RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Friday, March 6, 1992

INCIDENTS

92-60 - Mount Rainier (Washington) - Follow-up on Search

The search for climbers G.T., 27, and J.V., 25, has been
suspended because of weather conditions and high avalanche danger. 
Visibility in the search area has at times dropped to less than 100 feet. 
Several rangers are currently at Camp Muir waiting for conditions to
improve.  [SEAdog message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 3/5]

92-66 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Volcanic Activity

A sharp deflation of Kilauea's summit, accompanied by a swarm of small
earthquakes in the upper East Rift zone near Pauahi Crater, occurred at 1:00
a.m. on March 3rd.  The area then abruptly inflated, cracking the Chain of
Crater road near the Helina Pali road junction at Devil's Throat Crater.  At
the same time, the activity on the west flank of Puu O'o stopped and lava
apparently drained out of the Puu O'o lava lake.  A fissure eruption in the
vicinity of these cracks was thought to be imminent, and the park responded
by closing the Chain of Craters road at Crater Rim drive, moving all
vehicles and the mobile visitor center out of the coastal area, and
evacuating visitors and park personnel from the Puu O'o area by helicopter. 
At 2:00 p.m., an overflight disclosed that lava had returned to Puu O'o and
that a small active lake was building in the west section.  An active lava
flow was also noted on the north edge of the lava flow which had been coming
from the east flank of Puu o'o during the previous week.  The origin of this
molten material is unknown.  Maintenance crews will be inspecting the
cracked roadway and making necessary safety repairs prior to reopening the
Chain of Craters road.  The U.S. Geological Survey feels that it would take
very little push from another summit deflation to cause an eruption.  The
park is continuing a fire watch in the area due to drought conditions.  [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 3/5]

92-67 - Grand Teton (Wyoming) - Search for Avalanche Victim

On the morning of February 29th, snowmobilers G.B., D.S. and
R.S. were traversing a steep slope on Dry Ridge Mountain,
just west of the park's boundary in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness of the
Targhee National Forest.  As they approached the top of the mountain, they
triggered an avalanche 400 yards wide and 800 yards long which produced a
mound up to 40 feet deep.  G.B., who suffered a fractured femur, was buried
a foot deep, but was dug out by R.S., who was uninjured.  D.S.
was buried by the avalanche.  A search by over 200 volunteers
was initiated; rangers Pete Armington, Renny Jackson, and Deb Frauson and
her search dog participated in the effort.  The search was terminated by the
Teton County sheriff on March 3rd because the area had been thoroughly
searched and because the victim's body might be deeper than probes could
reach.  Illegal snowmobiling in the wilderness and the western side of the
park has been an on-going problem.  Rangers were recently involved in an
attempt to apprehend ten snowmobilers who had been snowmobiling illegally in
the park and left through the wilderness area.  Of major concern to managers
is the fact the snowmobile use is occurring in areas of critical bighorn
sheep range.  This disturbance results in increased stress and a higher risk
of mortality.  [Telefax from Ed Christian, GRTE, 3/5]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) A nine-day (75 hour) counter-narcotics and special operations training
exercise will be held at Organ Pipe Cactus from April 7th to the 16th.  The
course is open to permanent personnel who are directly involved with
counter-narcotics operations in their areas.  Applications will be accepted
from those who can attend only certain portions of scheduled exercises. 
Because of the type of exercises scheduled, participants must meet agency
physical fitness standards and possess a current physical examination prior
to the start date.  One page nomination forms should be sent to Aniceto
Olais at Organ Pipe Cactus.  [Aniceto Olais, ORPI]

FIRE ACTIVITY

New River Gorge (West Virginia) - The Fern Creek Fire began one mile
downriver from the Nuttalburg coal tipple in mid-afternoon on March 4th. 
Park, state and local crews responded.  Due to steep rocky terrain,
firefighters have had difficulty containing the blaze.  At the time of the
report, the fire was burning slowly upstream to the cliff band and had
covered about 60 acres.  No structures or residences were reported to be in
danger.  Efforts were being made to keep the fire from reaching a large coal
refuse pile located about a mile away.  [Rick Brown, IC, 3/5]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin instructing at managing
park protection course, Albright EDC, AZ (3/5-3/6); Coffey and Smith
instructing at same course (3/3-3/5).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd, Farrel and Erskine at structural fire
task group meeting, Denver, CO (3/2-3/6).

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