NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, July 5, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-356 - El Malpais (New Mexico) - Employee Struck by Lightning

While working on a visitor use survey at the Zuni-Acoma trailhead on 
June 26th, interpretive specialist Leslie DeLong was struck by lightning. 
DeLong was in the process of contacting visitors in a convertible and had just
touched its canvas top when the lightning entered her right hand and exited
through her right foot.  According to witnesses, she neither lost consciousness
nor was knocked down; she was disoriented for a few days, however, and was
hospitalized for observation.  She has since been released.  [Ken Mabery, CR,
ELMA, 7/1]

95-357 - Denali (Alaska) - Rescue

On the evening of June 28th, Sgt. A.P., 30, and D.M., 25,
fell into a crevasse at the mountain's 13,500-foot level.  The two men were
part of a ten-member British climbing party called "Unseen Steps."  A.P. is a
differently-abled climber who was partially paralyzed on his left side, blinded
in one eye, and partially blinded in the other in an ordnance accident that
occurred in 1992; D.M. served as A.P.'s "eyes" on the climb.  The two men
were accordingly closely tied together for safety at the time of the accident. 
Their fall was arrested by other climbers in the party, but D.M., who
appeared to have suffered a fractured pelvis, became wedged in the crevasse
above A.P., who was unhurt.  D.M. was transported to the camp at 14,200
feet by his climbing party, where he was evacuated by the park's Llama
helicopter and taken to a hospital in Anchorage.  He was treated for torn
cartilage in the pelvic region, then released.  The British Broadcasting
Company is filming A.P.'s climb.  [Ken Kehrer, CR, DENA, 7/3]

95-358 - Denali (Alaska) - Aircraft Crash; Rescue

On the afternoon of June 30th, the park received word that a Talkeetna Air Taxi
sight-seeing plane with four passengers aboard had crashed near the Muldrow
Glacier at Anderson Pass.  The park's Llama helicopter, a Hudson Aviation
aircraft with a ranger aboard, two ANG Pavehawk helicopters, and a C-130
refueling ship responded.  Since it was uncertain whether they'd be able to
reach the range because of intervening bad weather, an ERA Flightseeing
helicopter was also conscripted; it off-loaded its passengers at Eielson
visitor center, where it picked up a ranger and flew to the scene.  The Llama
was able to snake through the range, however, and located the wreck site. 
Although the aircraft was found upside down with wings and tail section torn
off, the fuselage was intact and none of the passengers or the pilot received
any injury more serious than bruises and abrasions.  They were evacuated from
the scene by the Llama and a Pavehawk, taken to a hospital, treated and
released.  The accident was apparently caused by severe downdrafts in the area. 
[Ken Kehrer, CR, DENA, 7/3]

95-359 - Perry's Victory (Ohio) - Rescue

Between 9 p.m. and midnight on July 2nd, high winds and waves on Lake Erie
caused eight power and sail boats to drag their anchors and drift in against a
park seawall.  Five of the boats, which were being repeatedly smashed against
the concrete wall, had people trapped on board.  Park staff and personnel from
several local agencies rescued 14 people from the boats.  There were no
injuries, but property damage was extensive and one boat sank.  Because of high
winds, the boats were not fully extricated until the afternoon of July 3rd. 
[Superintendent, PEVI, 7/3]

95-360 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Search 

Two empty kayaks and some personal gear were found floating near Hunter Cove in
the east arm of the bay on the morning of June 29th.  Rangers conducted a
preliminary search of the shoreline in the surrounding area by boat in an
effort to find the owners and additional gear; when nothing was found, a formal
search was begun.  A contract helicopter was employed to conduct an aerial
search of the area.  The kayaks' owners, T.P., 37, of Germany, and
C.G., 28, of France, were found on a beach in Wachusett Inlet,
about seven miles from where the kayaks were found, late that afternoon.  Both
were okay.  A high tide had apparently flushed their kayaks from the beach
where they'd been camping.  When they awoke, the kayaks were gone, but they had
no means of calling for help.  [Chuck Young, DR, GLBA, 6/29]

95-361 - Indiana Dunes (Indiana) - Search; Drownings and Rescues

An 11-year-old girl was reported missing in the surf in the park's Porter Beach
unit on the afternoon of July 1st.  An extensive search was conducted by park
lifeguards with assistance from several local and state agencies and the Coast
Guard.  She was found two hours later about a mile and a half from where she'd
last been seen.  Doctors at Porter Memorial Hospital pronounced her dead upon
arrival.  Park and state swimming beaches had been closed and posted earlier in
the day due to strong north winds which caused rip currents to develop along a
25 mile stretch of Lake Michigan's south shore.  At the time of the report, a
search was also underway for a seven-year-old who was reported missing from a
breakwater just outside the park.  While the first search was underway, park
lifeguards saved another swimmer near the Wells Street beach.  Because of the
length of the Fourth of July weekend and the excellent weather, the park
experienced visitation that was among its heaviest in recent years.  Most park
facilities were filled to capacity by Saturday morning, and traffic was backed
up more than 20 miles from the state line to the south suburbs of Chicago. 
[Rich Littlefield, CR, INDU, 7/3]

95-362 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Search; Probable Drowning

On June 25th, park personnel at Indian Garden were contacted by visitors who
reported seeing a person disrobe and swim out into the Colorado River at Pipe
Creek Rapids, a spot about a mile downstream from Phantom Ranch that is
frequented by day hikers.  The park helicopter responded immediately, but the
crew could find no sign of the victim.  River flows at the time of the incident
were in excess of 19,000 cubic feet per second, and the water temperature was
about 50 degrees.  Search efforts continue, and all parties on river trips are
being briefed on the incident at Phantom Ranch.  Peak runoff flow is expected
through the week, which will make travel on the river very hazardous.  [Ken
Phillips, SAR Coordinator, GRCA, 6/30]

95-363 - Devils Tower (Wyoming) - Climbing Fatality

J.H., 22, a climber from Chicago, was killed on July 1st when he fell
about 150 feet from a point about 400 feet up the side of the tower in the
Meadows area.  According to witnesses, J.H. was not tied into a rope at the
time of the accident, and slipped off a large ledge.  Efforts to revive him by
park rangers and EMT's proved fruitless.  Several other agencies and many local
climbers participated in the rescue effort.  [Jim Schlinkmann, CR, DETO, 7/3]

95-364 - Olympic (Washington) - Falling Fatality

A 32-year-old Seattle woman fell 300 feet from a point at the 6,800-foot
elevation on Mount Deception just before 6 p.m. on July 2nd.  The accident was
reported to Royal Basin patrol ranger Bryan Bell about 90 minutes later; he
hiked to the scene, arriving around 8:30 p.m., about the same time as park
personnel who flew in by helicopter.  The woman was unconscious and in serious
condition with head injuries.  The helicopter was forced to leave because of
darkness.  A MAST helicopter from Fort Lewis with a winch and night vision
equipment attempted to fly to the site, but was first delayed by mechanical
problems, then turned back by fog.  The victim's blood pressure began dropping
and she had difficulty breathing.  Shortly after midnight, she went into
respiratory arrest, then cardiac arrest.  CPR was attempted for 40 minutes, but
was eventually discontinued on the orders of the local emergency room
physician.  [Larry Lang, Backcountry Supervisor, OLYM, 7/3]

95-365 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - MVA with Fatality

B.B. and N.B. and two friends were driving on the North Rim
entrance road on the afternoon of July 2nd when B.B. drove the
vehicle off a straight stretch of road, down an embankment and into a tree. 
N.B., who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was seriously
injured.  She was transported in a park ambulance and given CPR en route, but
did not survive.  Investigation revealed that B.B. may have fallen asleep
behind the wheel and that he was driving at about 55 mph when the car left the
road.  B.B. and the remaining two passengers suffered minor injuries.  [CRO,
GRCA, 7/3]

95-366 - Natchez Trace (Mississippi/Alabama/Tennessee) - MVA with Fatality

On June 23rd, J.K. and M.K. of Weir, Mississippi, were traveling north
on the parkway when their vehicle was struck by a passing vehicle, causing it
to leave the roadway and travel 80 feet airborne to the opposite bank of a
nearby creek.  Both were extricated from the vehicle and taken to a nearby
hospital.  J.K., 61, died there four days later; his wife remains in
intensive care.  [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 7/3]

95-367 - Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Maryland) - MVA with Fatality

An unidentified woman was killed when her vehicle struck a bridge abutment
adjacent to the parkway at 4 a.m. on July 3rd.  There were no passengers. 
[Bill Lynch, Acting RLES, RAD/NCRO, 7/3]

95-368 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - MVA with Fatality

C.J., 36, of Bountiful, Utah, was killed on June 30th when the vehicle
her husband was driving went off a steep embankment into a canyon just outside
the park and rolled over.  The large boat and trailer being towed had begun
swaying and forced the vehicle off the road.  Ranger/medics from Bullfrog
provided emergency medical assistance to the victims and managed the accident
scene until Utah Highway Patrol officers could respond.  The park medics
stabilized the couple's 20-year-old daughter and had her air-evacuated by
helicopter.  The driver was uninjured.  No one in the vehicle was wearing a
seatbelt.  [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/30]

95-369 - Little River Canyon (Alabama) - Two Attempted Suicides

On June 25th, S.S. of Fyffe, Alabama, leaped from Lynn overlook in an
attempt to take his life.  S.S. fell about 45 feet and suffered head, back
and leg injuries.  He was pulled form the canyon floor by local rescue squad
members and flown by helicopter to a hospital in Chattanooga, where he is
listed in critical condition.  S.S. has left a note in his vehicle regarding
his intentions.  Two days later, employees in a local store found a note in
which William Brewer of Fort Payne, Alabama, expressed his intention to commit
suicide at the canyon.  Rangers and local police officers were dispatched to
the area to find him.  A police officer found him preparing to jump from a 150-
foot cliff at Crow Point and was able to talk him out of jumping.  He was taken
into custody for medical evaluation.  [Dwight Dixon, CR, LIRI, 6/29]

95-370 - Little River Canyon (Alabama) - Car Clouting

Over the past two weeks, seven vehicles at popular swimming holes in the park
have been hit by car clouters.  Numerous items were taken, including cash,
cameras, and stereo equipment; total losses were in the thousands of dollars. 
Most entries were made by breaking side windows.  A joint investigation by park
rangers and state officers is underway.  [Dwight Dixon, CR, LIRI, 6/29]

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

2) LARGE FIRE SUMMARY
                                                                   %   Est
State    Area                Fire         IMT       7/3     7/5   Con  Con  

 AZ    Gila NF           * Whitetail       --         -     100   100  CND
       State             * Dynamite        --         -   1,411     -  NEC
       Colorado River
        Agency           * Poston          --         -   1,000   100  CND

 CA    California 
        Desert District  * Granite         --         -     300     0  CN 7/4

 MN    Superior NF         Gunflint        T2     2,346   2,346   100  CND    

HEADING NOTES:

Fire     * = newly reported fire (on this report).  Cx = complex.
IMT     T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST1 = state Type 1; ST2 = state Type 2.
% Con   Percent of fire contained.
Est Con Estimated containment date.  NEC = no estimated date of
        containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report.

3) FIRES YESTERDAY -

                NPS     BIA      BLM     FWS    States     USFS      Total

Number            0       8        3       0        18       30         59
Acres Burned      0      54      303       0       384      190        931

4) COMMITTED RESOURCES -

               Crews     Engines     Helicopters     Airtankers     Overhead

Federal           30        43           14               0             12
Non-federal        0         0            0               0              0

5) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY -
                                      CY 1995            Five Year Average
                                    Year-to-Date           Year-to-Date

Number of Fires - U.S.                 45,164                  39,832     
Acres Burned - U.S.                   765,453                 879,164 
Number of Fires - Canada                5,340                       -
Hectares Burned - Canada            3,818,522                       -

6) SITUATION - The only areas of significant activity yesterday were southern
California and the Southwest, and demobilization from the latter was underway. 
Large acreages continue to be recorded daily on Canadian fires - 318,000 acres
burned yesterday alone.

7) OUTLOOK - Initial attack and large fires are possible due to extended
holiday activities.

[NIFCC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/5]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Hagerman Fossil Beds (Idaho) - Fossil Removal 

Last August, the park's paleontologist found a complete and articulated
skeleton of a fossilized beaver (Castor californicus), a close but somewhat
larger ancestor of today's beaver.  Attempts to move the specimen proved
fruitless, and the integrity of the plaster jacket was in question.  The
specimen measured five feet by five feet and weighted about half a ton.  On
June 29th, a BLM helicopter airlifted the specimen across the Snake River to a
trailer.  This fossil, the most complete Castor fossil in the park's
collection, will be utilized as part in the park's legislated mandated
paleontological research program.  All park staff were involved in the
operation, and there was extensive media coverage.  [HAFO]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service.  If you would like further
information on any of these hearings or bills, please contact Stacey Rickard in
WASO Legislation at 202-208-3636.

July 18

House Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands (Hansen):
Markup of H.R. 238, to provide for the protection of wild horses within Ozark
National Scenic Riverways and prohibit the removal of such horses; H.R. 1280,
to establish guidelines for the designation of National Heritage Areas; H.R.
1301, to establish the American Heritage Areas Partnership Program; H.R. 1745,
to designate certain public lands in the State of Utah as wilderness.

July 20

House Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands (Hansen):
Hearing on H.R. 1163, to authorize the exchange of National Park Service land
in Fire Island National Seashore in the State of New York for land in the
Village of Patchogue, Suffolk County, New York.

July 25

House Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands (Hansen):
Hearing on H.R. 773, to reform the concession policies of the National Park
Service.

July 27

Senate Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation (Campbell): Hearing on S. 964, to amend the Land
and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 with respect to fees for admission to
units of the National Park System; S. 309, to reform the concession policies of
the National Park Service.

August 3

House Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands (Hansen):
Hearing on H.R. ----, recreation fees.

TBA

Senate Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation (Campbell): Hearing on S. 133, to establish the
Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site; S. 608, to establish
the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in New Bedford, Massachusetts;
S. 305, to establish the Shenandoah Valley National Battlefields and Commission
in the Commonwealth of Virginia; S. 310, to transfer title to certain lands in
Shenandoah National Park to the State of Virginia; S. 128, to establish the
Thomas Cole National Historic Site in the State of New York; S. 231, to modify
the boundaries of Walnut Canyon National Monument in the State of Arizona.

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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