RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Wednesday, August 18, 1993

Broadcast: By 0900 EDT

INCIDENTS

93-611 - Lassen Volcanic (California) - Arson Arrest

On August 8th, Lassen National Forest agents arrested F.H. and his
daughter, N.N.H., 44, for arson and unlawfully causing a
wildland fire for fires which were started in that forest and the park. 
Based on their investigation, it is likely that the pair have also been
responsible for fires in other forested areas.  According to F.H.,
who is a doctor, he has been "treating" his daughter for obsessive-
compulsive disorder, one of the manifestations of which is compulsive,
ritualistic fire setting.  F.A. has told investigators that his daughter
has engaged in this behavior for the past 15 years, and that he's been
accompanying her for the past nine years because of concerns that her fire
setting was getting out of control.  She allegedly gets an overwhelming urge
to light fires and will choose a specific part of the country for this
purpose.  She will then travel to the site, set her fires, collect ashes and
residue in ritualistic fashion in brown paper grocery bags, carry them
around in the car for several days, then discard the bags and head home. 
This reportedly satisfies her for a period of time.  The H.'s have been
driving to locations close to their homes in Tacoma and Seattle or flying to
other points and renting cars to drive to forested areas.  They usually
stayed in state or federal parks or forest lands or in motels.  F.A. has
admitted to being in areas along the west coast and in Massachusetts and
Pennsylvania.  The intervals between episodes range between several weeks
and several months.  The fire setting usually involves flammable forest
fuels (such as leaves, pine needles, and small twigs), paper, household
items, food and clothing.  The items are placed in one or more small piles
surrounded by small cleared areas, then the fuel is set afire and the
charred residue removed.  At the fire scene in the national forest, there
were multiple burned areas within five to ten feet of each other in a semi-
circular pattern.  The father apparently wears gloves when he collects the
burned material, then discards them afterwards; over 20 pairs of gloves were
found along with 13 sacks of burned material during the search of their
vehicles.  Although F.A. has been bailed out, his daughter is still
in custody and under a 14-day mental health observation hold.  Anyone
needing further information or who can provide information regarding similar
incidents should contact special agent Paul Steensland (916-257-2151) or
agents Sherrie Tinsely or Mark Hudson (916-336-5521).  [George Giddings,
LAVO, 8/16]

93-612 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Fatality

During the suppression of a small fire near the Chain of Craters Road on the
morning of August 16th, a firefighter discovered the remains of an adult
male.  Neither the person's identity nor the time or cause of death are yet
known.  That stretch of the road had been closed to all vehicle and hiker
access since August 14th, when it appeared that Hurricane Fernando might
strike the park.  An investigation is underway.  [Mardie Lane, HAVO, 8/17]

93-613 - Yosemite (California) - MVA with Fatality

Park dispatch received a report of a motorcycle accident on Highway 140 a
half mile east of the Arch Rock entrance station around 2 a.m. on August
15th.  Responding rangers found that the passenger, D.G., a long-time
resident of Yosemite and employee of Yosemite Park and Curry Company, had
been killed, and that the driver, J.E., also a concession employee in
the park, had sustained serious injuries.  J.E. was taken to Memorial North
Hospital in Modesto, where he's in serious but stable condition.  According
to J.E., he lost control of the motorcycle when he swerved to miss a deer. 
The motorcycle slid across the eastbound lane and struck the end of a rock
wall that borders the road.  An investigation is underway.  [Leslie
Crossland, YOSE, 8/16]

93-614 - Death Valley (California) - Fatality

A concession employee reported finding a body in the vicinity of Breakfast
Canyon on the morning of August 16th.  The employee had gone hiking in the
area the night before and had seen a man who was either sleeping or dead. 
He went back in the morning to confirm his suspicion and found that the man
was in fact dead.  Investigation determined that the man was P.S.,
between 50 and 60 years old, from Glendale, California.  P.S. was last
seen on August 10th, when he disappeared after having had an argument with
his wife.  P.S. did not appear to have suffered from any significant
trauma.  The incident is being investigated by the Inyo County sheriff's
department.  [Mark Maciha, DEVA, 8/16]

93-615 - Yosemite (California) - Oil Spill

On the afternoon of August 16th, maintenance employees discovered an 1800
gallon diesel oil spill at the Crane Flat generator building.  A temporary
generator had been hooked up at the site two weeks earlier when its
predecessor had burned out, and a valve in the temporary hookup had
apparently malfunctioned.  About 100 square feet of the building's floor was
saturated with oil.  The malfunction was corrected and power has been
restored.  Assessments are being made to determine the extent of the damage. 
[Mark Butler, YOSE, 8/17]

FIRE ACTIVITY

Preparedness Level II.  Fire activity continues to be less than average for
this time of year.  Although there has been an increase in initial attack
activity in some areas, most fires have been quickly contained.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady on travel (8/16-8/20).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at Aufhauser shooting
review and on AL (8/10-8/22); Dickerhoof on AL (8/12-8/22); Halainen on AL
(8/15-8/27).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Botti at operations evaluation at Grand Canyon
(8/9-8/20); Berg in meeting at Glacier (8/16-8/20); Clark on oil spills and
quals system review (8/16-8/19); Farrel at wildland/urban fire initiative
meeting (8/16-8/20).

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