RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/Date:  Thursday, October 7, 1993

Broadcast: By 0900 EDT

INCIDENTS

93-712 - Everglades (Florida) - Follow-up on Illegal Commercial Harvesting

During late August and September, rangers investigated numerous incidents in
which migrant workers were entering the park, harvesting the berries of the
palmetto plant in large quantities, then selling them to produce wholesalers
in Immokalee, Florida.  Subsequent investigation has revealed that the
harvesting of palmetto berries, locally known as "bolitas", has been going
on in August and September in the Immokalee area for about 18 years.  The
fruits are dried and exported to European drug companies, where they are
prescribed by physicians as a cure for many ailments, including liver,
intestinal and pancreatic problems.  Although Immokalee is the primary area
where the berries are harvested, the business has been expanding in recent
years to meet supply demands.  Wholesalers told rangers that the size of the
contracts have been increasing yearly and that another produce wholesaler in
Melbourne, Florida, has also joined in the business.  At the beginning of
the harvest season, wholesalers contract with the drug companies to provide
specific amounts of fruit.  Migrant farm workers, in this case primarily of
Guatemalan or Haitian descent, are paid by the pound for the fruit they
pick.  The harvest occurs anywhere the pickers can find the bolitas.  At the
beginning of the season, the workers are paid from eight to ten cents a
pound.  As the fruits are depleted locally and the wholesalers approach the
contract date for their consignments, the price increases and pickers expand
their territories.  On September 24th, the berries were going for 32 cents a
pound in Immokalee.  While this problem appears to be local to south Florida
parks, other sunbelt parks with large numbers of palmettos should be aware
of the possibility that berry harvesting may expand into their areas.  [Bob
Panko, Pine Island DR, EVER, 10/6]

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION - Preparedness Level II

2) FIRE SUMMARY

State  Agency     Area              Fire           10/6      10/7   Status

 OR    USFS     Mount Hood    * Benson - T2           -       190   NEC

 CA    USFS     Los Padres      Marre - T1       40,700    42,700   CN 10/8

 UT    USFS     Manti-LaSal     Flat Canyon - T2  1,475     1,450   CL

 NV    BLM      Battle Mtn.   * Cottonwood Canyon     -       200   CND

 NM    USFS     Santa Fe      * Porter                -       300   CN 10/7

 CO    BLM      Craig         * Hard Rock             -       200   CN 10/6

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 - Containment strategy    NEC - No estimate of containment
  CND - Contained              CN (date) - Expected date of containment

3) ANALYSIS - Demobilization continued on the Marre Fire yesterday, but
national resources were dispatched to the Northwest and Southwest.  Initial
attack remained minimal elsewhere in the U.S.

4) PROGNOSIS - A cold, moist Gulf of Alaska low will settle over the
Northwest and Great Basin today, bringing cooler temperatures, scattered
showers and breezy conditions early and partial clearing later on.  This
weather pattern should hold fire activity in those areas to a minimum.  A
slow warming and drying trend will bring mostly sunny skies to northern
California.  Southern California will be fair and sunny except for some
morning coastal clouds.  Minimal attack activity is expected in California;
demobilization will continue in the southern part of the state.

[NIFCC Intelligence Section, 10/7]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

NOTES

1) FY 94 Uniform Program Startup - R&R Uniforms is in the process of mailing
out all necessary forms to the field for FY 94.  Parks should receive them
no later than next Friday and probably sooner.  Due to a temporary shortage
of Uniform Allowance Authorizations (10-138), R&R has been authorized to
substitute photocopied versions until more 138's can be printed.  All law
enforcement components - leather gear, identification vests and badge
patches - are being phased out of the uniform contract and will soon be
transferred to the Service's facility at FLETC.  Instructions on acquiring
those items will be sent to chief rangers from this office tomorrow.  [Bill
Halainen, RAD/WASO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Brady on AL (10/4-10/8).

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Berkowitz at national radio
coordinator meeting and law enforcement meetings (10/3-10/16). 

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd at DOI strategic planning meeting (10/5-
10/8); Gale at I-520/620 steering committee meeting (10/5-10/7); Broyles at
NFPA meeting (10/2-10/5); Farrel on structural fire evaluation at Fort Scott
(10/4-10/7); Zimmerman, Berg and Clark on FIREPRO audit at Yellowstone
(10/4-10/8).


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
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