RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date:  Tuesday, August 29, 1989

INCIDENTS

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

The six-day search for 47-year-old R.H. of Aurora, Colorado, was
terminated on the 24th for lack of evidence. R.H. began his hike on the
6th, and was to have returned to Bright Angel Lodge by the evening of the
16th. A full-scale search was begun on the 19th. The Coconino County
Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over any future investigation of R.H.'s
fate. (GRCA dispatch, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO).

89-249 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Drowning

On August 27th, 14-year-old M.M. of Ivanhoe, California, was
swimming with a group of friends and relatives in the Kaweah River near park
headquarters. M.M. and one other member of the party went looking for
other areas in which to swim; after finding a spot to their liking, they
started to swim back down the river to get the rest of their party. M.M.
swam into some rapids and became caught on the upper side of a rock. His
companion tried to free him, but was unsuccessful and went to get help.
When he returned with other party members, M.M. was floating face down in
a pool. They brought him to shore, attempted CPR, and sent for rangers.
Park medics and local ambulance personnel responded, but they were unable to
revive M.M.. (Mike Warren, SEKI, via CompuServe message to RAD/WRO and
RAD/WASO).

89-250 - Devil's Postpile (California) - Serious Injury; Rescue

On August 22nd, 17-year-old E.F. of El Toro, California, was hiking
in the Rainbow Falls area of the park. He crossed the San Joaquin River,
then started to free climb the extremely steep cliff on the other side.
According to reports, numerous visitors in the area yelled at E.F.,
telling him to get down; before being able to do so, E.F. lost his grip
and fell about 50 feet to the bottom of the canyon. Monument staff, Mono
County sheriffs deputies, Mammoth paramedics and Mammoth search and rescue
personnel rescued E.F. and transported him to the hospital in Mammoth. He
was later transferred to a hospital in Reno. E.F. is still alive, but the
overall prognosis is not good. He is currently in a medically-induced coma.
(Mike Warren, SEKI, via CompuServe message to RAD/WRO and RAD/WASO).

89-251 - Mount Rainier (Washington) - Employee Injury

Seasonal park ranger Nina Burnell, 26, and fellow climber Mark Ross, 28,
ascended Mount Rainier to check climbing routes near the summit of the
mountain. They reached the top around 8 a.m. on the 27th and were in the
process of descending when they stopped to check a snow bridge around 13,500
feet. The bridge route had been abandoned by the guide service three days
before because of the bridge's condition, but the guides had left a rope in
place in case they needed to use the bridge in the future. Ross belayed
Burnell across the bridge and was in the process of crossing himself when
the bridge gave way. The pair fell 50 feet, and were partially buried in
ice and snow. They were able to dig themselves out, however, and reported
the accident via radio. Another group of climbing rangers and the guide
service responded and provided assistance. Burnell and Ross were airlifted
by military helicopter to local hospitals. Burnell has possible internal
injuries, a fractured ankle and numerous cuts and bruises; Ross has possible
fractured ribs. Note: Ross and Burnell are friends, and Ross was climbing
with Burnell with park permission. Park policy requires that climbing
rangers work in pairs and will allow "known", non-NPS climbers to work with
rangers. (Bill Larson, MORA, via CompuServe message from Mark Forbes,
RAD/PNRO).

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION: Planning Level II.

2) FIRE SUMMARY

State  Agency       Area                  Fire                Acres   Contain

*** No significant fires ***

3) FIRE ACTIVITY - 120 fires for 732 acres in last 24 hours.

4) ANALYSIS - California continues to report very high fire dangers
in some areas. Demobilization is continuing in the Great Basin.
A RED FLAG WATCH has been issued for strong, gusty winds along the
eastern slopes of the central Sierra Nevadas.

5) PROGNOSIS - Fire activity is expected to remain low. No resource
shortages are anticipated.

(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0530 MDT, 8/29/89).

OFFICE NOTES

1) The Assistant Secretary has approved the list of NPS attendees for the
National Wilderness Conference to be held in Minneapolis between September
11th and 14th. The number of persons approved by the Director to attend is
fewer than the number nominated by the Regional Offices. Names were
provided to regional wilderness coordinators yesterday.

STAFF STATUS

Hodapp on leave, Butts in Boise, Dabney at ARD/Operations conference in
Albuquerque. Andy Ringgold is acting chief, Ranger Activities.

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)