4070, +P+). Supplies of .38 special +P+ ammunition that are not needed for
issue to commissioned rangers who carry .38 special handguns should be used
up as soon as possible in firearms training. Supplies of #4 buckshot should
be used up in the same manner. Commissioned rangers shall qualify using the
specific round which will be carried while on duty.

TRANSMITTALS

Memorandum: "Authorization to Carry and Use .357 Magnum Ammunition", signed
June 14th by the Associate Director, Operations, and sent today to all
Regional Directors.

Memoranda: "Capital Equipment Fund Allocation", nine separate fund
allocation memoranda signed June 14th by the Acting Associate Director,
Operations, and sent to nine affected regions (all but Alaska) today.
Contains FIREPRO allocations for acquisition of highest priority requests
from each region for wildland fire-related equipment.

STAFF STATUS

Loach in Shenandoah, Farabee in Tucson.

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