NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, June 1, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-234 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Storm Impacts

A series of severe thunderstorms which passed through Kentucky on May 18th 
forced the closure of several areas due to high water and knocked out power to
the park for most of the day.  Lightning also struck the generator at the
park's sewage lift station and put it out of commission.  The lack of power and
extreme infiltration from rain (a total of three inches fell during the day)
led to effluent overflow, so a tanker truck was utilized to transfer sewage to
gravity lines downstream of the lift station.  The problem was resolved when
power came back on.  Samples were taken of the overflowing effluent and from a
nearby stream to compare to background water chemistry associated with the
storm.  The sewer plant operator estimated that the total flow for the 24-hour
period exceeded 330,000 gallons and consisted primarily of storm water. 
Completion of the rehab of the park's sewer system and connection to a local
system in the near future should alleviate long-standing problems with sewage
disposal in the park.  Work has also begun on burial of power lines in the
park, which should minimize power outages.  The heavy rainfall also led to the
cresting of the Green River at a level almost 40 feet above normal and the
closure of both park ferries, two campgrounds and a motor nature trail.  All
were to be reopened as soon as the river receded.  [Henry Holman, Acting CR,
MACA, 5/22]

95-235 - National Capital Parks Central (D.C.) - Storm Impacts

A severe thunderstorm which struck the Washington metropolitan area on the
afternoon of May 18th damaged 39 private vehicles and a dozen government
vehicles in the Brentwood property facility yard.  Several NPS employees
sustained minor injuries when struck by flying debris.  [Bill Lynch, Acting
RLES, RAD/NCRO, 5/22]

95-236 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Tornado Evacuation

Tornado warnings were issued for the general area just south of the Arch on May
18th as severe weather swept across the state.  Approximately 40 visitors and
employees were evacuated from the top of the Arch as a precautionary measure. 
All visitors were held in the museum until weather conditions improved. 
Several tornados touched down south of the park.  [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF, 5/31]

95-237 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Flooding

On May 13th, the Mississippi River reached a level eight feet above flood stage
in front of the Arch and covered a third of the Grand Staircase and much of the
east side of the park. Significant resource damage is expected in this area. 
Rangers from other Midwest parks have been detailed to the area to assist with
visitor safety due to the increase in visitation and hazards associated with
the flooding.  The Corps of Engineers predicted that the river would crest
yesterday at ten feet above flood stage and hold at this level for a few days
before beginning to drop.  On May 30th, three copperhead snakes were found on
the grounds in a high public use area of the park.  They apparently washed down
river and came ashore at the Arch.  The snakes were removed.  [Deryl Stone, CR,
JEFF, 5/31]

95-238 - Big Thicket (Texas) - Attempted Homicide

On April 28th, a drug deal which went sour led to an attempted homicide at Four
Oaks day use area in the Beaumont Unit.  C.H. was struck with a
sawed-off shotgun, robbed of $800, then struck again and knocked into the
Neches River.  His assailant, identified as T.W., fired into the river
at C.H., who escaped by floating down river.  A warrant for T.W.'s arrest
for aggravated assault has been issued by Orange County.  T.W., who has a
prior felony criminal history, may also be charged as a felon in possession of
a weapon.  [Bob Appling, CR, BITH, 5/24]

95-239 - Sequoia-Kings Canyon (California) - Concessioner Falling Fatality

J.D., 21, fell about 600 feet to his death from the west side of Moro
Rock on the evening of May 19th.  J.D., an employee of Guest Services, Inc.,
had gone to Moro Rock with three friends.  According to witnesses, J.D. and
one of his friends climbed over the railing and were walking on the exposed
slick rock when J.D. slipped and fell.  Alcohol was apparently a factor in
the accident.  [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 5/23]

95-240 - Gulf Islands (Mississippi/Florida) - MVA with Fatality

J.B., 68, was killed in Fort Pickens campground early on the afternoon
of May 21st.  J.B. was attempting to direct his wife in parking their
motorhome when he got caught and crushed between the vehicle and a pine tree. 
Rangers and other medical personnel in the campground administered CPR until
EMS units arrived.  J.B. was pronounced dead at the scene.  The accident is
under investigation.  [Gene Phillips, CR, GUIS, 5/22]

95-241 - Blue Ridge (North Carolina/Virginia) - Resource Conviction

On May 17th, a motel owner who cut 22 trees (seven of them over 22 inches in
diameter) and constructed a road across park property was tried in magistrate's
court and found guilty.  G.M. was ordered to pay $2,500 for each
violation and $67,538 for resource damage, investigation, and restoration
costs.  Will Orr, the park's landscape architect, testified to the value of the
trees, using a formula derived from the International Society of
Arboriculturists' Guide to Plant Appraisal.  Factors considered in the case
included the age of the trees, the park's recorded history of protecting the
trees, and the trees' role as a visual screen.  Assistant U.S. attorney Tom
Ascik prosecuted the case.  [CRO, BLRI, 5/22]

95-242 - Saint Croix (Wisconsin) - Attempted Assault on Park Employees

Around 4 a.m. on May 4th, a man entered the private home of two married
permanent park employees located outside of park boundaries, entered their
bedroom while they were asleep, woke the wife, displayed a gun, and threatened
to kill both of them if she woke her husband.  An altercation occurred when the
husband awoke and found the man naked on their bed, but the assailant was able
to escape.  Although property was stolen from the house, neither the wife nor
husband, a commissioned ranger, were hurt.  A marked NPS patrol truck was
parked in front of the house at the time of the incident.  An investigation is
being conducted by the county sheriff's department with assistance from the NPS
and FBI.  The park has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the assailant.  It's not known if the incident was random or
was directed against either federal employees in general or these employees in
particular.  [Guy Whitmer, CI, MWRO, 5/24]

95-243 - Fort Scott (Kansas) - Burglary; Arrest

The security alarm system in the officer's quarters was activated at 4:30 a.m.
on May 16th.  Responding police officers discovered a broken window in the
building and noticed movement inside the structure.  They entered the building
and came upon B.W., a 38-year-old transient.  B.W. refused to
respond to the commands of the officers and was accordingly sprayed with pepper
mace before being taken into custody.  Investigators subsequently determined
that B.W. may suffer from mental illness; he has therefore been remanded to
a state hospital for evaluation.  [Kelly Collins, CR, FOSC, 5/24]

95-244 - Big Cypress (Florida) - Suicide

On May 30th, the body of G.H., 36, was found in a recreational
vehicle parked at Midway campground.  The apparent cause of death was a self-
inflicted shotgun wound.  Prior to killing himself, G.H. had released the
gas from a propane tank and rigged the trigger on the shotgun to a spark
striker.  His plan was apparently to discharge the shotgun and simultaneously
cause an explosion.  The gas, however, failed to ignite.  [Bill Carroll, CR,
BICY, 5/31]

95-245 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Rescue

Early on the afternoon of May 21st, rangers received a report of two stranded
hikers who had intentionally left the Halema'uma'u trail in an attempt to take
a shortcut back to the rim of Kilauea.  The hikers became lost and began
yelling for help after about three hours of wandering around.  Other members of
the group, who had stayed on the marked trail, heard them and advised rangers. 
A long-line rescue by helicopter was required to evacuate the pair.  [CR, HAVO,
5/22]

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level I

2) LARGE FIRE SUMMARY

State  Agency     Area            Fire              5/31       6/1   Status

 AZ    BIA    Pima               East Olberg         120       300   CND    

 MT    USFS   Kootenai NF        South Fork - T2     300       320   CN 6/1

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) FIRES YESTERDAY (BY AGENCY) -

                NPS     BIA     BLM     FWS     States     USFS      Total

Number            0      13       1       0         61        6         81
Acreage           0     359      25      43        165       28        620

4) COMMITTED RESOURCES -

               Crews     Engines     Helicopters     Airtankers     Overhead

Federal            8        13            2               0            79
Non-federal        0         0            0               0             0

5) CURRENT SITUATION - Initial attack activity continued in the Southwest
and East yesterday.  Large fire activity was reported in the Canadian
provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with over
330,000 acres burned yesterday.

6) OUTLOOK - The potential for increased initial attack activity and escaped
fires continues in the Southwest.

[NIFCC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/1]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Tick Repellant - Coulston Products now makes permanone in a non-aerosol
pump spray marketed as Coulston's Non-Aerosol Duranon Tick Repellant.  The
pump has no CFCs, so is environmentally safe.  The product is used on
clothing only - not on skin - to repel biting insect pests such as mosquitos
and ticks.  For more information, call 800-445-9927.  All personal
protectant pesticides, if purchased with NPS funds, must be approved prior
to application.  Contact your regional IPM coordinator or either Carol
DiSalvo (202-343-7096) or Terry Cacek (303-225-3542) for 1995 approval. 
[Carol DiSalvo, IPM/WASO]

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

OBSERVATIONS

"Most of the people who visit the parks, whether they realize it or not or
whether they put it into words, are impelled to visit them because of the
quest for a supreme experience.  The gleam of glaciers on a mighty mountain;
the shimmering beauty of a lake indescribably blue, resting in the crater of
an extinct volcano; the thunder and mist of water falling over sculptured
granite cliffs; the colorful chapter in the Book of Time revealed by the
strata of a mile-high canyon gashed by a rushing river; the sight of strange
new plants and animals living in natural adaptation to their environment and
to each other; the roar of surf waging its eternal battle with the land; the
silence that hangs over the ruins of the habitations of forgotten peoples;
the lengthening shadows of the towering sequoias - these and a thousand
other vivid impressions are at the heart of the experience that national
park visitors travel many miles to seek.  All else that they do or that we
do in the national parks is incidental.  If we can remember this, we can
remain true to our high calling as trustees for the greater things of
America."

                                                   Newton B. Drury
                                                   Director, 1940-1951

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
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY: 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843