RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Thursday, October 15, 1992

Release:   0830 EDT

INCIDENTS

91-160 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Follow-up on Pollution Case

The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously upheld the
conviction of the owner of an engineering firm who allowed acid mine
drainage to seep into two creeks, thereby affecting park resources for more
than ten years.  L.L. and his company, Mine Management, Inc., were each
convicted of 16 felony accounts of violations of the Federal Clean Water Act
in U.S. District Court in November, 1991.  The appellate court affirmed
those convictions.  In January, L.L. was sentenced to two years in prison and
fined $80,000, and the company was fined another $80,000.  Rangers from New
River Gorge worked with an environmental crimes task force in both the
investigation and prosecution of the case.  [Bill Blake, CR, NERI, 10/12]

92-385 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Follow-up on Burglary/Car Clout Ring Arrests

Late last July, Las Vegas police arrested three juveniles in a drive-by
shooting incident in Las Vegas and subsequently found that they were driving
a stolen vehicle and were in possession of two guns which had been reported
stolen in the park.  A joint investigation by rangers and Las Vegas and
Boulder City police led to the clearance of 20 stolen vehicle cases and the
recovery of numerous items of stolen property, including guns, televisions,
and VCR's.  Four vehicles were recovered in the park, and seven NPS auto
burglaries were cleared.  The three juveniles were each found guilty of
multiple counts of grand larceny, possession and use of firearms, auto
burglary, and firing into an occupied dwelling.  They are presently serving
sentences in the state juvenile facility in Elko, Nevada.  [Susan Warner,
LAME, 10/14]

92-556 - North Cascades (Washington) - Dog Attack and Injury to Ranger

On October 4th, backcountry ranger Alan Cline was returning to the Bridge
Creek trailhead after completing a three-day backcountry patrol when he was
charged by a pit bull belonging to a worker at a nearby construction
project.  Cline had to fend the dog off with a fanny pack for almost ten
minutes before he could get the owner's attention.  The owner called off the
dog, but the pit bull again charged Cline and bit him on the leg and hand. 
Cline drew his service revolver and shot and wounded the dog.  Cline was
treated for puncture wounds at a local hospital.  The dog was impounded by a
county deputy and subsequently quarantined.  [Dave Spirtes, CR, NOCA, 10/13]

92-557 - Golden Gate (California) - Demonstration

An estimated 5,000 demonstrators from various local groups occupied a
bleacher at Aquatic Park on October 11th to protest a planned reenactment of
the landing of Columbus.  Several vessels representing the Peace Navy were
also anchored in the Aquatic Park harbor.  A detail of Park Police officers
and rangers was on hand to maintain order in the park.  No actual landing of
the ship had been planned, though; when it failed to show up, the
demonstrators left the park for a planned march to city hall.  When the
demonstrators changed course and headed for a Columbus Day parade, Park
Police units were summoned to help city police bar the way.  Molotov
cocktails were thrown, one of which struck a city police cruiser.  Police
officers arrested 40 protestors in conjunction with the firebombing and
attempts to stop the parade.  [Maj. Hugh Irwin, SFFO/USPP, 10/14]

92-558 - Petrified Forest (Arizona) - Assault with a Firearm

A park resident was returning home at 2 a.m. on October 10th when he was
fired upon by a man with a gun at the I-40 interchange to the entrance to
the Painted Desert District.  The resident was not injured, and immediately
reported the incident.  Rangers, county sheriffs and an Arizona DPS officer
conducted a thorough search of the interchange and Painted Desert complex
but found nothing.  Information obtained by DPS indicated that a tractor
trailer may have been involved, and a search for the truck was begun.  It
was found 22 miles away on I-40.  The driver, who appeared to be under the
influence of a controlled substance, matched the description of the
assailant, and was taken into custody after he was positively identified by
the park resident.  A .357 caliber revolver, ammunition and drugs were found
in the truck.  The suspect has been charged with aggravated assault,
endangerment, and discharging a firearm next to an interstate.  The case is
being handled by Apache County.  [Kerry Isensee, CR, PEFO, 10/13]

FIRE ACTIVITY

Sequoia/Kings Canyon - The Suwanee Fire, an escaped prescribed burn between
the Generals Highway and Crystal Cave Road, was fully contained on the
evening of October 13th.  The burn was ignited by park crews on October 4th
when winds aloft were able to disperse smoke.  An inversion strengthened
over the park on the 7th, however, so park managers suspended further
ignition until the 9th.  Due to continued air quality problems and some
spotting outside the lines, suppression was begun shortly thereafter, and
extra crews were assigned on the 10th when the fire spread across fire
lines.  A total of 1,530 acres burned - 1,250 acres within the original
prescribed burn boundary, 150 acres of spillover, and 130 acres of back
burn.  Approximately 450 firefighters were mobilized for the fire; half of
the crews were demobed yesterday and the remainder will depart today.  The
fire will probably be turned back to the park today.  The park intends to
use two park "blue card" crews for rehab over the next few days.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Marriott at CISD conference, Las
Vegas, NV (10/14-10/17); Martin at NRPA conference, Cincinnati, OH (10/16-10/19).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: All staff at annual operating plan meeting at
branch office, Boise, ID (10/13-10/16).

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