RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date:  Thursday, August 24, 1989

                    *** SPECIAL NOTICE ***

The funeral for Rep. Leland is to take place today. Flags will return to
full staff tomorrow morning.

INCIDENTS

89-237 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Follow-up on Search

The search for 47-year-old R.H., which began on August 19th, has been
largely fruitless. There's been no sign of R.H., and only one possible clue
as to bis whereabouts. On Tuesday, searchers found a canteen which may have
belonged to R.H.; they are now focusing their efforts on combing the
surrounding area of the inner canyon in which it was found. The park began
demobilizing search operations yesterday, but will keep three dog units and
a small number of ground searchers in the field at least through today.
(Telephone message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).

89-241 - Yosemite (California) - Climber Rescue

At 6 p.m. on the 22nd, Y.C., 21, of Tahoe City, California,
sustained major injuries when he fell approximately 50 feet while attempting
to climb a summit spire on Cathedral Peak. Y.C. was climbing a
moderately technical route without the aid of climbing equipment. The 50
foot fall caused serious compound fractures to both lower bones in Y.C.'s
right leg and major trauma to his head and face. Ranger response to the
scene was delayed by high, gusty winds which precluded helicopter use. The
rescue team reached the scene at dusk, stabilized Y.C.'s injuries, and
prepared him for either a helicopter or lowering rescue for the following
morning. Angel IV, a rescue helicopter from Lemoore Naval Air Station,
arrived on scene at 8 a.m. yesterday morning. After making 14 passes in
gusty winds and clouds, rescuers in the helicopter were finally able to
cable winch Y.C. aboard the ship and transport him to Yosemite Medical
Center, where he was treated for his injuries. (Roger Rudolph, CR, YOSE,
via CompuServe report from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).

89-242 - Olympic (Washington) - Structural Fire

A fire of suspicious origin gutted an inholders house in the Lake Quinault
area just before midnight on the 22nd. The owners, Mark and Salina O'Neil,
were in Alaska at the time, but a stepbrother had been in the building until
6 p.m. that evening. Public utilities to the building had been turned off
due to lack of payment. The state fire marshall's office will investigate.
Damage is estimated at from $35,000 to $40,000. (Chuck Janda, CR, OLYM, via
CompuServe report from Mark Forbes, RAD/PMRO).

89-243 - Northwest Areas (Alaska) - Aircraft Accident

At about 11:40 a.m. on the 22nd, an Arctic Tern employed by the park crashed
during an attempted landing on a remote tundra strip. The aircraft struck a
depression and nosed over onto its back. Neither the OAS pilot, R.K.,
nor the passenger, W.R., were seriously injured, but W.R. did
receive a bump on the head which he probably incurred while exiting the
aircraft. The plane sustained significant damage and will have to be
airlifted from the strip. Rangers from the park are at the accident site to
guard the aircraft until it can be removed. A team of investigators from
the regional office flew to the site yesterday to begin an investigation.
(Telefax from Bob Seibert, ARO).

89-244 - Colorado NM (Colorado) - Motor vehicle Accident with Fatality

On August 16th, the park received a missing person report for R.T.,
55, of nearby Grand Junction, Colorado. A search was begun, and R.T.'s
body was found in his vehicle 400 feet down in Columbus Canyon. R.T.
apparently failed to negotiate a corner while driving in the park on the
13th and plummeted into the canyon. The accident may have been caused by a
medical condition. (Hank Schock, CR, COLM, via telefax from Jim Reilly,
RAD/RMRO).

89-245 - George Washington Birthplace (Virginia) - Oil Leak

A small amount of oil leaking from a pipe in the basement of the park's
visitor center damaged some artifacts stored there on the 23rd. The leak
was discovered early in the morning when painters went to work in an
adjacent room in the basement. A total of about a gallon of number two
heating oil got into an artifact storage case and wicked up into some
cardboard boxes and paper bags in which artifacts were stored within the
case. Several thousand items may have been affected. The park has
contacted Harpers Ferry Center, and hopes to get an emergency preservation
crew on site as soon as possible. (CompuServe message from Kathy Jope,
RAD/MARO).

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION: Planning level III.

2) FIRE SUMMARY

State  Agency       Area                  Fire                Acres   Contain

ID     USFS     Payette NF                Wilderness Comp.
                                           Game Creek         2,475     None

UT     State        -                     Boxelder            2,200     8/24


3) FIRE ACTIVITY - 90 fires for 60 acres in last 24 hours.

4) ANALYSIS - No significant fire activity. Demobilization is continuing
from fires in Idaho. A RED FLAG WATCH has been issued for northwest
and east central Arizona for gusty winds.

5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages anticipated-.

(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 8/24/89).

OFFICE NOTES

1) We are aware of the confusion regarding the procedures for placing flags
at half staff, and are working with the Department to get this resolved
"once and for all." At present, we are following instructions sent from the
White House. The Department has just finished preparing specific
instructions on flag protocols.- though, and we will be transmitting these to
you in the near future.

STAFF STATUS

Hodapp and Loach on leave, Kreis on lieu day, Ringgold in meeting all day.

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
SEAdog:     1/650 (Phone:343-6014; BAUD:2400)