RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                       MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date: Wednesday, October 31, 1990

INCIDENTS

90-392 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Structural Fire

At about 9:30 p.m. on October 27th, rangers and local firefighters responded
to a report of a structural fire in the outdoor theater in the park's
Grandview unit. Upon arriving, they found the front office complex of the
outdoor theater fully engulfed in flames. The theater is used by Theater
West Virginia for an outdoor drama program; the front office complex housed
a small NPS visitor center, a concession stand, Theater West Virginia's
offices, a storage area for light and sound equipment, and the subdistrict
ranger's office. All facilities and equipment in the building (including
$5,000 worth of SAR and EMS gear) and half of the seating area for the
outdoor theater were destroyed. The total loss has been placed in excess of
$500,000. On the following day, an inter-agency arson investigation team
coordinated by the park concluded that the fire had been caused by faulty
wiring. The park had inherited the aging facility on October 1st when the
state donated what had been called Grandview State Park to the Service.
(Bill Blake, CR, NERI, via CompuServe message from Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO,
10/30).

90-393 - Mount Rainier (Washington) - Search in Progress

J.K., 38, of Seattle, became separated from his skiing party at the
mountain's 8,000-foot level early on the afternoon of Saturday, October
27th. When last seen, the weather conditions on the mountain were very
poor. J.K.'s three companions waited for him for two hours; when he failed
to return, they got in touch with rangers at Paradise. A team comprised of
three rangers and two of J.K.'s friends searched for him without luck from
6:30 to 10:30 p.m. that evening. The search continued for him on Sunday
with the aide of a helicopter and volunteer searchers, but high winds
eventually forced the cancellation of the aerial operation. Plans were to
continue the search on Monday. A snow advisory was in effect at that time,
and it was thought that weather conditions would further hamper search
efforts. (CompuServe message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 10/30).

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No reports today.

STAFF STATUS

- Division Chief: No travel scheduled.

- Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Coffey at Grazing lands Forum
  in Harpers Ferry (10/30-10/31) and at range issues working group meeting
  (11/1); Henry at meetings in WRD and with aircraft overflight studies
  contractor (10/30-11/5).

- Branch of Fire: Erskine and Gale at MAC group coordinator cadre meeting
  (10/29-11/2); Botti in FFS training in Reston and on FIREPRO review in
  MAR (10/29-11/7).


Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog:     1/650