RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Friday, May 15, 1992

INCIDENTS

92-193 - Yosemite (California) - Rescues

Park rangers were involved in three separate rock climbing rescues on
Tuesday, May 12th.  At 11:00 a.m., H.S., an instructor for the
Yosemite Institute, was struck on the head by falling rocks and fell 70 feet
to the end of his rope while lead climbing the "Central Pillar of Frenzy"
route on Middle Cathedral Rock.  While rangers were responding to the scene,
visitors transported H.S. to the park clinic.  Rangers assisted with
advanced life support at the clinic.  H.S. was flown by commercial medical
helicopter to a trauma center with possible spinal injuries.  Then, at about
1:00 p.m., A.T., 32, fell while leading on the second pitch of a climb
on the Glacier Point Apron, slid about 30 feet, hit a ledge, and sustained a
serious fracture of her lower leg.  Her partner lowered her to the ground;
responding park medics provided ALS and evacuated her from the base of the
cliff.  At the same time, cries for help were reported from the "Zodiac"
route on El Capitan.  J.M. had been following an aid pitch when his
ascenders came off the rope while he was passing a piece of protection.  He
grabbed the rope as he fell and held on until the pain was too great to
endure; he then let go, fell about 70 feet and was caught by the rope. 
J.M.'s hands were seriously burned, but he sustained no other injuries. 
Park rescuers were flown to the top of the route and a team member was
lowered about 700 feet to the victim.  J.M. was able to endure serious
pain and ascend the fixed lines to the summit under his own power.  He was
then flown off the mountain by park helicopter.  [Dan Horner, YOSE, via
cc:Mail message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 5/14]

92-194 - Everglades (Florida) - Attempted Rescue

On May 13th, J.B., an employee of Florida Power and Light electric
company, was walking with several park maintenance employees examining a
stretch of underground power cable when he suddenly fainted.  D.D.,
a park research employee with the group, examined J.B., found him
pulseless and began CPR.  Rangers were advised via radio and park dispatch
mobilized Metro Dade County Air Rescue.  Ranger/EMT's Bob Howard, Craig
Thatcher, Bob Panko and Jay Liggett were on scene within 20 minutes; they
continued CPR, started oxygen therapy and prepared the patient for air
transport.  Metro Dade paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and provided
advanced ALS.  J.B. remained unresponsive and was taken to South Miami
Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.  J.B. had been the
park's liaison with FP&L for many years.  Investigation of the incident is
being jointly conducted by the NPS, FBI and Metro Dade police.  [Telefax
from Bob Panko, EVER, 5/13]

92-195 - Fort Larned (Kansas) - Special Event

As a special Armed Forces Week event, the cavalry from Fort Riley, Kansas,
came to Fort Larned on May 12th to renew the historic ties between the two
forts (horse cavalry troops from Fort Riley established Fort Larned in
1859).  Two hundred modern cavalry soldiers from Fort Riley arrived in 15
Blackhawk and four Apache helicopters; twenty living history volunteers gave
them a glimpse of the hard life their predecessors endured at a frontier
post 130 years ago.  The old and new cavalry then joined forces for a
retreat ceremony.  Over 1,000 people attended the event.  Six state and
county law enforcement units assisted park staff at the event.  [Jim David,
FOLA, via telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 5/13]

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level 1

2) FIRE SUMMARY

State  Agency     Area            Fire               5/14    5/15    Status

 OR    USFS    Deschutes NF     *Lookout-T2             -     300    CN 5/15

NOTES:

- Fires - Asterisk indicates newly reported fire (on this report). T1 and T2
  indicate assigned Type I and Type II Teams.
- Status - The following abbreviations are employed:

  NR - No report received      MS - Modified suppression strategy
  CL - Controlled              MN - Being monitored
  CS - Confinement strategy    NEC - No estimate of containment
  CN (date) - Expected date    CND - Contained
     of containment

3) ANALYSIS - High to extreme fire dangers are expected to continue in
Florida and Mississippi over the next 24 hours.
   
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages anticipated.

[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 0535 MDT, 5/15]  

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Follow-up on Human Remains

Fragments of the bones discovered by park staff late in April have been
analyzed by a forensic anthropologist, who has determined that they are of
Native American origin.  All provisions of the 1990 Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act are therefore being followed. 
Representatives from appropriate Native American groups are being consulted
regarding the proper disposition of the remains.  The location of the site
remains confidential.  [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Tom Akers, a former seasonal ranger at Ozark NSR and son-in-law of ranger
Don Parker of Ozark, is one of the astronauts on the space shuttle Endeavor. 
This trip marked Tom's second shuttle flight and his first space walk.  He
was one of the three astronauts who worked outside the ship and manually
retrieved the satellite.  [Tim Blank, CR, OZAR]

2) A chain letter has been circulating through the Service asking NPS
employees to send business cards to seven-year-old Craig Shergold in Surrey,
England, who has terminal cancer and wanted to become the Guinness World
Record holder for the number of cards.  Recent information indicates that
this good will gesture has become a severe burden on the family, with
millions of pieces of mail arriving each week.  Please do not send any more
cards to Craig.  This information comes to us directly from a close friend
of the Shergold family.  If you have further questions, call Pete Hart at
701-623-4466.  [Pete Hart, SUPT, THRO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady at regional chief rangers' meeting, Alexandria, VA
(5/12-45/13).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection:  Martin and most of branch staff
(intermittently) at regional chief rangers' meeting, Alexandria, VA (5/12-5/13);
Schamp at semi-automatic weapons test, FLETC, Glynco, GA (5/11-5/22).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd and Erskine at regional chief rangers'
meeting, Alexandria, VA (5/11-5/15); Farrel at regional safety managers'
meeting (5/14-5/15); Norum at National Fire Danger Advisory Group meeting,
Kansas City, KS (5/11-5/15); Mattingly coordinating Alpine IHC season start-up,
WICA, Hot Springs, SD (5/7-5/20); Cook on IHC detail to Sequoia-Kings
Canyon for remainder of summer.

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

cc:Mail     Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation