NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, May 17, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-224 - Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Concession Employee Injured by Bison

G.M., 41, an employee of TW Recreational Services from West Linn,
Oregon, was jogging near the Morning Glory pool trail just after noon on May
14th when she surprised a cow bison with a newborn calf.  The bison charged
G.M., knocked her down and trampled her.  G.M. suffered a severe head
laceration and other injuries.  Rangers transported her to the park clinic by
ambulance; she was then air evacuated to a hospital in Idaho Falls.  At last
report, she was in stable condition.  [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 5/16]

95-225 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; Fatality

Four local Page residents were overcome by carbon monoxide while towing an
empty boat belonging to one of the victims from Navajo Canyon to Wahweap Marina
on the evening of May 5th.  The tow boat's full canvas cover was buttoned down
except for the rear section, which allowed the strong winds blowing at the time
to funnel engine exhaust into the boat.  When the two boats were found aground
on Antelope Island the next morning, the ignition on the tow boat was still on
and the gas tank was empty, suggesting that the jet outdrive engine had
continue to run after grounding and had forced carbon monoxide into the
interior of the boat.  All four occupants were suffering from acute carbon
monoxide poisoning, and one, Joe Premeaux, 68, had no vital signs.  He never
regained consciousness.  The other three were air evacuated to a decompression
chamber in Salt Lake City.  Although in serious condition, all have since
recovered and been released.  [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 5/15]

95-226 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Drowning

Fifteen-month-old C.S. drowned on the morning of May 14th when he fell
from a four-foot rock bank into three feet of water at the mouth of the Dirty
Devil River, a popular camping area across the lake from Hite Marina.  The
C.S. family was visiting a friend in a nearby campsite at the time; each
parent thought the child was with the other.  The father found his son floating
in the water and began CPR.  The family then headed for Hite, arriving 30 to 45
minutes later.  A park ranger/medic and concession employees at Hite continued
CPR for about an hour before the medevac helicopter arrived.  The boy was
pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.  A debriefing was conducted after
the incident and a full CISD debriefing was held the next day.  [Tomie Lee, CR,
GLCA, 5/15]

95-227 - Saguaro (Arizona) - Suspected Arson Fire

On May 13th, rangers and local fire department personnel were called to the
scene of a suspicious wildland fire near Safford Peak in the Tucson Mountain
District.  The fire started about 300 feet inside the park boundary. 
Unpredictable gusty winds fanned the fire toward several homes, a chapel and
two guest ranches.  Two airtankers dropped retardant along the boundary, which
helped suppression personnel contain the fire at 30 acres.  Investigators have
interviewed numerous park neighbors and visitors regarding suspicious activity
in the area, but have not yet come up with leads on possible suspects.  The
investigation is continuing.  [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 5/15]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

OBSERVATIONS

"The most valuable asset the Service has ever had is the morale of its
employees.  I have said that the Superintendent is a dedicated man; all his
permanent staff and all the temporary rangers and ranger-naturalists are
dedicated men, too...or they would have quit long since.  Ever since it was
organized the Service has been able to do its difficult, complex, and highly
expert job with great distinction because it could count on this ardor and
devotion.  The forty-hour week means nothing in a national park.  Personnel
have always worked sixteen hours a day and seven days a week whenever such
labor was necessary.  Superintendent, rangers, engineers, summer staff, fire
lookouts - they all drop their specialties to join a garbage-disposal crew or a
rescue party, to sweep up tourist litter, to clean a defouled spring, to do
anything else that has to be done but can't be paid for.  They are the most
courteous and the most patient men in the United States and maybe once a week
several of them get a full night's sleep.  If you undermine their morale, you
will destroy the Service."

                            Historian Bernard DeVoto, Harpers Magazine, 1953
                            [Editor's note: DeVoto wrote at a time when
                            almost all staff were in fact men.  His
                            perspective in 1995 would undoubtedly be more
                            balanced]

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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