RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Thursday, April 15, 1993

Broadcast: By 0830 ET

INCIDENTS

93-179 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Follow-up on Falling Fatality

Further information has been received regarding the falling accident in
which 57-year-old D.S. was killed.  Donna and her husband Bob were
hiking above Page Spring (formerly Miner Spring) near Horseshoe Mesa when
they stopped to take a photograph at a switchback along the steep trail.  As
B.S. was setting up a camera tripod with his back to his wife, he
heard a faint noise and turned to find that his wife had fallen off the
trail.  Although she fell 140 feet, he was able to reach her and determine
that she had been killed in the fall.  B.S. then hiked out of the canyon
and reported the accident at the backcountry office.  An aircraft recovery
operation was not feasible due to high winds, so rangers Nick Herring and
Carly Lober hiked into the site to conduct an investigation and provide
scene security overnight.  The body was recovered the following morning with
the assistance of the park helicopter.  Initial investigation indicates that
Donna had been prescribed Meclizine for vertigo and had been feeling dizzy
for a few days prior to the accident.  [Ken Phillips, CR, WRO, 4/14]

93-183 - Delaware Water Gap (Pennsylvania/New Jersey) - Rescue

On the morning of April 14th, three fishermen - J.M., B.F.,
and A.R., all from New Jersey - put in at Dingman's Launch on the
Delaware River within the park.  Their 14-foot aluminum outboard capsized
almost immediately, dumping the three men into 41 degree water.  Their cries
for help were heard by a toll collector at Dingman's Bridge; the toll
collector advised rangers, who responded by boat and by throwing lines from
both shores.  J.M. and B.F. made it to shore on their own, where they were
assisted by rangers.  A.R. floated about three miles downstream, where he
was picked up by the park's patrol boat.  None of the three were wearing
life jackets, but they did have floatable seat cushions which they were able
to use to keep themselves afloat.  All three were taken to Mercy Hospital in
Port Jervis for examination because of their exposure to cold water.  The
boat was recovered by rangers.  [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/14]

93-184 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Fuel Spill

Late on the morning of April 12th, a 60-foot houseboat belonging to
Cottonwood Cove Resort fell sideways off a trailer as efforts were being
made to retrieve it from Lake Mohave.  Between 100 and 200 gallons of fuel
were spilled on the public launch ramp; about 50 gallons apparently reached
the lake before a berm was put in place.  Absorbent materials were deployed
in the water, and fire engines from nearby Searchlight and from the park's
Boulder District responded to assist the crew of the Cottonwood Cove engine. 
The area was closed to public use because of the danger from the fuel and
because of the potential for an explosion - the cabin and bow of the boat
were filled with gas fumes, while the electrical supply remained connected
to a 12-volt battery.  The boat was secured, however, and a crane was used
to pull it back onto the trailer for removal.  Clean-up cost the
concessioner about $35,000.  [Karen Whitney, LAME, 4/12 and 4/13]

93-185 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Drug and Weapons Arrest

Rangers saw a boat operating erratically on the lake on the evening of April
11th.  They stopped the vessel, and, during a consent search for weapons the
operator said were on board, came upon 10.6 grams of crack cocaine and a
small amount of marijuana.  The weapons were found and identified as a 4-
10/.45 derringer and a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun.  The derringer was
capable of firing shotgun shells.  The boat, a 1977, 23-foot Sleek Craft
cabin cruiser with a 454 Chevrolet engine, was seized, and asset
seizure/forfeiture procedures have been initiated.  [Karen Whitney, LAME,
4/12]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

NOTES

1) NPS-51 - A committee will be meeting in Las Vegas on the week of May 3-7
to update NPS-51, the emergency services guideline.  This will not be a
total rewrite.  Committee members would like input from the parks; if you
have any comments, ideas or suggestions, please send them by cc:Mail to
committee chair Tom Habecker at Denali.  His phone number is 907-683-2294;
his fax is 907-683-2720.  Comments must be in no later than April 28th. 
[Tom Habecker, DENA]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Smith at managerial grid training
course (4/11-4/16); Martin and Dickerhoof at FLETC 9PT curriculum review
conference (4/13-4/15).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale and Broyles at managerial grid training
course (4/11-4/17); Clark at national fire weather group meeting (4/13-
4/16); Spruill at workshop (4/12-4/16).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5572
Telefax:   Branch of R&VP - 202-208-6756
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5977
cc:Mail:   Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation