RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Wednesday, October 21, 1992

Release:   0830 EDT

INCIDENTS

92-567 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Special Event

Bridge Day, an annual event in the park, occurred on October 17th and
attracted about 200,000 visitors.  Although many visited the visitor center
and other areas of the park, parachutists jumping from the 876-foot-high
bridge were the main attraction.  Just under 300 parachutists made 550
jumps; 44 landed in the river below the bridge, and rangers made 29 water
rescues during the day.  Two others landed in trees.  Eleven injuries
occurred which required transport of the victims to the hospital.  Two of
these were serious leg injuries.  [Kinsey Shilling, CR, NERI, 10/19]

92-568 - Pinnacles (California) - Earthquake Advisory

The U.S. Geological Service notified the park yesterday that the area around
Pinnacles is under a 72-hour earthquake advisory.  The advisory was based on
information gathered from the extensive earth movement monitoring system
located on the San Andreas Fault in the Parkfield area south of the park.  A
quake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale took place early yesterday at that
location.  The park has advised visitors of possible hazards from rockfalls,
but has not closing any areas.  [Superintendent, PINN, 10/20]

92-569 - Jean Lafitte (Louisiana) - Possible Homicide

On the afternoon of October 19th, hunters in the park's Barataria Unit
discovered a disarticulated human skeleton in the woods just north of the
Isle Bonne Road.  The county coroner's preliminary findings indicate that
the victim was a young woman, and the case is being treated as a homicide. 
Officers from Jefferson Parish sheriff's office are conducting an
investigation with the assistance of park rangers.  [Jim Carson, DR, JELA,
10/19]

92-570 - St. Croix (Wisconsin) - Search; Possible Suicide

A 65-year-old man jumped off a highway bridge into the St. Croix River at
St. Croix Falls late on the evening of October 17th.  The man, who left his
wallet and keys on the bridge before jumping, had been seen drinking in a
bar and arguing with an unidentified woman just prior to the incident. 
Rangers responded by boat and conducted a fruitless hasty search of the
river below the bridge.  Temperatures were in the mid-20s at the time.  The
search resumed the following morning in conjunction with area agencies.  At
11:15 a.m, people on a tour boat spotted the victim's body in shallow water
more than a mile downstream.  The body was recovered and a follow-up
investigation is underway.  [Henry Hughlett, CR, SACN, 10/19]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) THIRD NOTICE: Hurricane Andrew Backfill Costs - The superintendents of
the south Florida parks affected by Hurricane Andrew need information on
costs associated with this effort.  Your assistance is requested in
documenting the following costs if you provided any assistance to the
incident:

* FY 1992:

  Dollar cost in back fill overtime        :______________
  Dollar cost in Base Eight regular 
  time (for project employees only)        :______________
  Dollar cost in equipment and supplies    :______________

* FY 1993:

 Dollar cost in back fill overtime        :______________
  Dollar cost in Base Eight regular 
  time (for project employees only)        :______________
  Dollar cost in equipment and supplies    :______________

NOTE: This information is needed by close of business on October 22nd. 
Please fax it to Bill Blake at 305-242-7706.  The superintendents and
incident commander all realize that you will have to estimate these costs,
and thank you in advance for your assistance.  [Bill Blake, IC, ARM team]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at NRPA conference,
Cincinnati, OH (10/19); Berkowitz at Southwest border conference, Austin, TX
(10/18-10/22).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Broyles and Norum on annual leave (10/19-10/22);
Farrel at metro planners conference, Los Angeles (10/19-10/21) and
site visit, Channel Islands, CA (10/22-10/24); Crabtree at VMS systems
network meeting training, Denver, CO (10/19-10/23).

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