RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Tuesday, April 20, 1993

Broadcast: By 0830 ET

INCIDENTS

93-191 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Explosion; Fatality, Multiple Injuries

Around 9 p.m. local time yesterday evening (3 a.m. EDT), a series of
significant phreatic (steam) explosions occurred where lava is entering the
ocean at Lae Apuki, killing one visitor and injuring 14 others - all of whom
were in an area which was posted as closed to the public.  Following an
initial explosion, a bench of lava which extended into the ocean collapsed,
causing more explosions and throwing rocks over a quarter of a mile into the
air.  The visitor who was killed had walked out on the bench after the first
explosion, and disappeared into the ocean.  Injuries were caused by scalding
ocean water and by the rocks which were thrown into the air.  All 14 were
able to make it either to the Volcano House, where they were treated by
rangers, or to a hospital in Hilo.  Their condition is not known at present. 
A joint park - Coast Guard search is underway along the shoreline to find
the victim who fell into the ocean.  The search will be expanded at dawn. 
Although the area is again quiet, it has been closed to the public until
further notice.  A USGS geologist will inspect the area later this morning
to determine the cause of the explosions.  Further details to follow.  [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, 4/20]

93-192 - Big Cypress (Florida) - Suicide; Double Homicide

On Saturday, April 17th, J.D., 33, of Ocoee, Florida, and his two
children, a girl between eight and ten years old and a boy around seven,
died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a station wagon parked at Monument Lake
campground.  J.D. had apparently rigged a plastic pipe from the car's
exhaust pipe to the rear passenger window.  A camper noticed J.D. slumped
against the driver's side window and advised the park.  Ranger Jennifer Noll
responded and tried unsuccessfully to revive them.  A joint investigation by
the park, county sheriff's office and FBI is underway.  [Bill Carroll, CR,
BICY, 4/19]

93-193 - Big Bend (Texas) - Death of Park Employee

Ruben Ramirez, a maintenance worker at Big Bend, was killed in a one-car
rollover accident in the early morning hours of April 17th.  The accident
occurred in the park and is currently under investigation.  No further
details are available.  [Jim Northup, CR, BIBE, 4/19]

93-194 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Rescue

While hiking on the Saddle Trail on Old Rag Mountain on the afternoon of
April 18th, 18-year-old B.G. of Washington, D.C., fell a total of
60 feet into a boulder area, with 20 feet of that distance in a straight
drop.  He suffered a fractured fibula and minor cuts and abrasions.  The
rescue team assembled a wheeled litter with a safety line attached and
lowered B.G. down to the trail below.  He was taken to a local hospital,
where his current condition is unknown.  Ranger Laurie Shannon was IC on the
incident.  [Larry Hakel, CR, SHEN, 4/19]

93-195 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Rescue

D.H., 55, of Falls Church, Virginia, suffered a broken right ankle
after sliding down a rock while hiking the Ridge Trail on Old Rag Mountain
on April 17th.  Because of the victim's weight and the difficulty of the
terrain, rangers summoned Eagle I, the Park Police helicopter, to extricate
and evacuate D.H..  A Park Police paramedic was lowered to D.H., who was
treated, packaged, and flown to a nearby landing zone.  D.H.'s party then
took him to a hospital in Warrenton.  [Larry Hakel, CR, SHEN, 4/19]

93-196 - Redwoods (California) - Apparent Suicide

On the evening of April 17th, witnesses saw P.P., 41, of Harrington,
Delaware, walk into the surf at Fresh Water Spit.  Rangers were notified of
the incident the next day, and found P.P.'s body on the beach a mile
north of Redwood Creek.  Investigators believe that P.P., who was 
apparently physically disabled, committed suicide.  [Craig Johnson, CR,
REDW, 4/19]

93-197 - Saguaro (Arizona) - Illegal Alien

Rangers apprehended an illegal alien in the Rincon Mountain District on
April 15th.  The Mexican national, who had no identification and spoke very
little English, was carrying a loaded shotgun in a gunny sack.  NCIC checks
on the weapon were negative.  The Border Patrol took the individual into
custody; ATF agents were notified and charges for the weapon violation ar
pending.  Further investigation revealed that the man had probably just been
released from prison.  He was the twelfth illegal alien apprehended in the
park in the last six months.  [Paula Rooney, SAGU, 4/19]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

NOTES

1) SECOND NOTICE: The Albright Employee Development Fund announcement and
employee information packet have been distributed Servicewide.  Each package
contains an application, filing guidelines and instructions.  For additional
copies or assistance with the application, please contact your local
employee development (training) office.  Applications are due in to the WASO
Employee Development Division postmarked no later than April 30, 1993.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming
weeks on matters pertaining to the National Park Service.  If you would like
further information on any of these hearings or bills, please contact Dottie
in WASO Legislation at 202-208-3636.

April 22

House Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests
and Public Lands [Vento] and Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral
Resources [Lehman]: Joint hearing on H.R. 1137, to amend the
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 regarding Yellowstone's geysers and
hot pools.  Testimony by Dr. Dennis Fenn, Deputy Associate
Director, Natural Resources.

April 27

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee [Johnston]:
Hearing on S. 21, to designate certain lands in the California
desert as wilderness and to establish Death Valley, Joshua Tree
and Mojave National Parks.

April 28

House Public Works and Transportation's Subcommittee on Surface
Transportation (Rahall): Oversight hearing on the implementation
of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. 
Testimony by Denis Galvin, Associate Director, Planning and
Development.

House Merchant Marine and Fisheries' Subcommittee on Fisheries
Management (Manton): Hearing on H.R. 704, Glacier Bay National
Park.

April 29

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior [Yates]: Hearing
on FY 94 appropriations for the NPS.

House Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests
and Public Lands [Vento]: Oversight hearing on the
administration's recreation fee proposals. 

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady at meeting in Shenandoah (4/20).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Berkowitz instructing at CISD and
ranger training courses (4/19-4/23); Marriott at law enforcement refresher
(4/19-4/23); Sisto instructing at MWR special park uses training course
(4/19-4/23); Henry at backcountry workshop (4/21-4/22).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd, Erskine and Botti at IFCC meeting (4/21-
4/22); Farrel at wildland/urban interface initiative meeting (4/19-4/22);
Clark at prescribed fire committee meeting (4/19-4/22); Cook on AL (4/19-
4/23).

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
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY (numeric message) - 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843 
SkyTalk:   Emergencies ONLY (voice message) - 1-800-759-8255, PIN 2404843