RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Tuesday, February 11, 1992

INCIDENTS

92-30 - Everglades (Florida) - Aircraft Accident

On the morning of February 8th, a park visitor in a boat off the park's Pine
Island District saw an airplane flying at less than 200 feet and losing
altitude.  The plane's motor was sputtering, and it appeared that it went
down into a dense grove of mangrove trees.  The visitor radioed in a report
of the apparent crash to the Gulf Coast ranger station.  Ranger Chuck Noll
immediately began a search by contract aircraft, but was unable to locate
any wreckage.  While this search was underway, the park was informed by the
Coast Guard that they'd been called to an airplane crash some 32 miles east
of the search area but still within the park.  Based on the descriptions of
the planes involved and the flight plan of the crashed airplane, it was
determined that the same plane was involved in both reports.  The plane was
eventually found 12 miles northwest of park headquarters.  The pilot, J.B.
of Miami, had flown his Cessna 172 from Homestead toward Florida's
west coast, but had turned back when the plane developed engine problems. 
J.B. was forced to attempt a landing in the park before he could make it
back to the airfield.  The plane flipped over onto its back upon impact;
although the Cessna was significantly damaged, the pilot was not injured. 
An investigation into the accident is underway.  [Telefax from Mark Lewis,
LES, EVER, 2/10]

92-31 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Structural Fire

On the morning of January 31st, the Grand Canyon dispatch center received a
911 call from a park resident who reported that her home was full of smoke. 
Two engines - one each from the park and the concessioner - and two
ambulances responded.  Ranger Tammy Luplow, who was first on scene, found
the occupants attempting to remove property from the building and had to
enter the smoke-filled house and physically evacuate them.  Firefighters
searching for possible victims and for the source of the fire were hampered
by a heating duct system which distributed thick smoke throughout the house. 
Entry teams eventually found fire in the building's insulation, the roof
truss framing and the wiring around the chimney.  It took about 45 minutes
to get the fire under control and another two hours to complete salvage and
overhaul.  The residence, which is owned by the Grand Canyon school
district, suffered significant damage and the cost to repair it is estimated
at about $25,000.  Park investigator Steven Stockdale has determined that
the fire originated in loose insulation in the wall behind the firebox for
the house's wood-burning stove.  Wooden support beams were then ignited, and
this in turn led to secondary ignition from electrical wires.  [Steve Bono,
GRCA, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/10]

92-32 - Olympic (Washington) - Sexual Assault

A man sexually assaulted a 30-year-old woman on the Hurricane Ridge Parkway
late on the evening of January 31st, then drove off with his victim.  Late
that same night, a state trooper stopped the vehicle for a traffic
violation.  The trooper determined that an assault had taken place, and that
it had occurred in the park.  He arrested the suspect on state charges, then
contacted the park.  Investigating rangers subsequently interviewed the
suspect and elicited a full confession.  The suspect revealed that he had
physically and sexually assaulted the woman, then had attempted to strangle
her.  He only relented when she began screaming.  When stopped by the
trooper, the suspect said that he was taking the victim to the Deer Park
area in Olympic to "hold her down until she calmed down."  The investigators
believe, however, that his true intention was to kill her and drop her body
there.  [Mike Butler, OLYM, via SEAdog message from Mike Blankenship,
RAD/PNRO, 2/7]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The seventh biennial conference of the George Wright Society will be held in
Jacksonville, Florida, between November 16th and the 20th.  Proposals for
papers must be received by February 15th, but special arrangements to submit
papers beyond the deadline can be made by calling John Donahue at 202-208-4274.
The conference theme is "Partnerships in Stewardship."  Conference
sponsors so far include the NPS, Forest Service, EPA, BLM, Smithsonian
Institute, Nature Conservancy, Wilderness Society, National Parks and
Conservation Association, and the Duke University School of the Environment. 
There will be plenty of room for exhibits and poster sessions.  Steven Jay
Gould has made a tentative commitment to be the keynote speaker.  [Kheryn
Klubnikin, WASO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady at fire management for agency administrators course,
Marana, AZ (2/10-2/14).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Sisto on annual leave (2/10-2/14);
Halainen on annual leave (2/12-2/14).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd and Broyles instructing at fire management
for agency administrators course, Marana, AZ (2/10-2/11); Gale on annual
leave (2/10-2/14); Farrel instructing at course on causes of fire in NPS
facilities, Denver, CO (2/10-2/11); Bristol at IRMWT committee meeting,
Sacramento, CA (2/10-2/13).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573

Telefax:    Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977

CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO

SEAdog:     Branch of R&VP - 1/650
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655