RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Wednesday, February 26, 1992

INCIDENTS

92-52 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Fatality

Just before midnight on the 24th, J.S., 25, of Seattle, Washington,
and B.M., 24, of Boulder, Colorado, both volunteers with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, were taking a steam bath at the edge of a crack
in a natural vent when a dense cloud of steam hit them.  As they attempted
to leave, B.M. slipped on the mud, fell about ten feet into a small vent,
then slid another ten feet further into the vent.  J.S. heard her scream
and cry out that she could not breathe; he made several rescue efforts, but
was unable to reach her.  J.S. then obtained assistance from Hawaii
Volcano personnel at park headquarters a half mile away.  Park, Kilauea
Military Camp and Hawaii County rescue crews eventually recovered her body
after several hours' effort, but were hampered in the process by intense
heat and steam.  People often take steam baths at the vents, which are a
half-mile from the crater of Kilauea.  [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 2/25; additional information from AP news
report, 2/25]

92-53 - Point Reyes (California) - Search for Air Crash Victims

B.R. and M.P. were flying in a Christian Eagle "lighter-than-air"
bi-wing kit aircraft at 5,000 feet off Drakes Beach on February
23rd when the craft went into a full dive and crashed into 60 feet of water
in Drakes Bay.  Both were killed, but neither victims nor wreckage have yet
been recovered.  M.P., who was the passenger, was a California Highway
Patrol officer from Sonoma.  The craft crashed in an area of unclear
jurisdiction, and the park is assisting in search and recovery efforts. 
[LeeRoy Brock, CR, PORE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO,
2/25]

92-54 - Organ Pipe Cactus (Arizona) - Arrest of Illegal Aliens

On February 19th, park visitors saw a group of 19 persons heading north near
the international border in the park's backcountry and reported their
observation at park headquarters.  Ranger Victor Carrasco and Border Patrol
agent Jim Gould tracked the group for more than 12 miles and eventually
arrested four of them.  The other 15 managed to elude them by escaping in a
pickup truck in Ajo, Arizona.  Investigation revealed that the group had
traveled a total of 35 miles through the night and into the following day
without stopping.  Over the past two weeks, rangers also arrested seven drug
smugglers in a special drug interdiction operation being conducted in the
park.  [Dwayne Collier, SOAR, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke,
RAD/WRO, 2/25]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports received.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Last fall, the company which made both the steel-toed work boot and the
men's boat shoe for the Service's uniform program advised R&R that,
effective immediately, they would no longer manufacture either item.  Since
then, we have actively been seeking alternatives to these components, which
is why your order may still remain unfilled.  R&R has since identified
acceptable replacements for each item, and we will likely approve them this
week.  Details will follow in a coming morning report.  [Bill Halainen,
RAD/WASO]

2) During the month of January, hearings on the National Natural Landmarks
program's proposed revised regulations were held in nine sites across the
country to elicit public comment on the proposed regs.  The comment period
on them will close on March 2nd.  (Lissa Fox, Wildlife/Vegetation, WASO]

MEMORANDA

"Incident Overhead Personnel Development Program Selections", signed by Jack
Davis, Associate Director, Operations, on February 4th, and sent to the
directorate, field directorate and all superintendents.  Explains selection
process and lists all individuals (by name) selected to fill recruitment
targets for each incident position.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Coffey at rights-of-way
regulations meeting, Philadelphia, PA (2/24-2/28); Henry meeting with air
tour operators, Las Vegas, NV, and Hawaii (2/24-2/28).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd at fire prevention and education working
team meeting, Phoenix, AZ (2/24-2/28); Botti on annual leave (2/24-3/13);
Clark at meeting on prevention/education initiative, Phoenix, AZ (2/24-2/28);
Broyles at fireline safety committee meeting, Portland, OR (2/25-2/27).

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