RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Wednesday, April 21, 1993

Broadcast: By 0830 ET

INCIDENTS

93-190 - C&O Canal (Maryland) - Follow-up on Flooding

The park has reopened following another weekend of flooding caused by heavy
rainfall on already saturated soils in the Potomac and Shenandoah River
basins.  The most extensive damage occurred in the upper portions of the
park, primarily in the Paw Paw Subdistrict.  A dike/culvert located in the
canal was mechanically lowered late Saturday night to prevent flooding to
homes in the Mexico Farms subdivision near Cumberland, Maryland.  Damage to
the tow path and canal is estimated at nearly $250,000, which includes the
cost of clearing mud and debris from boat ramps, aqueducts and parking areas
and filling and grading washed-out portions of the tow path.  The Potomac
crested at almost six feet above flood stage at Paw Paw on Saturday
afternoon.  Further flooding is anticipated today, as additional heavy
rainfall is forecast for the area.  [Kevin FitzGerald, ACR, CHOH, 4/20]

93-191 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Volcanic Explosion

The search for victims of the volcanic explosion which took place at Lae
Apuki Village Monday night - including Prem Nagar, 46, of Kealakakua,
Hawaii, who witnesses saw fall into the ocean - continues.  Investigation
indicates that as many as 20 visitors were in the closed area on the lava
bench when it collapsed without warning.  The collapse was followed by three
distinct earthquake-like events, then the sudden explosion of a lava tube
that had been filling with water.  Enough steam pressure was produced to
blow rocks up to a quarter meter across over 100 meters inland from the
shoreline.  Many of these rocks were incandescent and burnt visitors who
were trying to escape.  Injuries sustained included serious abrasions and
third degree burns from falling rocks, scalding ocean water and lava
fragments.  Nagar did not try to leave the area when the first collapse
occurred and was seen falling into the ocean.  The sequence is recorded on a
video made by a visitor which has been given to the park.  Another camera
was found at the site during the investigation, and its film is being
processed in hopes of obtaining additional information on the event. 
Investigators also determined that visitors in the area had not read the
abundant warning and specific closure signs posted there; most stated that
they were just attracted to the active lava areas.  Search efforts will
continue for at least two more days.  [Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 4/20]

93-198 - Padre Island (Texas) - Severe Storm

A severe thunderstorm struck the park's Bird Island Basin area with little
warning on April 14th.  Winds were clocked at over 90 mph on a anemometer
before the instrument broke.  Two trailers were overturned, including a 29-
foot mobile home which flipped upside down, landing on a portable toilet and
trapping the occupant in the mobile home's bathroom.  Pop-up campers and
vehicles were severely damaged or destroyed.  Many sailboards and other
items of personal property have not been recovered.  Several persons were
injured, but none seriously.  Damage is estimated at $150,000.  [T.L.
McDaniel, CR, PAIS, 4/20]

93-199 - Statue of Liberty (New York) - Demonstration; Take-Over

At 4:40 p.m. on Monday, April 19th, seven individuals representing the
"Emergency Coalition for Haitian Refugees" took over the crown of the Statue
of Liberty.  The individuals were discovered as rangers were closing the
statue.  Supervisory ranger Steve Connor led a response of several rangers
to the crown and ordered the protestors to leave the island or face arrest. 
When they refused, saying they wouldn't move until 6 p.m., rangers arrested
them and led them individually down the spiral steps to the ground.  All
seven were fingerprinted and photographed, but attempts to have them locked
up in a federally-approved facility failed because all such facilities were
at capacity.  They were therefore cited for trespassing and public assembly
without a permit, then released.  The FBI is conducting a follow-up
investigation.  [Scott Pfeninger, CR, STLI, 4/20]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level I

No large fire activity nationally.  Most geographic areas have low to
moderate fire danger.  Little or no commitment of national resources.

2) FIRE SUMMARY

State  Agency     Area            Fire              4/19     4/20    Status

 NM    USFS    Lincoln NF      * Burgett - T1          -    5,350    CN 4/21
 
 IN    NPS     Indiana Dunes   * Goliath             250      250    CL

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) PARK FIRE REPORTS -

* Indiana Dunes - The Goliath Fire started near the Conrail railroad north
of Gary, Indiana, around 1:30 p.m. on April 18th.  Pushed by 10 to 20 mph
winds, the fire quickly spread to 250 acres, jumping the Harbor Belt
railroad and threatening the park's Douglas Center for Environmental
Education as well as some large apartment buildings and single-family
dwellings.  The head of the fire was stopped with a three-quarter-mile-long
backfire adjacent to the structures.  The fire was contained at 10:45 p.m.
that day.  The fire burned in an area where the endangered blue butterfly is
known to exist.  The eggs and larvae of the butterfly can be killed by fire,
but the habitat, especially the lupine on which it feeds, has to be
maintained by fire.  It is unfortunate that this large an area burned at the
same time.  Although the butterfly's habitat is enhanced with management-
ignited prescribed fires, this is done with smaller fires over many years in
order to provide diversity and give the butterfly the opportunity to
recolonize burned areas. [Bill Gabbert, FMO, INDU]

4) ANALYSIS - Initial attack activity is continuing in the South, Southwest
and East.
   
5) PROGNOSIS - No resource shortages expected.

[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 1115 MDT, 4/20] 

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